Rose Cottage Day Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children arrive happy and ready to start their day. They are warmly welcomed by the kind and caring staff. Staff provide a nurturing environment where all children thrive. Staff form strong relationships with children and are attuned to their individual needs. For example, when children are feeling sad, staff quickly reassure them with cuddles. This supports children's overall well-being. The key person approach is firmly embedded. All staff have a strong understanding of children's individual progress, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). They know children well and plan purposeful next steps for their development. All children make good progress from their individual starting points.

Staff create an exciting curriculum, tailored to meet children's individual needs at their different stages of development. Learning experiences are carefully sequenced to promote children's physical development. For example, babies strengthen their core muscles by pulling themselves up using soft blocks. Younger children enhance their gross motor skills by filling and emptying containers in the garden. Older children practise fine motor skills such as cutting, and staff offer gentle reminders about safe scissor use. Children show good coordination skills. They demonstrate positive attitudes towards their learning.

Staff hold high expectations for children's behaviour and model it consistently. Children respond well to instructions and follow guidance from staff. For instance, they understand the routine of tidying the indoor space before heading outside to play. Children are courteous and kind, and they engage well with their peers.

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

• Leaders have designed a broad and rich curriculum. Overall, it meets the needs of the children in the nursery well, particularly in developing communication and language skills. However, staff do not always implement the curriculum in the same way across the nursery. For example, on some occasions, staff do not encourage younger children to take out their dummy when singing songs. Therefore, children do not always receive the same opportunities to ensure consistency in their learning.
• Support for children with SEND is a strength in the nursery. Staff regularly assess each child's learning and quickly identify any emerging needs. This allows them to provide targeted support. For example, they complete language screening assessments to apply targeted strategies and close gaps in learning. This focused approach is a real strength, and as a result, children with SEND make superb progress.
• Staff generally manage daily routines well. For example, older children move between activities with ease and independence. However, at times, staff spend extended periods focused on other tasks. Consequently, children become less engaged, and interactions do not consistently focus children's attention on learning.
• Children consistently follow good hygiene routines and demonstrate a developing awareness of oral health. Staff skilfully build children's understanding through meaningful conversations and carefully planned activities. Staff use appropriate explanations and resources to teach about toothbrushing and dental care. As a result, children gain a secure and accurate understanding of oral health and the importance of adopting healthy lifestyles.
• Children learn about the community they live in through a range of enriching experiences. Staff take into account children's home backgrounds and plan outings to broaden their experiences. For example, children learn how to stay safe during a bus ride and take trips to local farms and supermarkets. These experiences help children understand where food comes from and how to keep themselves safe. Children learn about the world around them, beyond their community.
• Leaders support staff well-being effectively by fostering a reflective and supportive environment. They offer a range of training opportunities to support staff development. For example, staff have completed training focused on enhancing communication and language skills. This helps to ensure staff are motivated and respected, contributing to a positive environment for children.
• Staff build strong partnerships with parents. They keep parents well informed about their children's progress. Leaders use additional funding to enhance home learning opportunities by providing enriching activity packs. This shared approach helps to extend children's learning beyond the nursery and ensures greater consistency between home and nursery environments.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• enhance the implementation of the curriculum to ensure all staff deliver a consistent approach that supports continuity in children's learning
• strengthen the organisation of routines and transitions to maintain children's engagement in play and learning.