Partou Bourne Explorers Day Nursery & Pre-School

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are eager to arrive and thoroughly enjoy the time they spend in the nursery. Staff work hard to create an exciting learning environment that is safe for all children who attend. Outdoor play opportunities are particularly strong in the nursery. Babies develop their physical skills and confidence in their own stimulating garden area. Older children explore the vast outdoor space and forest area. They enjoy picnic lunches and delight in eating the fruits and vegetables that they take pride in growing.

Staff plan and adapt activities based on children's interests and learning needs. For example, toddlers create pictures of their favourite farm animals and explore their habitat in sensory activities. Older children develop a deeper understanding of these animals during group discussions. They explore which animals produce the different types of milk they drink before comparing how they taste.

Staff adopt consistent strategies that support children of all ages to behave well in the nursery. They use group discussions to explore the impact that inappropriate behaviour has on others. Staff offer an abundance of praise and celebrate children's good behaviour. Toddlers cooperate well in activities. They share resources and take turns hunting for 'treasure' hidden in sand. Older children demonstrate good manners and confidently remind one another of the pre-school's rules.

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

• Staff place a sharp focus on supporting children's emotional well-being from the start. When allocating key staff, managers skilfully identify the close bonds that babies form with individual members of the team. Babies play in a calm and soothing environment, and are supported closely by nurturing staff. Older children learn how activities, such as yoga and mindfulness, help them to feel calm and relaxed.
• Staff make good use of regular group sessions. Children start the day with a positive attitude to learning by discussing the exciting activities they can explore. Older children remind one another of the setting's rules and why they are in place. Staff in the pre-school room skilfully organise these sessions to reflect the routines that children may experience at school. This prepares children well for their next stage of learning.
• Partnerships with parents are strong. Parents take children to their appropriate rooms each session. This provides them with the opportunity to have daily discussions with staff about children's development and well-being. Regular consultation sessions and an electronic journal system enable parents to stay up to date with children's progress. Parents are complimentary about staff and the deep understanding they have of their children. They appreciate the support that staff provide, for example, when dealing with challenging behaviour.
• Children develop a love of books from a young age. Babies cuddle up with staff to explore sensory books. Older children delight at interactive sessions where they recall and act out their favourite stories. For example, children and staff go on their own 'bear hunt' in the garden. Staff use books well to enhance children's language development. Babies mimic the noises of the animals they learn about. Older children explore the initial sounds of words in books and identify words that rhyme.
• The management team reflect well on the care provided and is committed to enhancing practice. Recent improvements to the environment and curriculum are demonstrated particularly well in the pre-school room. All staff in this area have a precise understanding of children's progress and are observed to be supporting their individual needs superbly. However, staff working with younger children do not always demonstrate such a strong understanding of the curriculum when promoting children's development.
• Children develop a good understanding of healthy lifestyles. They enjoy nutritious, home-cooked meals and continuous access to wonderful outdoor play opportunities in the extensive garden area. Staff use innovative approaches to support children's understanding of essential hygiene routines. In the pre-school room, staff introduce the character 'Sneezy Susan'. They support children to understand what happens to germs when they sneeze, and how using tissues minimises their spread.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• support staff who work with young children to develop a more robust understanding of the curriculum and consistently deliver high-quality learning opportunities.