Side By Side

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children really thrive at this nursery, which is described by the management as a multi-needs setting. The well-being of staff and children is a continual high priority. For example, children access relaxation therapies on a daily basis which help to manage any anxiety. Children demonstrate a strong sense of pride and belonging within the nursery. They are highly confident and independent learners who are supported by enthusiastic staff. This results in children being extremely resilient individuals who persist at activities when challenges occur.

Staff respond to children's needs with the utmost respect and clearly thought-out strategies. This builds on the already strong connection between children and their key person. Managers and staff tailor the settling-in process to children's individual needs. They go above and beyond to get to know children and families amazingly well from the outset. This includes creating an interest drawer based on the children's individual interests.

Leaders and staff have high aspirations for children and communication and language is a vital part of the curriculum. Knowledgeable staff have identified different starting points for children within communication and language and have highly successful strategies in place. For example, visual timetables and cards support children in developing their understanding of routine-based events. A strong focus on communication ensures all children, including the very youngest and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), make rapid progress.

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

• Management and staff work closely with parents and other professionals to develop a systematic approach to intervention and transitions for all children. For example, parents whose children have SEND receive support in completing necessary paperwork in anticipation for the transition to school.
• The nursery is highly inclusive. An abundance of initiatives to support children with SEND are in place. They benefit from high-quality, one-to-one teaching interventions. This ensures that all children receive the best possible outcomes and make excellent progress in their development.
• The care provided for all children is exceptional. Staff take great care to find out as much as they can about the children's likes, needs and family backgrounds. They do this through trusting partnerships with parents and close relationships with professional agencies. Every achievement is celebrated, with staff showing genuine delight at any progress children make.
• Children are central to the setting's ethos and the curriculum is built around the children's interests and developmental needs. For example, children currently have a strong interest in music and dance, which has been given particular focus within the current planning. Children thoroughly enjoy selecting songs to listen to as they play. This is extended into the outdoor area where materials have been set up for children to create their own instruments. Staff have also created a stage for children to put on their own performances.
• Routines are flexible and staff's management of them is skilful and enthusiastic. Children are motivated and exceptionally well engaged. As a result, learning is embedded extremely well.
• Parent partnerships are exceptional and excellent support is provided to extend home learning. Management and staff recognise the wider needs of the family and go over and above to provide support. For example, they organise coffee mornings to allow parents to share experiences and widen their support network. They ensure parents are fully involved in their child's learning from the start and share detailed information, both verbally and online, about their child's progress. Parents report very positively on the extremely responsive and approachable staff and management team and how grateful they are for the support they receive.
• Management provide a programme of bespoke training and support for staff. They fully support staff to follow their professional interests and provide them with extensive opportunities to extend their knowledge and skills. This training has enabled the staff to be incredibly knowledgeable about early education, and highly reflective of their practice as a team.