Play 'n' Learn Nurseries Limited

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children flourish in this warm and nurturing nursery. Staff are kind and attentive towards children, which helps them to settle in swiftly. They adapt their approach to meet each child's individual needs. Children quickly become confident to approach new people to ask questions, showing their sense of security.

Staff plan and provide a rich and varied curriculum for children. This supports every child, including those who have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), to become well-prepared for the next stage in their learning. Children learn mathematical concepts through pretend play. They use different sized scoops to fill up containers that they pretend are ice creams. Older children enjoy listening to a story staff read to them about aliens and underpants. Older children confidently count the number of underpants in the illustration up to 20.

Children thrive in the exciting outdoor learning environment where they develop an array of physical skills. Children learn how to take turns as they throw, kick and catch balls, and ride on a seesaw. They practise jumping on a trampoline and crawling through tunnels. Children develop their coordination skills by using balance bikes to move around and negotiate spaces. They independently use jugs to pour their own drinks.

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

• Leaders and managers are dedicated to giving every child the best possible nursery experience. The manager is highly reflective and has an accurate oversight of the quality of provision. She has already identified some minor inconsistencies in staff's teaching skills and has plans in place to provide further support. That said, these plans are still in their infancy and have not yet been fully embedded to raise the quality of teaching consistently to the highest level.
• Children are supported to learn about how to lead a healthy lifestyle. Staff talk to children during activities about the impact of food on their bodies, such as the effect that sugar has on their teeth. Children practise using toothbrushes to clean the teeth on dolls. Staff talk to them about the importance of brushing their own teeth and introduce them to the role of a dentist. Children follow good hygiene routines at mealtimes, such as learning how to wash their own hands.
• Children who have SEND receive high-quality support. The coordinator liaises with other professionals in a timely way and devises individualised plans that focus on their specific needs. Staff understand how to successfully implement these so that every child reaches their potential.
• Children generally behave well because staff set clear expectations and boundaries. When children become frustrated and struggle to express themselves, staff gently remind them how to communicate using their words.
• Staff are quick to help children to resolve conflicts with their friends, which supports children to gradually learn how to do this for themselves.
• Staff know children well. They complete observations and assessments of children's development and use this to identify what each child needs to learn next. Staff use this information to plan and provide a range of activities and experiences that support children to make good progress in their learning. However, some children are less confident in choosing their own play. As a result, they sometimes spend more time wandering around or watching others, which means they do not benefit as much from the experiences on offer.
• Staff provide high levels of support for children's communication and language development. They model the names of animals that younger children play with and give them time to try and repeat these. Staff often introduce new words to children during their play, such as 'vanilla', and take every opportunity to sing songs and rhymes. Consequently, children become fluent and confident communicators.
• Parents are very complimentary about the nursery. They say that staff are friendly and welcoming, and that their children love attending. Parents receive information about their child's care and learning through an online app, which helps to provide continuity between nursery and home.
• Staff comment that they feel well supported by leaders and managers. The provider has high regard for staff's well-being and provides access to external support for any staff who may need this. Regular supervision opportunities are provided to discuss staff's continuous professional development and to focus on the progress and interests of individual children.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• embed the arrangements for the coaching and support for all staff to raise the quality of teaching consistently to the highest level
• explore ways to support children who are less confident to become more consistently engaged in their play and learning.