Our Lady Queen of Peace Day Nursery

Inclusion: Strong standard

Leaders and staff embed inclusive practice across the nursery. This ensures that all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who speak English as an additional language, participate fully and make good progress. Staff identify children's needs through observations, discussions with parents and carers and ongoing reviews. Leaders track children's progress carefully and check that support is timely and effective.

Leaders prioritise staff training so staff understand and apply the graduated approach. Staff use clear strategies to assess needs, plan support, implement adjustments and review impact. Staff use visual prompts, modelling, small-group learning and targeted one-to-one support to help children communicate, join routines and engage in learning. As a result, children build confidence and develop social interaction and language skills.

Leaders use early years pupil premium to reduce gaps for disadvantaged children. They target funding to provide additional resources, including communication and language support, sensory materials and small-group teaching. Leaders also use funding to strengthen staff's professional development and enhance the quality of teaching further. This helps children to settle quickly, access learning consistently and make progress alongside their peers.

Curriculum and teaching: Strong standard

Leaders have developed a purposeful curriculum that builds progressively on children's learning across all areas. Staff balance adult-led and child-initiated experiences so children explore, investigate and develop communication and problem-solving skills. Staff use modelling, purposeful questioning and visual support to extend children's thinking.

Staff use assessment well to check what children know and can do. They observe children daily and review their learning regularly to identify next steps. Staff use this information to tailor teaching to children's different starting points, needs and stages of development. This helps children to build knowledge securely and develop skills over time.

Children engage in a range of indoor and outdoor activities that link to the curriculum. Children explore sand and water play, comparing quantities and developing early mathematical understanding. Staff introduce new vocabulary and concepts as children play. Staff plan small-group sessions to support turn-taking, listening and communication. This helps children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those learning English as an additional language to join in confidently. Leaders check the implementation of the curriculum and provide focused training. This maintains consistency and ensures that children make progress.

Achievement: Strong standard

Children make sustained progress from their starting points. They develop confidence, independence and positive learning habits. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who speak English as an additional language make progress alongside their peers through targeted support, small-group work and visual resources.

Children use language more confidently during stories and role play. They increasingly speak in short sentences and share ideas with others. Children also develop early mathematical understanding through practical play, including counting, comparing and talking about amounts. Children explore resources independently, test ideas and solve simple problems as they play.

Outdoor learning supports children's achievements further. Children practise coordination, take turns and learn to negotiate with others. Children achieve age-appropriate milestones and leave the nursery well prepared for their next stage of learning, with secure communication skills and resilience.

Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines: Strong standard

Children respond well to clear routines across the nursery. Staff model calm, respectful interactions and provide consistent guidance. This helps children to understand expectations, regulate their feelings and develop positive attitudes to learning. Children share resources, take turns and cooperate with their peers.

Staff reinforce routines through daily practice, including snack time, group activities and outdoor play. Children wash their hands, help to prepare resources and wait for their turn. Staff use praise and encouragement to promote positive behaviour. Staff support children who find it difficult to regulate their emotions by teaching strategies to manage frustration and disappointment. As a result, children build resilience and confidence.

Leaders promote the importance of good attendance and punctuality. They communicate expectations clearly with parents and carers and explain how regular attendance supports children's learning, routines and emotional security. Staff welcome children on arrival and help them to settle quickly so they access learning straight away. When leaders notice patterns of late arrival or irregular attendance, they speak with families and offer support to improve consistency. This helps children to benefit from stable routines and uninterrupted learning experiences.

Children's welfare and wellbeing: Strong standard

Leaders and staff prioritise children's welfare and wellbeing across the nursery. Staff provide consistent care and build secure relationships with children. This helps children to settle quickly, feel safe and explore confidently. Staff support children to understand and express their feelings. They model calm strategies and provide reassurance when children need help to manage their emotions. This strengthens children's resilience and supports positive mental health.

Staff embed health and safety routines throughout the day. Children practise good hygiene, including regular handwashing and toothbrushing. Staff promote healthy choices by providing nutritious meals and snacks. Children help to choose and serve food at mealtimes. Staff use these routines to encourage independence and support children's social development. Children talk about what they notice, such as colours, tastes and quantities, which reinforces learning alongside wellbeing.

Outdoor play forms an important part of children's daily experiences. Children climb, balance and move confidently as they explore space and resources safely. Staff supervise closely and provide guidance to help children manage appropriate risks. The environment remains calm, welcoming and well organised. This supports children's confidence and helps them to engage fully with learning. Leaders monitor children's welfare effectively and adapt routines to meet individual needs. This ensures children thrive and are well prepared for their next stage.

Leadership and governance: Strong standard

Leaders provide effective leadership across the nursery. They communicate a clear vision and ensure staff understand expectations for children's learning, welfare and safety. Staff describe leaders as approachable and supportive. Leaders promote a reflective culture where staff share ideas and work consistently to improve practice.

Leaders use supervision sessions and professional development to strengthen staff's knowledge and maintain high standards. For example, leaders provide focused training to support inclusive practice and help staff meet children's individual needs. Leaders also use regular discussions and agreed actions to improve the consistency of practice across the day. This helps staff to deliver a more consistent experience for children.

Leaders review the quality of provision regularly and take prompt action when they identify areas to strengthen. For example, leaders refine routines and improve access to resources so children make choices independently and sustain their play for longer. Leaders evaluate the impact of these improvements through staff reflection and ongoing monitoring. This supports children's engagement and progress over time.

Leaders work well in partnership with parents and carers. They communicate regularly and value parents' views. This strengthens continuity between home and the nursery and supports children to settle quickly and thrive.