Roxmead Nursery St Andrews

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are happy coming into nursery and settle well with the help of supportive members of staff. Children receive praise for their efforts and persist in activities when they are engaged by staff. Children are offered a theme-based curriculum, which, overall, provides them with a range of interesting and challenging activities. This captures their interest and supports their learning. For example, children use counting bears for a numeracy activity, as they are learning about the traditional tale 'Goldilocks'. Children progress well, and staff have a thorough understanding of supporting the needs of all the children.

Children have access to a well-equipped outdoor area, which has a range of equipment, including bikes, scooters and hula hoops, providing children good opportunities to build on their physical skills.

Children behave well and understand expectations of their behaviour. Staff support this through positive role modelling and praise. They gently offer encouragement to ensure children share and take turns during their play.

Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are thoroughly supported in the setting. Members of staff provide exceptional support and work very closely with parents and outside agencies to enable children with SEND to make good progress. Assessments are completed in a timely manner and ensure that children are able to reach their full potential.

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

• Staff interact well with children and have an excellent understanding of supporting children who speak English as an additional language. Staff use some words in children's home languages alongside lots of gesture and picture cards. There is a strong key-person system in place. Children are supported, where appropriate, by a member of staff who may speak their home language, to further support them when they move into nursery.
• Parents share that their children are very happy coming to nursery. They feel that their children develop well in all areas of their development due to the care and support of the staff. Parents speak particularly favourably about the progress their children have made in their language development and appreciate the high level of communication and support they receive from staff.
• Staff feel well supported in their roles and are encouraged to further progress in their careers. They are offered training opportunities to enhance their practice. Staff work exceptionally well as a team and provide each other with support. For example, they support each other through different parts of the daily routine.
• Children feel safe and secure in the environment, as staff explain clearly what is going to happen next. Children are encouraged to practise good hygiene, such as washing their hands independently and blowing their noses. However, there are some occasions when children's independence could be further supported, such as having a go at putting on their coats or opening their own snack.
• Staff narrate children's play consistently and ask some effective questions. When taking part in a porridge-making activity, for example, the children are asked to predict what they think may happen to it when it is heated up. Younger children really enjoy this and offer some answers. However, staff do not consistently challenge older children or provide opportunities to further extend their learning.
• Staff show that they have a thorough understanding of the children in their care. They have an excellent overall understanding of how to support children in achieving their next steps. Staff complete detailed observations and assessments on children during term and continually strive to provide children with a loving and caring atmosphere.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• extend opportunities to support children's growing independence
• enable older children to have their learning challenged and further extended.