Safe 'n' Sound Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children thoroughly enjoy attending this highly inclusive and nurturing setting. They thrive in the enabling environments which staff have created. All children benefit from accessing an abundance of activities that help them to make exceptional progress. For instance, staff expertly use every opportunity to develop children's fine and gross motor development. Children participate in 'funky fingers' challenges, such as using pegs to clip paper together and 'stomp and hop' as they follow instructions on a large screen. Staff reflect daily on their teaching and are highly effective in continually building on what children know and can do.

Children's behaviour is exemplary. They listen, take turns and show respect to staff and their friends. Children say 'excuse me' to the visiting inspector when they want to share things with her and thank her for listening. Staff who care for the babies and the youngest children are exceptionally warm and nurturing. Babies show that they feel extremely secure as they snuggle in for cuddles or sit on the lap of staff to sing songs and rhymes. Managers go above and beyond to ensure that they facilitate children's independence as effectively as possible. For example, they have lowered the resources and displays in the baby room so that children can access them easily. Older children wash their hands independently, serve themselves vegetables and pour water from a jug into a cup.

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

• Staff have a detailed knowledge of how children learn and develop. They plan a curriculum that helps every child to make the best possible progress. Children show that they know, understand and remember their previous learning extremely well. Staff encourage children to explore a wide variety of interesting musical instruments when outside. Children excitedly listen to and identify instrumental and environmental sounds.
• The manager sets very high standards for the quality of the provision she aims to provide. Her inspirational leadership skills drive staff's practice forward, such as through effective staff supervision sessions and shared goals. The manager and her team continue to develop new ways to improve their provision. Staff report they receive high levels of support and managers are easily accessible if they have concerns. Each staff member has a personalised professional development plan and receives mentoring and coaching from the management team.
• Staff act as exemplary role models, demonstrating behaviour that children mirror exceptionally well. Children take great care of the learning environment and the resources. They are kind and gentle towards each other. For example, children make sure that their friends can see during a singing session and comfort each other.
• Staff possess an excellent knowledge of how to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Staff benefit from working with the special educational needs coordinator from the setting to develop their skills and knowledge. Children with SEND benefit from staff working closely with other professionals. This facilitates staff to support children with SEND effectively to make excellent progress.
• There is a strong focus on communication and language. Staff support children's communication through their interactions. Staff encourage babies and younger children to join in with familiar songs, such as 'Old MacDonald had a Farm'. Staff model sign language to children. This practice flourishes throughout the nursery and particularly benefits children who are non-verbal, who confidently use signing to express their wants and needs. Staff use key vocabulary from children's home languages to enhance their acquisition of English.
• Children benefit from an extensive range of opportunities to learn about their local community. Staff arrange for visitors to come to the setting, including the police, fire officers and the local rugby team. Older children visit the local library. Children explore a map of the local area and identify key buildings, such as the church, rugby ground and school. These rich experiences provide opportunities for children to learn new knowledge and develop an understanding of other communities and the wider world around them.
• Parents speak highly about the setting. They say it has an aura of calm and happiness. Parents talk about professional, patient and caring staff, who keep them fully informed of their children's learning. They describe how their children squeal with excitement when they arrive each morning. Parents state their children are ready and confident for their next stage in learning.