Rising Stars Nursery Ruislip

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are secure, happy and enjoy their time in the nursery. Staff have high expectations for children and are attentive to their individual needs. Staff recognise when babies are tired and hungry and respond quickly to their needs, meaning that babies are relaxed and settle well. Children develop independence and manage their care needs well. They know to take off their shoes and coats and wash their hands. Babies learn to self-feed.

Children behave well and understand what is expected of them. They learn to respect others and use books and activities to develop an understanding of differences and similarities. For example, they celebrate events that are special to them.

Children of all ages and abilities explore and join in. Children show confidence, are eager to learn and try new experiences from an early age. For example, babies thoroughly enjoy sensory play. They explore the texture of rice. Older children have great fun mixing and pouring coloured water and adding ingredients as they pretend to make soup.

Children benefit from a broad curriculum and a wide range of learning opportunities and experiences, which help to support their development in all areas of their learning. Staff build on what children know, extending their skills and unique interests. For example, children enjoy identifying dinosaurs. They explore the texture, size and shape of toy dinosaurs and excitedly talk about which are 'smooth' and which have spikes.

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

• Overall, the ambitious curriculum helps all children to acquire the skills they need in preparation for their eventual move to school and to learn about life in modern Britain. A well-established key-person system helps children to feel at home. Staff and children interact warmly and share positive relationships. Children are confident to join in. Staff build on what children know and monitor children's progress.
• Staff work with parents and other professionals to target plans to support all children's learning. Children who need additional support benefit from focused activities. For example, staff support children's listening and language through small group activities, such as identifying 'what's in the box?' Children focus and listen, and they learn to take turns and follow instructions.
• Overall, children's communication and language is well supported. Children who speak English as an additional language have opportunities to use and hear home languages in the nursery. Staff use picture cards to support communication. However, occasionally, not all staff use the correct terminology to describe things, which reduces children's opportunities to learn words correctly.
• Staff encourage children to be healthy. Children try different fruits, which they have learned about during story time. Staff have recently completed training about oral health, which they promote through discussions, books and role-play activities. Children enjoy regular fresh air and exercise in the outdoor area. They strengthen their core muscles as they use the slide and climbing frame. Babies move from crawling to standing and from stretching to grasping objects.
• Children are eager and motivated to learn. A variety of indoor and outdoor activities support children's fascination with the world around them. Children enjoy exploring soil and use tools as they plant bulbs outside. As they role play being doctors, learning to care for others, they learn about people who help us.
• The enthusiastic team reflect on their practice and show a strong commitment to continuous improvement. Staff benefit from supervision, team meetings and guidance from the manager. All staff have opportunities for professional development. This helps to enhance staff knowledge and improves outcomes for children. Staff enjoy working in the nursery. They say that they feel valued and well supported and that the manager considers their well-being.
• Partnerships with parents are strong. Parents are well informed about their children's learning. Staff seek their views and suggest ways parents can extend and support children's learning at home. For example, children take books home and parents give feedback about what their children have learned. Parents speak highly of the caring and supportive staff. They comment that their children enjoy coming to nursery and are making strong progress.
• Children spend their time purposefully engaging in meaningful activities. However, occasionally, such as during routine tasks and transitions, the flow of play is interrupted. For example, children become restless as they queue to use the bathroom and wash their hands.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• support staff further to enhance children's developing vocabulary by ensuring they consistently use the correct words
• review daily routines to maximise learning opportunities for all children.