Rhymetime Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children grow in confidence and independence rapidly at this very friendly, welcoming nursery. They show they feel safe and secure as they build extremely strong bonds with the nurturing staff, who know the children incredibly well. Children freely explore the well-resourced setting. They make choices as they select from new and interesting activities on offer and become deeply engrossed in play. Babies practise hand-to-eye coordination as they make marks with crayons, and put them in to the correct place when they have finished. Toddlers relish the sensory experience of messy play, as they snap and crunch crackers. They pinch alphabet spaghetti and copy the sounds from the new words they hear. Pre-school children use their imagination, as they pour water into saucepans of mud to make mud pies for their restaurant. They enthusiastically talk about what ingredients they need as staff support them to remember past cooking activities.

Staff in the fully inclusive setting ensure all children have access to everything that is on offer. For example, the provider has a supply of summer hats and winter waterproofs and boots for children to use. This means that children can dress appropriately and explore the outdoors daily. Outside, children have fun splashing in puddles and staff use this activity to build on their interests. For example, staff include mathematical concepts, as children count down to jump and see who can make the biggest splash. Children's behaviour is exceptionally well supported by staff. They learn to be respectful towards each other, share well and take turns.

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

• The curriculum is highly ambitious and very well planned. Staff take a child-centred approach, tailored to specific needs of the children, which ensures children make rapid progress from their starting points. The highly qualified staff skilfully plan activities that are interesting and appropriately challenging. This supports children to make the best possible individual progress.
• Staff support for children's developing communication and language skills is outstanding. They model language and support children to extend their sentences. They ask detailed questions, leaving plenty of time for children to respond. As a result, children's imaginative skills are promoted and supported. For instance, during role play children learn new words, such as 'stethoscope', as they 'listen to baby's heart.'
• Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), have excellent support. The nursery's qualified special needs and disabilities coordinator (SENCo) supports staff to quickly identify children's specific needs and swiftly implement action plans, to ensure that no child is left behind. She has a wealth of knowledge, and provides fantastic support for both staff and parents, to ensure that gaps in children's development are closing rapidly.
• Staff enthusiastically model mathematical vocabulary to children. Children become excited and involved as they recognise numbers of personal significance. They learn about capacity when they play in the sand, and investigate how much a container can hold before it becomes full.
• Partnerships with parents are excellent. Staff work exceptionally closely with them to ensure that children's care and learning needs are met. Staff are quick to offer support to families in need, helping them to access any assistance they require. Parents talk positively about children's key-person relationships and communication from staff.
• The nursery provides a wealth of support for children who speak English as an additional language. Staff gather information from parents, and use books and other resources that reflect cultural diversity. Staff learn useful words in the children's home language, such as water and milk.
• Staff are highly successful at providing children with a rich set of experiences that give them a understanding of the wider world. For example, during Diwali, parents provided traditional clothing for children to try and shared recipes for children to make Indian treats.
• Managers recognise the importance of children's health, and go above and beyond to ensure this is prioritised. For instance, they organise a dentist to regularly visit the setting promoting oral health among children and parents. Staff model good hygiene, and remind children to drink to stay hydrated and to eat healthy snacks and meals. They manage rest and sleep safely, and encourage exercise indoors and out, to develop children's physical skills and well-being.
• The very experienced manager and director provide strong support to their dedicated staff team. They support staff to keep their skills updated and continuously improve their knowledge. All staff work very well together and are passionate about the work they do and the service which they provide. Staff say they feel valued and enjoy working as a team.