Robertsbridge Children's Services

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children benefit from an outstanding start to their learning and development in this exceptional nursery. Staff are highly experienced, caring and dedicated, and they create an extremely homely, welcoming and nurturing environment. Babies and children show how comfortable and happy they feel. They snuggle up to staff, involve them in their play and look to them confidently for reassurance if they need it. Children's laughter and happy voices fill the nursery.

Every child is valued, respected and included. Staff know each child and family exceptionally well. They put meticulous thought into how they plan activities and take full account of how every child prefers to learn, and what they are currently interested in. Children show real excitement about going to the field to pick blackberries. They have watched the blackberries ripen over time and are excited to know they are ready to pick. Children eagerly explain they are going to make a crumble pudding and relate this in a humorous way to the 'Gruffalo crumble' in one of their favourite stories. Staff build on this enthusiasm and eagerness to learn. They present activities in a creative and enticing way. This encourages children to become deeply engaged and thoroughly absorbed in their learning. For instance, children are enthralled and captivated as they listen to a staff member read a story about blackberry picking and relate it clearly and explicitly to their own experiences.

Children display exemplary levels of behaviour. They listen carefully, negotiate with one another to agree outcomes as they play and value what others have to say. Staff promote this positive behaviour exceptionally well. They praise children highly, so that children feel good about themselves and they clearly understand the importance of respect and simple boundaries. Children demonstrate confidence levels well beyond those typical for their age, which builds their resilience and prepares them exceptionally well for future learning.

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

• Children are at the heart of everything leaders set out to do. The leadership team and trustees are relentless in their approach towards reviewing practice, training and supporting staff and adapting the provision to meet the varying needs of all children and families. Funding is used exceptionally well to enhance children's learning experiences. Leaders plan for this incisively and target funding where it is most needed. This helps to ensure that any gaps in children's learning close rapidly.
• The nursery curriculum is skilfully structured and sequenced highly effectively from one room to the next. Babies and children develop an exceptional range of skills and knowledge that prepare them well for future learning. The curriculum is significantly enriched by frequent learning experiences outside and within the local village. Children are very much part of the village community and take part in many events, including laying a wreath at the village Remembrance Day service. Children also visit local places of interest and learn about the role of others. For instance, they visit the museum and learn about the intricate craft of ironmongery.
• Teaching is consistently outstanding. Staff plan meticulously for every child's learning needs. Babies delight in exploring different textures as they progress from sitting, to crawling, standing and walking. They wave excitedly through the carefully-designed low-level fencing at their older friends and siblings in the adjoining garden. This reflects the happy, family ethos. Older children delight in taking more risks in their play. They learn how to climb trees and balance on raised surfaces safely as staff have taught them how to do this. Children enjoy woodwork sessions and create items, such as bird boxes and use tools skilfully as they fully understand the possible dangers.
• Staff utilise every opportunity to build children's confidence and enable them to develop a range of skills. For example, as part of the curriculum, staff teach children how to ride a bicycle. Children progress from using balance bikes to riding two-wheeled bicycles unaided. This plays a significant role in building children's balance, coordination and core muscle development, which supports their overall physical development. Children are exceptionally proud of their achievements and develop an extremely positive 'can-do' approach to their learning.
• The development of children's language skills is exceptionally good. Staff quickly notice when a child may need extra support with their communication skills and put additional help in place swiftly. Staff introduce children to an extensive range of words and language through the daily routine. They provide an exceptional language-rich environment. Children learn and recognise simple rhyming words as they explore poetry and develop an excellent understanding of sounds that different letters represent. Children talk at length about what they are interested in and staff skilfully encourage children to remember facts from previous learning and expand on the range of words they readily recall and use.