Stepping Stones Day Nursery Holt

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children flourish at this small and friendly nursery. They arrive with big smiles and separate from their parents with ease. Children are highly motivated and make independent decisions about their own learning. For example, they decide to research about bears. They select electronic tablets and interactive globes to find pictures and information. Young children become immersed in gluing lolly sticks into a design of their choice. Children demonstrate problem solving skills. They draw their own plans of a 'bear hunt trail' and discuss what equipment they need. Children remind each other to 'take it in turns' through a tunnel and debate how they will carry equipment.

Children's behaviour is exemplary. They share resources and tell each other 'you are welcome'. Children work collaboratively to set the table for snack time. They show care and consideration. For example, they remind each other to wear sun hats. Children are quick to celebrate each other's success. They clap and say 'well done' when children write their name using water and paint brushes. Children are emotionally secure. They confidently express how they feel and take an active part in yoga and mindfulness sessions. This helps regulate their feelings. As a result, the learning environment is calm and productive.

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

• Children have exceptional bonds with staff. They hold staff's hands and wrap their arms around them affectionately. Staff treat children with the utmost care and respect. They know children very well and understand what makes them unique. As a result, children settle extremely quickly.
• Children make rapid progress. This is because the curriculum is extremely well designed. Staff consistently reflect on children's development and plan carefully to support future learning. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are supported well. Referrals are made quickly and staff ratios are kept consistently high to enable one-to-one support.
• Children are happy, confident learners. They become fascinated by different textures in a pretend farm and imagine green rice is grass. They investigate toy farm animals and chat about what real horses eat. They spontaneously sing 'Old McDonald had a farm' and giggle when they make different animal noises.
• Staff support children's health and well-being. They provide healthy, nutritious meals, ensuring that no children are hungry while they are learning. Children enjoy time in the spacious, outdoor area. They develop their physical strength as they dig in soil and look for 'buried treasure'. They pour water and investigate how it travels down ramps and through holes.
• Children are provided with many opportunities to practise their mark-making skills in preparation for writing. They 'write' shopping lists to plan which fruits they would like to try at snack time. They draw intricate pictures and design their own treasure maps.
• Staff are outstanding role models and have high aspirations for children. They build on children's communication and language development by expertly asking a range of questions. Children are competent communicators and speak with clarity. For example, they explain how semi-circles are half a circle.
• Children's listening and concentration skills are supported well. Staff use daily 'bucket time' to improve children's focus. As a result, children listen and sit enthralled for long periods of time. This helps prepare them for their transition to school.
• Links with the local community are exceptionally strong. The nursery owner works closely with the directors of a community cafe to provide help for families. She is passionate about involving children in this support. For example, children had recently grown vegetables for a food bank.
• Parents have very high regard for the nursery. They report that staff are 'incredibly kind and caring'. Parents value the 'expertise' and 'dedication' of the staff. They say their children are making fantastic progress and they are kept fully informed.
• The nursery owner and manager ensure the quality of care and teaching are maintained at the highest level. They nurture a strong team ethos and maintain systems to support staff. Professional development is given a high-priority. Recent training has made an exceptionally valuable contribution to securing staff's skills, particularly in supporting children with additional needs.