New Birth Day Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children arrive happy and ready to learn. Staff are attentive and caring. A consistent key-person system encourages children to settle and become familiar with staff. Children demonstrate a sense of belonging. They are keen to show visitors around and proudly talk about what they are learning.

Children make good use of the accessible and inviting resources within the nursery. Babies have lots of space to practise their physical skills, such as walking or climbing steps. Older children demonstrate good imaginative skills as they mix and pour water into cups, pretending they are making 'hot chocolate' drinks for friends. Children enjoy lots of sensory experiences throughout the day. Children love to swirl and dab paint with their brushes. Babies enjoy exploring sand and burying different objects. All children make good progress in their learning.

Children explain they like to come to nursery to play with their friends. Staff have high expectations of children's behaviour. They set clear boundaries for children in the nursery. Children respond well to staff's directions, and their behaviour is good. For example, children listen well and are kind to their friends and invite them into their play.

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

• The curriculum is child-led and considers what children need to learn, such as emotional resilience, gross and fine motor skills, and being part of an inclusive community. Leaders and staff know children well. Assessment is used effectively to identify any emerging gaps in children's progress.
• Staff work with parents and other professionals if there are concerns about children's well-being or development. Where children have special educational needs and/or disabilities, clear and appropriate plans are in place to support them.
• Overall, staff's teaching across the nursery is good. However, there is scope for leaders to continue to build on the consistency of teaching and learning for children across the nursery. For example, there are times when staff capture children's interest well and support them to extend their knowledge. However, there are also occasions when staff do not give children sufficient time to think and respond to the questions they are asked.
• Generally, staff support children's communication, literacy and language well. For instance, after breakfast, younger children sit with staff and sing a welcome song, which children know well. Staff model language and narrate as they play with older children. However, some staff are not aware of the skills that children already need to have to be ready to learn about letters and the sounds they represent.
• Children learn mathematical concepts. Staff count objects and resources, so children hear numbers and repeat back. During a water activity, children expand their mathematical knowledge by learning about quantities. They fill and pour containers and happily say when containers require 'more' water or are 'full'.
• The curriculum supports children to develop healthy attitudes. Staff teach children the benefits of healthy eating, good oral health and active lifestyles. Children enjoy a wide range of nutritious, balanced meals and snacks.
• Staff make good use of routines to help children to become increasingly independent. For example, toddlers start to manage putting on and taking off their coats when moving between indoors and outdoors. Older children lay the table for mealtimes and make their sandwiches at teatime. Staff encourage children to do as much as they can for themselves. As a result, children are well prepared for their move to school.
• Leaders create a positive culture of teamwork. Staff say that they receive high levels of support in their roles and feel valued. Leaders seek out additional training courses that are focused on the specific needs of staff.
• Leaders and staff have built good relationships with parents. They ensure that parents are kept well informed about the progress their children make. They provide daily feedback at pick-up times and share information electronically. Parents comment that their children enjoy attending the nursery.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• raise the consistency of teaching and learning across the nursery, paying particular attention to the importance of giving children time to process ideas and share their thoughts, to maximise learning further
• support staff to develop their knowledge of how to support early reading skills to better support the early literacy development of younger children.