Newtown Nursery School Childcare

Inclusion: Strong standard

Leaders and staff create a highly effective, inclusive culture across the nursery. Children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), disadvantaged children and those who face barriers to their learning or wellbeing, are consistently supported. Staff identify children's individual needs accurately through assessment.

Staff make use of consistent, ongoing training opportunities that meet the needs of children, including those with SEND. For example, they apply their training in speech and language, to tailor support for individual children. This enables staff to identify accurate next steps and support for each child's individual needs. Staff use a range of well-embedded strategies, such as visual supports and objects of reference, to ensure all children develop increasing confidence in their communication and language skills.

Leaders ensure that children who are known to social care are effectively supported. They work closely with external agencies, parents and carers to ensure that children receive timely support. Robust monitoring systems are in place to track all children's welfare and development, enabling leaders to respond swiftly to any concerns. As a result, vulnerable children are well supported and their needs are prioritised effectively.

Curriculum and teaching: Strong standard

Leaders and staff have developed a highly ambitious and well-sequenced curriculum for all children. They carefully consider all children's individual starting points to ensure that learning builds progressively over time. Babies show deep enjoyment of songs and rhymes, particularly those that are familiar to them. They actively participate by independently selecting resources, such as puppets, to indicate which song they would like staff to sing next. Staff are excellent role models, responding sensitively and promptly to babies' cues and requests. These highly responsive interactions support babies communication, confidence and engagement in learning.

There is a sharp focus on developing children's communication and language skills. This enables staff to plan purposeful experiences that support children to make secure progress from their starting points. Children benefit from consistent opportunities throughout the day, to build and extend their vocabulary. Staff model language, such as 'squeeze' and 'splash', as children watch with delight when water is released from a sponge. Through routines, staff use phrases such as 'sticky hands' and 'finished', as children wash their hands. These timely interactions effectively support children to develop their understanding and use of language.

Children develop early mathematical skills as they begin to recognise numbers and practise counting. Staff support children to count with accuracy, for example as they line up cars and count them one by one. Through play, children begin to understand order of numbers. For instance, staff ask children what number comes after 3, to help deepen their understanding of number sequence.

Achievement: Strong standard

Children make excellent progress in their learning and development, progressing rapidly from their individual starting points. They acquire a secure foundation of knowledge and skills that prepares them extremely well for their next stage of learning.

Babies show growing confidence in their communication, progressing from babbling to using recognisable words. Children show increasing independence and engagement in early literacy. They confidently handle books, turning pages and showing sustained attention as they listen to stories. Children begin to answer questions, such as 'Who is hiding under the covers?', and show increasingly deep understanding. As a result, children develop solid listening, attention and comprehension skills.

Children also make excellent progress in their early mathematical development. They begin to use numbers meaningfully in play, for example, counting cars as they line them up. They confidently identify what comes next in a number sequence, such as knowing that the number 4 comes after 3. This approach ensures that children develop secure early mathematical skills.

Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines: Strong standard

Leaders and staff demonstrate commitment to all children, families and the wider community. They build highly positive relationships based on mutual respect. Working closely with parents and carers ensures consistency between home and the setting. Leaders are attentive and support all children's and families' individual circumstances. For example, they make thoughtful adaptations to meet individual needs, which promotes regular and sustained attendance. This collaborative approach supports children's wellbeing and ensures they are able to access learning consistently.

Staff skilfully embed the nursery's expectations for positive behaviour. They are excellent role models, demonstrating respectful interactions with children, at all times. Children show enjoyment as they play and learn alongside their friends in a harmonious environment. Staff use effective, age-appropriate strategies to teach children how to share, take turns and use good manners. They recognise and praise children's efforts. For example, they say 'good job', when children have a go at activities or manage their own self-care, such as washing their hands. As a result, children develop confidence, independence and positive attitudes to learning.

Children's welfare and wellbeing: Strong standard

Leaders and staff have successfully embedded a highly inclusive culture within the nurturing nursery. They work closely together to ensure all children's welfare and wellbeing are central to all aspects of practice.

Children form close attachments with their key person, enabling them to feel safe and emotionally secure. They confidently explore their environment, demonstrating independence, while knowing when to seek reassurance from trusted adults. As a result, children show high levels of confidence, resilience and a deep sense of belonging.

Care practices are securely embedded across the setting. Children are supported effectively to develop their independence, including in self-care routines, such as toileting. Staff work closely with parents and carers from the point of admission, to gain an understanding of each child's individual care needs, including, sleep, weaning and toileting routines. This ensures consistency between home and the setting and supports children to feel secure, confident and well-cared for.

Leaders ensure that children, including those in receipt of additional funding, such as the early years pupil premium, benefit from nutritious and well-balanced meals. For instance, children enjoy freshly prepared dishes, including chickpea curry and naan bread. Children are offered healthy options, including fresh fruit, such as melon, and are encouraged to drink water throughout the day, to support their wellbeing.

Leadership and governance: Strong standard

The leadership team and the skilful staff are a significant strength of the nursery and have developed an effective culture of reflection that underpins their work. Leaders demonstrate a deep understanding of the needs of the local community and use this insight effectively to shape the nursery. Leaders work closely with all staff to ensure that the early years foundation stage is implemented to a consistently high standard.

Highly positive partnerships with parents and carers are firmly established. Parents speak very positively about the nursery, highlighting the professionalism, dedication and genuine care that staff have for their children. They recognise the significant impact this has on the children's confidence, wellbeing and progress, enabling them to thrive in their learning and development. Leaders and those responsible for governance are committed to sustaining and building on this highly effective practice to secure a transformational impact on the experiences and outcomes for all children.

Leaders consider the wellbeing of all staff and provide them with excellent, targeted professional development. This equips them with the specialist knowledge and skills needed to support babies and children extremely well and ensures practice is closely aligned to the needs of all children.

Leaders work effectively with external professionals, including the local authority and speech and language therapists, to ensure children receive timely and appropriate support. They prioritise early identification of need, making prompt referrals where required. Through this approach, they ensure that support is precisely targeted to the needs of all children, enabling an inclusive culture across the nursery. As a result, all children receive the help they need at the earliest opportunity to make secure progress from their starting points.