Noah's Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children settle quickly at the small and nurturing nursery. Staff focus on building secure relationships with children and families. They know children very well, which helps them to identify what children need to learn next. The curriculum is unique to individual children, which helps them to make progress from their individual starting points. Behaviour is good. Children listen carefully and follow instructions.

Children are happy and confident. Staff praise children, which helps to build their positive self-esteem. Children of different ages have opportunities to learn and play together. This allows older children the opportunity to be role models and for younger children to learn from their peers. Staff allow children to make their own choices about whether they would like to spend time indoors or outdoors.

Even the youngest children are confident asking staff for help when they need it. Staff encourage children to work together as a team to reach their goal. For example, children work together to build a track to balance on. Children form friendships with others and are eager to play and learn together.

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

• The curriculum is focused on individual children's needs. Children's progress is tracked and any areas for development are identified. Staff plan next steps for children that accurately reflect their needs. They plan activities for children to develop skills that are based on their interests. For example, babies play with farm animals. Staff teach babies what the animals are called and what noises they make. They encourage babies to repeat the noises. This helps children to engage with learning that interests them.
• There is good support for children's communication and language skills. Staff regularly sing and read to children. They repeat key words, which babies copy. Staff narrate everything they do throughout the day so that babies hear a wide variety of words. Older children hold engaging conversations and develop the skills they need to be confident communicators.
• Children show good independence skills at times. For example, pre-school children confidently wash their hands with little support. However, children are not supported to be fully independent at mealtimes. For example, staff feed pre-school children who are able to eat independently. On occasions such as these, children's independence is not fully promoted.
• Children show great pride in their accomplishments. For example, children carefully place their coats on the floor and put their arms in. They lift the coats over their heads to put them on. They are delighted as they receive praise from staff. This helps children to develop their confidence.
• Diversity is celebrated at the nursery. For example, children share their cultural festivals with their friends through dress and food. Children have opportunities to learn to appreciate and value each other's differences. This helps to make the setting inclusive and welcoming for all.
• Children's behaviour is good. Staff implement strong routines that help children to understand what they need to do and when. For example, when going outside, pre-school children learn how to line up and wait for a member of staff. This helps children to gain an understanding of what is expected of them.
• Staff provide activities to support children to develop their focus and attention. For example, pre-school children sit in a circle and identify the features of others as they roll a ball to each other. This helps them to develop their concentration in readiness for future learning.
• Overall, staff support children to manage age-appropriate risks. For example, while playing outdoors, children are supported to climb confidently under the close supervision of staff. That said, staff do not teach children about how to keep themselves safe online. This means that children have not learned about online dangers and what to do if they have concerns.
• Staff undertake a variety of training. For example, in mathematics, music and outdoor learning. This supports staff to make adaptations to the curriculum and the environment to further develop the provision and meet children's needs. Effective professional development helps staff to build on their knowledge and skills and to improve their practice consistently over time.
• Parents comment on the nurturing and caring environment that staff provide for children. Staff share children's progress with parents and give them ideas on what they can work on with children at home. This means that children's learning is consistent between the setting and home.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• support children to develop their independence skills consistently
• develop the curriculum to include internet safety so that children learn how to keep themselves safe online.