Pelican Place Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children enter a heart-warming environment where they feel respected, valued and loved by staff and each other. Children excitedly 'high five' staff members. They go to staff when they are upset and need reassurance and give staff big hugs. Children are happy, confident and make friends easily. Staff provide an exceptionally enabling environment that is outstandingly well thought out. Children are curious about the world around them. They excitedly explore different flowers, smelling them and making their own potions. Children show high levels of patience and perseverance. They carefully balance balls and roll them down tubes.

Children are exceptionally well behaved. Staff set clear boundaries in a calm and gentle manner. Children know exactly what is expected of them and show high levels of respect for staff and each other. Staff show children lots of patience and listen to them closely. They skilfully manage disagreements, helping children to develop high levels of self-regulation and empathy. Even the youngest children understand how to share and be kind to their peers. Children's physical development is well catered for. Children develop strong physical skills for their ages. Even the youngest children learn to balance and take risks safely. Children build upper arm strength through completing activities, such as pressing sticks into clay, in preparation for early writing skills. Staff provide an extensive range of opportunities for children to develop their independence from a very early age. Children delight in serving their own dinner, washing their hands, wiping their noses and helping to tidy up toys and resources.

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

• The management team has very high expectations of staff. All staff have an outstanding knowledge of how children learn and develop. Staff are enthusiastic and passionate about their roles. Their dedication to children's learning is clear to see throughout the nursery. All staff have a firm understanding of the curriculum intentions and implement them seamlessly. Staff incorporate learning at every opportunity. Consequently, all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, make excellent progress.
• Staff well-being is a high priority for the provider and the management team. Staff are exceptionally well supported in all aspects of their role. All staff comment on how much support they have and that they thoroughly love their job.
• The management team and staff have thrived, despite several unexpected changes to the management structure recently. This is testament to the secure monitoring and strong staff team the provider has in place. Highly focused professional development plans are in place for all staff. Leaders encourage staff to progress in their careers and access training to further develop their knowledge and skills.
• Staff actively support children's understanding of people beyond their immediate experience. Staff complete in-depth research into each child's culture and ways of life. Staff welcome questions and celebrate everyone. Children recently had a visit from a dentist, where they asked them questions about their job. Children who speak English as an additional language are excellently supported to use their home language in their play.
• Children become confident and able communicators. Staff introduce new words at every opportunity and routinely help children to consolidate their knowledge of words. Younger children are encouraged to speak in two- and three-word sentences, while older children are helped to engage in longer conversations.
• Staff do not miss a moment when it comes to learning opportunities. They are at children's level, ready to involve themselves in children's play when they see an opportunity to extend learning. Staff are excited to be around the children. Their enthusiasm aids children's learning to the highest of levels. Children develop high levels of concentration, listening to staff enact stories, use different voices and introduce props.
• Partnerships with parents are exemplary. Staff are meticulous in their approach to helping parents support learning at the nursery and at home. Parents are fully immersed in the curriculum and are able to take home learning bags, books and other resources to meet their children's learning needs. Recently, parents took part in making 'bug hotels' with their children at home.
• Staff are very in tune with children's individual needs. As a result, children experience a seamless transition between nursery rooms and eventually the move to school. These transitions are carefully planned in partnership with parents so they can aid their children's move as best as possible.