Stars Day Nurseries Ltd t/a Stars Day Nursery - Bushfield

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children flourish in this welcoming nursery. They develop warm and trusting relationships with staff that know them incredibly well. Children are inquisitive and enjoy a wealth of opportunity to explore. Staff are enthusiastic and engage in activities, helping children to make connections in their learning. Staff are always on hand to provide just the right amount of support to allow children to successfully test out their ideas. For instance, they demonstrate how to hold a colander over a pan to allow the children to catch the water as they filter out pieces of bark and sticks. Children have excellent attitudes to learning. Staff provide encouragement to support children to persist and use every opportunity to extend children's understanding. For example, children are taught how to hold knives to chop vegetables. They compare which are more difficult and engage in discussions about the different textures and why softer items are easier to cut and slice than firmer vegetables.

Children behave extremely well and develop high levels of self-esteem. Staff are excellent role models and provide children with praise and encouragement for their efforts and accomplishments. Children learn to regulate their behaviour superbly. Staff are kind and caring. They recognise children need time to reflect on their actions to understand the impact of their behaviour. Children demonstrate high levels of independence. Staff implement routines effectively to support children's personal development. For example, children self-serve their meals and prepare their own snack using tools and cutlery from a young age.

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

• Leadership and management are exceptionally strong. The management team has created a supportive culture. It is dedicated and committed to supporting the mental well-being of the staff team. As a result, all staff confirm they feel extremely well supported. Robust procedures ensure each staff member is aware of their responsibilities. Managers provide focused supervision for staff that highlights areas of practice to strengthen. Staff are provided with ongoing support to achieve their targets.
• The manager is extremely focused on improving outcomes for all children. She has ambitious plans to develop the provision further. The manager strives to continually improve the teaching and experiences children receive and shares this passion with her team. Clear communication through daily discussions and meetings allows staff to reflect on what they do to ensure that children make the best possible progress.
• Staff understand the importance of developing children's communication and language skills. They are highly skilled at modelling language to support and extend children's vocabulary. They consistently use stories, songs and rhymes to expertly support this area of learning. Staff make use of every opportunity to introduce new words. For example, staff label textures, such as 'crunchy', 'squishy' and 'hard', while children explore textures. They repeat children's spoken words to ensure they hear them pronounced correctly.
• Children develop a love of books. They snuggle up with staff and enjoy stories in the garden. Children independently choose books to take home and share with their family. They enjoy time with their key person to discuss the events of the story when they return it. Staff build excitement as they engage children in group story time sessions. Children listen intently and join in with repeated phrases. They act out part of their favourite stories as they play and begin to retell events.
• All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, thrive in this nursery. Staff plan a wide range of learning experiences to promote development in all areas. Children access a well-planned outdoor area for a large proportion of their day. Staff provide activities to challenge children's physical development and build their large-muscle skills. This helps to promote children's physical and mental health and their well-being.
• Parents speak exceptionally highly of the nursery. The staff team takes time to really get to know each family well. Parents state that children are happy and thoroughly enjoy their time at the nursery. They feel involved in their children's learning. Staff share regular assessments and next steps with parents, including ideas for supporting children's learning at home. Parents describe staff as 'amazing' and 'supportive'. They comment on the reassurance the staff provide and how easy they are to talk to.