Partou Dulwich Sports Ground Day Nursery & Pre-School

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are happy and thrive at this welcoming nursery. Staff provide a well-planned curriculum that supports children to make good progress in their development from their starting points. Staff create a nurturing environment that helps babies to feel emotionally secure, allowing them to confidently explore their surroundings. For example, babies develop their mobility skills as they climb steps on the baby gym, responding with excitement to the aeroplanes they see out of the window. Staff enhance children's communication and language by discussing the aeroplanes destinations and singing the 'Zoom' song to engage the children further.

Older children are confident communicators, sharing their thoughts and ideas during story time. Staff bring stories to life with enthusiasm, which encourages children to reflect on their own experiences. Children confidently talk about holidays they have been on and name different countries. Toddlers enjoy multi-sensory play, where they excitedly explore textures such as foam. They learn to be independent as they self-serve their own meals and scrape their plate once they have finished.

The nursery environment is calm, as staff guide children's behaviour through gentle reminders, such as using 'kind hands' and 'walking feet'. Older children demonstrate kindness and care towards the younger children, fostering an atmosphere of respect and empathy.

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

• The management team are committed and reflective. Evaluation systems are in place to identify areas where routines and practices can be improved to enhance outcomes for children. For instance, a recent review of the lunchtime routines has improved organisational arrangements and supported children to develop their independence further.
• Staff enjoy their work and feel well supported by the management team. They like the training opportunities they receive to build their knowledge and expertise. Although the management team support staff in delivering a challenging curriculum, staff supervision is not always sufficiently focused on how to raise the quality of teaching even further.
• Older children frequently use their early mathematical skills. During role play, they create shopping lists and complete simple addition as they calculate how many items they have. They confidently count and compare shapes and sizes. They explore concepts such as symmetry while making dough butterflies and learn that this means each side is identical.
• Younger children enjoy singing songs, they enthusiastically join in and copy actions. Toddlers make connections with their peers as they join up in pairs to sing the 'Row your boat' song. They giggle with delight as they pretend to scream at the crocodile. Staff are considerate towards babies and treat them with kindness. For example, before changing nappies, staff explain to children what they are going to do and sing songs to help children to feel comfortable.
• Staff track children's progress and use this information to identify any emerging gaps and plan for children's next steps. There are systems in place to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, which include working in partnership with parents. However, staff do not always give sufficient consideration as to how they can support children who have a speech delay to enhance their development further.
• Parents say their children enjoy attending the nursery and have seen their children make good progress in their learning. Parents value the feedback on their children's development and appreciate the ideas staff provide to support learning at home. During the admission stage, parents share key words in their child's home language to help staff support a smooth settling-in process.
• Staff give high priority to children's health. All children benefit from daily outdoor play, where they develop their physical skills, coordination and spatial awareness. Staff ensure that children are protected from the sun and remind children about the importance of staying hydrated in hot weather. Children enjoy healthy and nutritious meals and snacks. Staff use opportunities to talk to children about what foods are good for us, which helps children to learn about healthy lifestyles.
• Children behave well and learn to manage their feelings and emotions. They learn to share, take turns and to be considerate towards others. Staff help children to understand the routines by singing songs, such as the 'Tidy up song'. Children are keen to help and staff celebrate their achievements, which builds children's self-esteem.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• embed staff supervision arrangements fully to raise the quality of teaching to a consistently high level
• review the support provided for children who have speech delay to ensure they make the best possible progress.