Playdor Nursery School

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provider is dedicated to creating a fun and exciting learning experience for all children at the nursery. The sensitive staff welcome and support babies to form attachments and to feel secure in their new surroundings. As children progress through the nursery, they become increasingly confident and independent. Staff are good role models and children eagerly respond to their cues. For instance, children listen for the tambourine to signal that it is time to tidy up and they keenly help to put away resources. The broad and ambitious curriculum helps children to gain a good breadth of experiences and sparks interesting discussions. Staff support children to build firm foundations for their future learning and for life.

Staff support children to develop their interpersonal skills and to gain an understanding of others. The partnership with a local care home enables children to build bonds with and learn from people of a different generation, for example. Children's overall well-being is thoughtfully considered and promoted in a holistic manner. For instance, specific sessions to encourage free movement are implemented and are linked to children's emotional responses and development. Children make good progress in their learning and development in readiness for the next stage of their education.

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

• The provider intuitively harnesses staff's expertise to build a strong curriculum. For instance, staff with a love for art or the outdoors support the team to implement these areas of teaching. Staff's passion for their subjects shines and informs engaging sessions that promote children's development and progress well.
• Staff well-being is a focus for the provider and staff generally report feeling well supported. However, the deployment of staff does not always fully support them to promote children's learning to the best of their ability. Children make good progress overall. However, on occasion staff do not have enough support in their room to ensure that they can teach children consistently well throughout the day.
• The curriculum is ambitious for all children and staff ensure that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities have timely access to appropriate support. Additional funding is spent thoughtfully to support children's individual needs. Staff work with other professionals and families to support all children well. This helps children to make good progress from their individual starting points.
• Relationships with parents are a priority which fosters an inclusive ethos throughout the setting. Parents are encouraged to get involved with the nursery and to share their own knowledge. For instance, parents share recipes from their families' heritage for international celebrations at nursery. Parents share experiences from home which staff use to skilfully build on children's interests. This supports the consistency of children's care and learning.
• Staff support children to appreciate and celebrate how they are each unique. Children learn about different family dynamics, for instance. Outings in the local area help to build their sense of belonging in the community. Children begin to understand more about the wider world.
• Staff support children's independence skills well. Children learn to take care of their belongings and to carry out tasks for themselves and help others where possible. Children proudly take their turn helping staff to distribute lunches and set the tables at mealtimes, for instance. Children enjoy meals as calm and social occasions. They learn important life skills.
• Children confidently lead their own play, choosing from enticing resources and activities which are planned well to build on their knowledge and understanding. Children maintain focus and are engaged in their learning. They concentrate well and persevere when they find a task tricky. For instance, children try different types of scissors, with staff's support, as they cut up herbs to add to their play dough.
• Staff promote children's confidence in their communications as they continually prompt discussions and offer new vocabulary. Children are curious about and confident to approach and chat to visitors to their nursery. Children enjoy sharing books and stories. They become confident in their sense of selves and their abilities to communicate.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• review how staff are deployed to support staff in each room to consistently teach children to the best of their ability.