One Small Step Day Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Parents and children are very much welcomed and valued in this highly inclusive nursery. Staff and parents consider themselves to be 'one big family'. Staff's warm and supportive approach contributes to the remarkable confidence and sense of belonging that children show. Managers developed new ways of working during the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, they used electronic communication to maintain these relationships. This helped to minimise any potential impact on children's care, learning and development.

Children thrive in the care of staff, who know them extremely well. They are happy and inquisitive learners who readily join in with the well-thought-out activities. Babies happily explore different textures, such as foam and dough. Toddlers paint pictures using different tools. This helps to develop their imagination and creativity.

Staff have high overall expectations of what children can achieve and prepare them well for their later learning. Staff encourage younger children to make marks and learn to recognise some letters and words. Older children use early writing in their play, forming some letters and numbers correctly. Children learn to consider one another's feelings. Pre-school children work together with their friends during play. They stack tyres and planks to make a walkway in the garden.

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

• Managers plan a broad and balanced curriculum that includes experiences for children across all areas of learning. Staff then use this overview to provide focused activities that match their key children's interests and abilities. Staff's good teaching helps all children to learn more and remember more.
• Staff identify possible gaps in children's learning at an early stage. The manager and staff work alongside other professionals to get children the help they need, with the close involvement of parents. This helps to ensure that all children make the progress that they are capable of.
• Children listen well and pay attention to staff. They enjoy frequent stories, rhymes and songs during effective group times on the carpet. Staff model lots of language, which helps children to learn new words quickly, overall. However, occasionally, staff do not give children who are learning to speak, or developing their confidence to speak, enough time and opportunities to do so.
• Staff encourage children to make decisions in their play. Generally, children choose from the good-quality resources and lead their own learning successfully. However, occasionally, staff focus on small groups of children and do not consistently have an oversight of other children's activity in the room. They overlook some children who may need a little more support to actively engage in purposeful play in order to raise their achievements even further.
• Relationships with parents are superb. Staff frequently share highly detailed information with them. This helps them to be successful partners in their child's learning. They explain that staff 'go the extra mile', and they are completely reassured that their children are safe and very well cared for.
• Managers use additional funding well to support eligible children. For example, they have provided resources that encourage children to cooperate and work together. This has helped quieter, less-confident children in nursery to form friendships.
• Staff understand how children's experiences can affect their behaviour, and they have a positive approach to managing more challenging behaviour. They have very good knowledge of different strategies that can help children to manage their feelings and frustrations. Children know what is expected of them and they learn right from wrong.
• Children learn about the world around them. Staff take them on regular outings, for example, to the park, nearby shops and to their own allotment. They teach children about different lifestyles and about the similarities and differences between themselves and others. Children develop a sense of respect, which helps to prepare them for life in modern Britain.
• Staff teach children about the importance of living a healthy lifestyle. For example, they talk about the effect food has on the body and how some foods and drinks are not good for your teeth. Children learn how to clean their teeth to improve their oral health.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• increase staff's awareness of children who may need help to take part in self-chosen play and engage more effectively in their learning
• enhance staff's already good teaching to give children more time and opportunities to answer questions and practise new words.