Pathfield Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children receive a warm welcome from the friendly and kind staff. They settle quickly and show that they are happy and content at the nursery. Children form strong and secure relationships with the staff who care for them. The youngest children confidently hand toys to staff and sit on their laps to play together. Older children involve staff in their imaginary play. Staff support children to learn to be independent in managing their needs throughout the nursery. Staff involve children in tidying up and children enjoy taking responsibility for their resources.

The leader and the manager have effective knowledge and understanding of what they want children to learn and achieve. They create a stimulating curriculum through core books that incorporate children's interests and next steps. The activities keep children engaged and motivated to learn and children develop a love of books. For instance, children have tremendous fun discovering how to melt ice. The youngest children squeal with delight as they play peekaboo with coloured scarves.

Children demonstrate good behaviour. Staff have a consistent approach to managing behaviour. This helps children to know what is expected of them and helps them to feel secure and listened to. Children from a young age are taught the importance of sharing and taking turns.

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

• The manager and the leader ensure that children have access to a wide curriculum offering exciting learning opportunities. Children's developmental starting points are established through observations and discussions with parents. Through understanding children's interests and needs, the staff ensure that children's learning is planned for effectively and that it is well sequenced.
• All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, make good progress from their starting points. Staff ensure that they get to know families really well and work with outside agencies to set targets and help each child to thrive. The experienced special educational needs coordinator helps other staff to understand children's individual needs and how to support them.
• Staff teach children good communication, language and literacy skills. For example, staff read a wide range of books with children. They sing nursery rhymes and action songs, and children repeat repetitive phrases, which builds their vocabulary. Staff support children's language through daily targeted language sessions.
• Staff support children's creative development effectively. For instance, children enjoy experiencing different textures as they play with ice cubes, play dough and sticking arts and crafts. Babies enjoy exploring a range of textures and materials, such as foam to make a snow scene.
• Children are provided with ample opportunities to be physically active and have daily access to the well-resourced garden. Children develop their physical skills well as they enjoy weekly music sessions and sports sessions with a coach. Staff support children to develop their small-muscle skills in preparation for early writing.
• Staff are good role models and children eagerly invite them to join their play. However, at times, the daily routine can disrupt children's play and learning. For example, the transition before snack and mealtimes can be disorganised and children can be sat waiting for too long. This limits the opportunities for children to extend and continue their learning.
• Staff support children to develop their understanding of mathematics well. They encourage children to use the language of size and weight, such as 'big', 'small', 'large' and 'heavy'. Staff incorporate counting into everyday activities. For example, children eagerly match numerals during a matching game and spontaneously count as they play.
• Staff have very strong partnerships with parents. Parents say that staff are genuinely interested in and care for children. Staff give parents regular updates on children's progress in flexible and effective ways. They provide good opportunities for parents to support their children's learning at home. For instance, staff share the core books and what the children will be learning so that parents can support this learning at home.
• The manager supports staff very well. She meets with each member of staff regularly to discuss their well-being and work performance. The leader and the manager evaluate all aspects of the nursery and set clear goals for improvement.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• support staff to understand how to adapt the daily routine to enable children to continue to engage in purposeful play and learning.