Our Monkey Club CIC

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Staff have created a safe, warm and welcoming environment for all children. Children are greeted warmly by the staff, who talk to them about the plans for their session. The space, both indoors and outdoors, is set up with a wide range of resources, including a large home corner, self-selecting creative area and a comfortable space to settle down to look at a book. Children are secure and happy. They have strong relationships with staff. Staff listen to children and respect their opinions, giving them choices. For example, they explain what is about to happen when changing babies' nappies and wiping their noses. All children get plenty of exercise. They enjoy playing in the nursery garden every day. Children develop their physical skills well. They giggle, smile and chat as they push prams and pedal bikes around the garden.

Staff role model positive behaviours to support children to develop respectful relationships with others. Children are kind to each other and develop strong friendships. They are taught to be independent in their play, self-care and learning. For example, staff show children how to cut and peel their own fruit to enjoy during snack time then put their dishes in the bowl to wash. Staff support children to manage their own toileting and handwashing needs, and encourage them to keep having a go before they offer a helping hand. This gives children the key skills they need for their next steps in life.

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

• Leaders have a very clear vision for their setting. They reflect on their practice and strive to deliver high-quality care and education based on current research. Leaders appreciate and value staff and create a positive and supportive culture. Staff receive focused supervision meetings and training opportunities to ensure their knowledge is current and has an impact on children's learning. Leaders are passionate and committed to ensure all children receive the best start to their early education. This is embraced by all staff.
• Staff provide children with an ambitious and extremely well-thought-out curriculum that builds on what children already know and can do. Staff have good knowledge and understanding of children's development and set up exciting activities which capture children's interests and imagination. This promotes children's concentration and progress. For example, children spend time experimenting with water and comparing which boats travel the furthest. However, at times, staff miss opportunities to challenge and extend learning further so children can make even higher rates of progress.
• Staff create space for children to develop physical skills and move in different ways. Staff encourage children to balance and ride bikes to strengthen their big muscles. Children develop their fine motor skills as they spoon soil into saucepans in the mud kitchen. This prepares children for early mark making.
• Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) receive excellent support from skilled and knowledgeable staff. Staff work to implement strategies appropriate to children's individual needs. They work closely with parents and other agencies, following guidance and advice to meet children's needs. The shared responsibility to support children with SEND ensures that children receive the help they need to thrive. Each key person is dedicated to giving children the best chances. Parents are appreciative of this support and guidance.
• Staff develop children's communication and language. They speak with children frequently, asking questions such as 'I wonder if', and model how to hold a conversation. Children listen to staff, learn to share ideas and talk confidently. Staff give children time to think and respond to open questions. However, opportunities to extend vocabulary further, especially for older children to become excellent communicators with a rich variety of words, are sometimes missed.
• Partnerships with parents are good and well established. Parents are complimentary about the nursery. They comment on how friendly and caring the staff are. Parents praise staff for how they support children's dietary and medical needs, and they say that their children enjoy attending.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• continue to develop staff's understanding of how to extend and challenge children in their learning so that they make even better progress
• provide children with more opportunities to extend their vocabulary further.