Step Start Nurseries Chelmsford

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are happy and safe at this setting. As soon as they arrive, they become deeply engrossed in meaningful activities. Leaders and staff create a captivating and inviting environment, and children make their own choices of what they would like to explore and access next. For example, after the babies wake up, they enjoy looking through books independently. They persevere to turn the pages unaided, and nurturing staff name the pictures to support babies' language skills.

Tailored settling-in sessions for children and detailed meetings with parents mean that staff get to know children very well right from the start. Leaders and staff carefully consider children's needs, abilities and interests when planning a wide range of meaningful activities. They are intuitive to children's needs and offer them cuddles and reassurance. This means that children feel comfortable and content, which positively contributes to nurturing their emotional resilience.

Staff are warm and kind. They have high expectations of children, who follow the setting's routines and boundaries with ease and confidence. Staff appreciate children's achievements and praise them for their efforts. They proudly display their 'masterpieces' across the setting. As a result, children feel deeply involved and valued during their time at this setting, which in turn helps them develop the skills needed to become independent and positive learners.

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

• Leaders are experienced. They create a robust curriculum that helps children to develop their independence and language skills in preparation for their next stage of education. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are supported in their learning journey. Partnerships with other professionals mean that children who require additional assistance adapt well and make good progress in their learning.
• Staff have good knowledge and understanding of children's learning and development and complete regular observations and next steps in children's learning. Staff also track children's progress through regular assessments, which are shared with the parents. However, on occasion, staff do not consistently reflect on how to adapt their practice to effectively promote children's thinking skills and deepen their learning.
• Staff provide meaningful opportunities to help children stay active and embrace a healthy lifestyle. Toddlers enjoy singing and dancing sessions with enthusiastic staff. They sing along to their favourite nursery rhymes and competently complete the actions. Older children demonstrate strong concentration and confidently follow staff's instructions to perform arm and leg stretches, which further support the development of their stamina and coordination. In addition, during pretend play, children use toothbrushes and toothpaste, engaging in meaningful conversations with staff about their actions. This helps deepen their understanding of the importance of regular teeth brushing and support the development of healthy habits.
• Babies benefit from rich sensory experiences supported by nurturing staff. They show fascination as they explore lights and bubbles and observe with focused attention how fish move around the sensory tube. Kind and attentive staff extend these moments by encouraging babies to count the fish, and they introduce new vocabulary, such as 'bubble'. This supports the development of early mathematical understanding and enhances children's communication and language skills.
• Leaders are very reflective. They value their staff and create a positive and supportive culture across the setting. Staff benefit from detailed inductions and regular supervision meetings, and they report they are very happy to work at this setting. Leaders are dedicated to providing children with the best possible start in their early education. They implement well-considered strategies that continually strengthen staff's practice and uphold the high standards of safety and welfare.
• Partnerships with parents are well established. They value the wide range of activities offered to their children and consistently praise the staff's kind and supportive approach. Parents feel actively involved in their children's learning and express appreciation for the detailed and regular updates they receive.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• continue to support staff in strengthening their skills, enabling them to consistently tailor their practice to extend and deepen children's learning experiences.