Salcott Crescent Day Nursery School

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children adore attending this all-inclusive nurturing nursery. They come in happily and settle quickly to play. Children create close bonds with staff, who offer excellent support and warmth. They are encouraged from a young age to develop independence. Children as young as one year help themselves to bowls and cutlery and feed themselves at mealtimes. Older children confidently self-serve food, wash their hands and self-register in rooms.

The nursery provides an ambitious and extensive curriculum to take children's learning to deeper levels. Children take books home to enhance a love of literature. 'Stella the sloth' goes on exciting adventures with families to encourage children to share experiences with others. Staff use learning programmes to provide children with very high levels of early reading, writing and mathematical skills as well as preparation for school. Outdoor learning extends children's understanding, as they plant and grow celery, carrots and beetroot, and then make them into soup. Staff celebrate children's achievements in many ways. Children's accomplishments are displayed on the 'learning tree' alongside the nursery characters 'Thinkasaurus', 'Tryasaurus' and 'Explorasaurus' to celebrate children's new skills. Children can become 'artist of the week', and have their artwork displayed. Pre-school children celebrate excellent behaviour and learning during 'teatime reflections'. As a result, children become proud of their amazing achievements and feel wholly valued.

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

• Teaching standards are excellent. Children access exciting activities and staff have clear learning intentions. Staff take learning deeper by challenging children to think, with questions, such as 'how can we make it heavier' to develop their ability to problem-solve. As a result, children become exceptional learners by the time they leave for school.
• Observation and planning processes are excellent. Staff track children individually and in groups. Planning is based around children's interests and developmental needs. Older children choose challenges, and staff plan exciting activities around these. This results in children gaining maximum learning opportunities.
• Communication and language development has a strong focus across the nursery, with language-rich environments. The company have a 'champion' for training staff on sign language. Staff use simple signs alongside speech to support understanding. Children copy signs and some use their own to communicate, expressing their wants and needs more effectively.
• Children's behaviour is exceptional. Staff act as incredible role models for sharing, turn-taking and respecting others. As a result, children become inclusive and form strong friendships. Rooms have calming areas with guidance on emotions, as well as stories and puppets. These are highly effective, and children learn to self-regulate their behaviour from a very young age.
• Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who speak English as an additional or dual language are incredibly well supported. The special educational needs co-ordinator is highly proactive in recognising concerns and putting swift support into place with written plans. As a result, children make extremely good progress in their learning and development.
• Transitions are very well supported. Families can take home 'borrow bags' specific to transitions, such as having a new sibling, or aspects of healthy living. Packs contain stories, activities and information to support changes in children's lives. Pre-school children have physical education lessons, changing into their kits, in preparation for when they need to do this at school. Staff celebrate transition to school with a special 'leavers party'. As a result, children become excited for the new chapter ahead.
• Parent partnerships are superb. Parents report that children love attending the nursery. They appreciate the effective communication and regular information, especially over lockdown periods, whereby staff created videos to support home learning. Parents feel listened to and valued, as they are given frequent opportunities to give feedback via surveys and discussions.
• Community outreach is commendable. Leaders invite professionals in and create programmes to teach children. A school leaver came back to share experiences of school. This was hugely beneficial preparation for children going to school. Local musicians visit to support children's artistic flair. Older children learn about recycling and looking after the planet by removing waste from oceans to support the community and wider world.
• Staff welfare is a priority and staff are supported extremely well. They have access to reading materials, training opportunities and online platforms for activity ideas. As a result, staff feel knowledgeable and confident. They can put themselves forward as 'champions' for aspects of practice, such as 'health and safety' or 'mathematics'. Staff take pride in the responsibility and opportunities these roles offer them.