Shirley Green Day Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are happy and settled in this welcoming and inclusive nursery. As children arrive at the nursery, they are greeted warmly by the kind and caring staff. Staff build close relationships with the children. They prioritise children's happiness and emotional well-being. Staff have high expectations for children's behaviour. They model expected behaviour, such as using good manners. Children learn to cooperate and compromise with their friends. Children are polite to each other, staff and visitors. Leaders prioritise children's safety. They ensure staff-to-child ratios are maintained as required and staff are deployed effectively to ensure that all children's needs are met. Staff support children to develop their independence. Babies learn to feed themselves. Older children serve their own lunches and manage their own personal care. Toddlers happily follow routines, such as helping to tidy away toys. Staff show children that their opinions are valued. For example, children enjoy the freedom to choose when to have their snack. Staff support children to develop a love of books. Children are highly engaged as staff read children's favourite stories.

Children are keen learners who demonstrate a positive attitude towards their learning. All children make good progress from their starting points.

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

• Leaders and staff are passionate about meeting the needs of all children. Leaders have devised a well-sequenced, ambitious curriculum that is understood and implemented effectively by staff throughout the nursery. However, at times, staff do not make full use of planned activities to incorporate other learning opportunities to further extend children's learning and broaden their understanding.
• Leaders ensure any additional government funding they receive is used to benefit the children for whom it is intended.
• Leaders ensure children with special educational needs and/or disabilities receive the support they need to make the progress they are capable of. For example, they collaborate with other external professionals to ensure that children who need additional support have targeted plans in place.
• Staff make frequent observations and assessments of children's learning. However, at times, staff do not always use this information to plan precisely enough to fully extend most-able children's learning.
• Staff provide numerous opportunities for children to develop their physical skills. The spacious and inviting outdoor area gives children space to run and explore. Staff support children to develop their small muscles as they manipulate dough and draw with chalks, pencils and crayons.
• The positive and trusting relationships between babies and staff are evident.
• Babies demonstrate that they feel comfortable and confident in their care. They smile as they listen to staff singing.
• Staff provide lots of positive feedback and praise to children for their efforts and achievements. This helps to build children's self-esteem and confidence.
• Staff respond promptly to babies' needs. For example, they know when babies are hungry or just need a cuddle. Staff ensure they get the rest they need throughout the day.
• Staff support children's communication and language development well. Babies enjoy singing sessions and listening to stories. Staff help toddlers to increase their vocabulary and build short sentences. Older children enjoy lots of interesting conversations throughout the day.
• Staff manage behaviour effectively. They help children to learn important social skills. Children demonstrate good behaviour and manners.
• Throughout the nursery, staff support children's mathematical development. Younger children learn to count and recognise simple shapes. Older children learn to recognise numbers.
• Staff support children to learn about healthy lifestyles. They ensure children are provided with plenty of time outdoors in the fresh air. Children are provided with nutritious snacks and meals. They learn about the importance of good oral hygiene.
• The well-being of the staff is important to leaders. Staff report that they feel well supported to carry out their roles. Staff receive regular peer reviews, supervision meetings and ongoing training.
• Parents are highly complimentary about the service they receive. They comment on the caring, enthusiastic staff and the good progress their children make. Parents say their children are happy and safe in the nursery and they enjoy attending.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• support staff to recognise and deliver other learning opportunities to further extend children's learning and broaden their understanding
• support staff to use information gained from observations and assessments to focus activities more precisely and consistently challenge the most able children.