Quadrant House Private Day Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Staff create a friendly and warm atmosphere. They greet children with an enthusiastic welcome each morning. Children arrive happy and settle quickly. This is a friendly nursery where children are content and eager to learn. Children are provided with opportunities to practise what they already know and also to try new things. Staff have high expectations of children and teaching provides challenge to extend knowledge and skills beyond current capabilities. For instance, children are encouraged to half-fill, fill and empty containers. This challenging task extends children's knowledge of measurements and quantity in very practical, hands-on ways. Children are curious to learn. This curiosity and intrigue creates a foundation to learning through exploration. They eagerly find hidden numbers in sand, squealing and giggling as they locate the missing items. Children begin to recognise numbers during this exciting task. Mathematics is skilfully weaved into everyday play. Children enjoy books. Stories are delivered in an animated and fun manner. Staff's enthusiasm, humour and energy help to excite children about literacy. This promotes a love of reading from a very early age.

Staff praise children continually and small rewards are used to help to celebrate children's achievements. Children behave well. They understand what is expected of them, follow instructions and are helpful and considerate towards others. For instance, children show delight when they help their friends at lunchtime. They show a sense of self-worth, emotional resilience and friendships flourish. The manager is acutely aware of the impact the recent COVID-19 pandemic has had on families and children. Staff report that children's emotional confidence has been affected by recent lockdown restrictions. In response, activities specifically aimed to build children's emotional confidence and social skills are provided. Children enjoy their time in this friendly and stimulating nursery.

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

• Teamwork amongst staff is strong. Staff are respectful and polite towards each other. They delegate tasks and share responsibilities fairly between themselves. This ensures children's needs are quickly met and children witness how to work well with others. Many staff have worked at the setting for a number of years. Staff consistency provides reassurance and familiarity for children. This contributes to children's secure emotional well-being.
• Learning in this nursery is fun. Children enjoy a broad range of well-planned activities and games. They remain continually busy and learn through play and exploration.
• Teaching is good. Notably, staff are attentive role-models. They play with children and suggest ideas to extend learning. Staff take great pride in their roles as teachers and nurture children through their skilful interactions.
• Staff make good use of questioning to develop older children's vocabulary and language skills. Younger children hear plenty of repetition. Singing helps to improve children's already good communication skills through rhythm and rhyme. All children become confident communicators.
• Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are very well supported and make good progress. Excellent links with wider professionals and external agencies are established, and children receive tailored care to meet their unique needs.
• Staff carefully observe children. These ongoing and well-established observation systems help staff to know what children like and can do. Staff use this knowledge to plan tailored activities with appropriate challenge. Children are well supported and make good progress.
• Staff share regular updates with parents about their children's experiences at the end of each day. Communication with home is good. However, staff do not regularly share practical, simple ideas to encourage parents to continue their children's learning outside of the setting. A stronger collaborative approach will help to speed up learning and development.
• The nursery owner and management team are ambitious. The overarching aim and driving principles for the nursery are for children to be happy and make good all round progress. However, there is not currently a precise plan to focus improvement and drive development rapidly.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• strengthen partnerships with parents. Provide practical, simple ideas for parents to continue to support children's learning at home and help children to make rapid progress
• consider the views of parents, staff and children and identify clear targets to improve and raise already good outcomes for children even more.