Scotswood Village Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are very happy, settled and secure at this very inclusive and welcoming nursery. Experienced and dedicated staff get to know children in their care and their families very well. They visit them at home, before they start at the nursery, to gather detailed information about children's interests, development and experiences. This helps new children to settle quickly and staff are able to plan tailored support for children from the start. Staff are excellent role models. They model good manners to children and teach them how to play well together and be kind to others. Children's understanding of what is expected of them is excellent. Well thought out and secure daily routines help children feel confident and provide them with a sense of ownership. For example, children feel confident to gently remind each other of the rules of the nursery, such as to walk inside safely rather than run.

Children form close bonds with staff who are fun, patient, caring and kind. They grow rapidly in independence as they move through the nursery. For example, they learn to serve their own food, use cutlery safely and pour their own drinks at mealtimes. Children help to make their own resources, such as dough, and practise how to brush and look after their teeth.

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

• Staff are highly ambitious for all children at the nursery. They have the interests of children firmly at the centre of everything they plan and do.
• The nursery's curriculum clearly supports children at different stages of their development. Staff consistently reflect upon and adapt the use of space and resources to meet the different needs of children who attend.
• Support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities is outstanding. Staff work closely with other professionals in education and health to provide a consistent approach to support for children's learning.
• Managers go above and beyond to provide opportunities to support children's development. For example, staff have built relationships with a local special school and take children regularly for sessions to the hydrotherapy pool.
• Staff plan very good support for children's developing communication and language skills. They introduce words, such as 'illustrator' and 'author' as they skilfully share stories. Children are fully engaged, focused and show high levels of concentration.
• Staff plan an excellent range of activities and experiences to help support children's physical development. Children take part in yoga and music and movement sessions. They benefit daily from fresh air and exercise. They move freely between indoors and outdoors to the nursery's enclosed garden where they balance on beams and climb over tunnels.
• Staff plan exciting and innovative activities for children that help widen and enrich their experiences. For example, a local farmer brings sheep, goats and hens into the nursery. Children help care for eggs in an incubator and observe them as they hatch. They learn about different types of musical instruments when visitors bring in and play electric and acoustic guitars.
• Managers use additional funding to help children learn about life outside the nursery. For example, through trips to a local theatre. Staff help prepare and reassure children for visits by watching programmes with them about how theatres look and talking to them about what to expect before they go.
• Parents speak very highly of the nursery. They praise staff's patience and empathy and say they go above and beyond in their care for children. Parents say staff have a 'determination and willingness to give children the best start in their education'. They ae delighted with their children's progress and say they cannot recommend the nursery enough.
• Other professionals in health and education involved with children at the nursery recognise the hard work and professionalism of staff. They say they are skilled at identifying children's needs early and putting interventions into place.
• Staff are passionate about their roles and work very well together and to support each other's well-being. Managers gather the views of parents, through questionnaires for example. Staff and managers meet regularly to reflect on children's progress and their own practice.
• Staff expand their knowledge and keep their skills up to date through extensive training and networking opportunities. Managers and staff have a very positive attitude towards the continuous improvement of the nursery.