Pumpkin Patch Nursery Wish Park Hove

Inclusion: Strong standard

Leaders are deeply committed to supporting children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who face other barriers to learning and/or wellbeing, creating an environment where all children thrive. They seamlessly create an inclusive provision to make sure that children receive the necessary support in a timely way to make the progress they are capable of. For example, children with English as an additional language receive specialist support in addition to the regular support staff give them. Staff learn about children's home languages to ensure children can fully engage and participate in activities. In addition, staff use sign language and picture communication strategies to further support all children's communication skills.

Leaders and staff work in partnership with parents, the local authority and external professionals well to plan and implement programmes that help children who face barriers to learning. They use additional funding extremely well to enhance equipment and provide children with specialist or one-to-one support as needed. Leaders and staff continually enhance their knowledge and understanding through participating in a wide range of training, including training on the graduated approach. As a result, children receive the best possible support through a coordinated approach to prepare them effectively for their future education.

Curriculum and teaching: Strong standard

All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who face other barriers to learning and/or wellbeing, benefit from the carefully planned and sequenced curriculum. Leaders and staff spend time getting to know each individual child and family through a supportive induction process. Staff gather detailed information and learn about each child's uniqueness. They skilfully tailor support to help children take their next steps in learning. Leaders and staff are ambitious for all children. They adapt activities thoughtfully to provide a personalised curriculum as and when appropriate.

Staff know their key children extremely well. They plan interesting activities that children become highly engaged in. Children develop excellent perseverance and concentration skills, as they enjoy taking part in activities with highly skilled staff. For example, they confidently learn how to make their own paper. Staff support and encourage children, enhancing their mathematical and language skills through discussion, such as purposeful counting and measuring as they work together with their friends. For instance, children count and talk in detail about the smells, shapes and sizes of the different herbs, spices and flowers they are adding to their paper. This ensures children are extremely well supported to learn through their interests in an environment that supports their needs.

Achievement: Strong standard

Children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who face other barriers to learning and/or wellbeing, progress well from their starting points. They develop positive attitudes to their learning and learn to express themselves clearly and with confidence. Children are very well prepared for transitions across the nursery, including moving on to school.

Children benefit from regular opportunities to explore familiar books and stories. They enjoy taking part in small-group activities, such as playing card games. Children patiently wait for their turn and show a clear understanding of the rules of the game. They take the lead in their play and show a love of learning. Children articulate what they are doing, such as when they set up a shop in the home corner and talk about how much the shopping is. Children, including those who speak English as an additional language, make rapid progress in their communication and language development.

Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines: Strong standard

Leaders and staff create a calm and respectful environment. They set clear expectations for behaviour, and routines are well embedded into the nursery. Children know what is expected of them and consistently demonstrate impeccable behaviour, reflecting the nurturing environment and dedicated guidance provided by staff.

During group times, children talk about the setting's 'golden rules' and what they mean. They confidently show their understanding of why the rules and boundaries are in place as they share resources willingly, speak kindly to their friends and model positive actions, which creates a respectful and productive culture. Staff teach children how to keep themselves safe. For example, children learn how to use hammers safely. Children remind their friends about putting on safety goggles and gloves as they delight at using the tools. Staff are positive role models who are consistent in their approach to helping children to regulate their emotions, providing calm spaces for children as they need them. As a result, children have consistently positive attitudes to their learning and to each other.

Leaders value their partnership working with parents. They ensure there is a shared understanding of the importance of good attendance and punctuality. Parents feel well supported and value the opportunities and support their children receive. As a result, children attend regularly, settle quickly and relish their time at nursery.

Children's welfare and wellbeing: Strong standard

Leaders have established a robust key-person system where staff get to know all children and families incredibly well, building strong attachments from when children start. Staff gain a comprehensive and detailed knowledge of children's unique personalities and learning styles, which they share with other staff to ensure they all have a secure understanding about each individual child, including those who face barriers to learning and/or wellbeing.

Staff promote long-lasting healthy habits by providing regular opportunities for children to develop their physical health and independence. Children develop a love of being outdoors, where they benefit from being active in the fresh air. They talk about the weather and independently put on appropriate clothes to keep themselves warm and dry. Staff consistently encourage children to manage their own personal hygiene, such as wiping their nose. These routines help children develop independence.

Children learn about healthy eating and keeping themselves safe. For example, they are supported to use knives safely as they cut the fruit for snack and talk about healthy foods. Children play an active role in completing daily risk assessments and share what they have found with their friends, using their knowledge to keep each other safe. Consequently, they are confident, manage their own risks very effectively and develop an extremely good understanding of how to stay safe and make healthy choices.

Leadership and governance: Strong standard

Leaders are highly reflective of the service they provide for children and families. They are passionate about the nursery and have an excellent understanding of how children learn. Leaders support staff well to ensure that the quality of experiences for all children is of a consistently high standard, including for those with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those that face other barriers to learning and/or wellbeing.

Leaders provide staff with regular, effective supervision and support for their wellbeing, recognising the importance of this. They regularly monitor the quality of teaching and prioritise a rich programme of professional development for staff. This ensures staff have a clear and detailed understanding of the ethos behind their curriculum. Furthermore, they are supported to gain qualifications and complete courses that allow them to gain further knowledge and expertise, such as learning about forest and beach schools. Leaders encourage staff to share their expertise, acting as 'champions' of particular areas of learning. This supports staff to provide rich learning experiences through high-quality teaching to support all children's learning and development.

Leaders work in partnership with local schools and invite them to attend events within the nursery. They provide a range of workshops for families, such as to support children starting school. This provides children with a consistent approach to their care and education.