Nesham Private Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are very happy, settled and secure at this highly inclusive and welcoming nursery. They learn from a range of highly stimulating, challenging and exciting experiences. Support for children's physical development is outstanding. Children develop their balance and coordination as they climb on large tyres, drive go-karts and play on the swing in the enclosed garden. They take part in yoga, football and parachute games. Children develop their small-muscle skills as they pour jelly, knead dough, and use hammers, nails and screwdrivers safely. Young children use their hands in different ways as they explore sand, water, soil and foam. They pump and squeeze paint from bottles and clean toys with toothbrushes as part of an activity.

Children take part in weekly trips to learn about their local community and the wider world around them. They take part in pumpkin trails and lantern parades. Children help to buy ingredients for cooking from local shops, and they travel in the nursery bus to local woods and landmarks. Children are rapidly becoming independent. Staff have very high expectations of all children in their care. For example, children use cutlery and cups appropriately from an early age. Children's behaviour is outstanding. They learn to share, take turns and be kind to their friends. Children are fully engaged in their play and highly motivated to learn.

What does the early years setting do well and what does it need to do better?

• Staff have superb relationships with children in their care. They are very respectful, professional, caring and kind. There is a strong focus on the nursery being a 'home from home' for all children. Staff plan individually for all children and know them very well. They show a deep understanding of what children already know and can do. Staff build on this to help embed and progress children's learning and development. For example, they encourage babies to lie on their tummies to help strengthen their core muscles for later crawling and then walking. Staff support young children to develop their large and smaller muscles to prepare them for later skills, such as early writing.
• Staff provide excellent support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. The nursery works extremely well in partnership with parents and partner professionals. Together, they put highly effective plans in place to support children's progress. Parents speak very highly of the nursery. They praise the efforts the staff make to include all children. For example, the staff use sign language to help children to communicate. Parents feel very well informed about their child's day and appreciate ideas staff provide for learning at home. Staff work very closely with them and local schools to help to prepare children well for the next stage of their learning.
• Staff place a very strong emphasis on building children's confidence and sense of belonging. The highly skilled and experienced staff provide exceptional support for children to make simple choices and express their ideas. For example, children are encouraged to vote for a book of the week. They help to make their own props for use at story time. Staff provide excellent support to children to help them to manage their behaviour. Children are encouraged to explore and express their feelings and emotions through stories. They help to decide the rules for group time and use sand timers during play to help them understand when it is their turn.
• Staff encourage children to be respectful. They praise and encourage them. Children and staff form very close, supportive bonds. Children are encouraged to care for living things and watch them grow. For example, they help to care for the nursery's pet tortoise and grow herbs in the garden. This helps children to learn about nurture and well-being. Children's communication and language skills flourish. Staff ask children questions that encourage detailed replies. This extends their thinking and vocabulary. Staff use books and stories to promote conversations and introduce new vocabulary.
• The managers and senior staff are dedicated and passionate about the service the nursery provides. Managers have very high standards and support staff well. There is excellent support in place for the well-being of the staff team. The managers and staff reflect deeply on the experiences of children and the views of parents in order to provide the highest-quality learning and care.