Station House Children's Day Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children demonstrate they are happy at this warm and welcoming nursery. They confidently leave their parents at the door and settle quickly in the calming and natural environment. Children form affectionate bonds with staff, who help them feel safe and secure. They are motivated to join in activities because staff plan to extend their interest and learning. For example, babies practise digging and scooping in the indoor sandpit. Older children are given ice to explore. Staff supervise them closely and encourage them to hold the ice and feel its texture. They reassure children when they show that the ice is cold, slips from their hands and they drop it.

Staff have high overall expectations for children's learning. Children acquire key skills in preparation for the next stage in their learning. They show concentration and perseverance. For example, children maintain their focus as they hammer pegs into polystyrene. They demonstrate good physical coordination as they succeed. Children count the number of pegs they have used, extending their mathematics skills. Children's learning is well supported.

Children's behaviour is good. They are kind and friendly towards each other and display positive attitudes to their learning. Children have high levels of confidence to solve minor disputes for themselves. They enthusiastically interact with staff and visitors.

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

• Staff create an environment that is calm and relaxing. Children enjoy exploring inviting spaces with resources, including soft lighting and real-life items. Babies have cosy cots that they can freely access when they require rest or a sleep. They listen to calming music to support their well-being.
• Staff promote language well and extend children's vocabulary. Babies babble and are responded to both verbally and non-verbally. Staff in the pre-school room encourage children to use an encyclopaedia. They find out more information about barracuda fish, giant clams and moray eels. Children develop good communication skills and are able to confidently articulate what they know.
• Children enjoy the role-play area. They use resources, such as real crockery and utensils, and use their imagination well as they act out familiar routines. For example, children make 'cups of tea' for staff and visitors. Staff make the most of these spontaneous opportunities to engage children in conversation. They encourage them to think about and describe what they are doing.
• Children are taught about the differences between themselves and what makes them unique. Staff challenge gender stereotypes. For example, girls delightedly exclaim that they are builders as they play in the role-play area. They use resources, including real hammers to hammer pegs in a focused activity.
• Parents speak highly of the friendly and caring staff. They value the detailed information they receive about their children's care and learning. They say their children are more confident and independent and that the nursery staff are 'like family'.
• Staff encourage children to follow a healthy lifestyle. They provide children with nutritious meals, and a selection of fruits at the snack table. Older children are encouraged to drink water on a warm day and understand the words 'hydrated' and 'refreshed'. Staff reinforce this during their conversations about how to stay healthy.
• Staff develop good links with local schools, childminders and other settings children also attend. They work closely with external agencies to implement accurate and effective plans. All children make good progress from their starting points.
• Support for children when they move between rooms is good. However, staff do not plan time between activities as effectively. For example, children wait for long periods as staff organise what is happening after mealtimes. Therefore, children become restless and are not fully engaged in their learning.
• The manager ensures staff's mandatory training is up to date. She completes some observations of the staff team to help improve performance. However, current supervision arrangements do not yet identify professional development opportunities to raise the quality of education to an even higher level.
• The manager has a clear and ambitious vision for the setting. This is shared with all staff. Overall, there is a strong focus on continually developing and improving the quality of the setting. For example, the garden has undergone extensive work. This has created a stimulating and inviting learning environment for children.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• help staff to consider how they can support children effectively as they move through daily activities and routines, so that they do not become restless and disengaged
• strengthen the arrangements for the supervision of staff to identify professional development opportunities that help raise the quality of education consistently to the highest level.