Sunny Bright Day Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

There is a clear, ambitious and well-embedded curriculum. This stimulates children to develop an investigative, curious and explorative approach to their learning. Staff encourage children to become skilled at critical thinking and problem-solving. For example, as older children create 'emotion potions' in clear plastic bottles, they use their problem-solving skills as they try to manipulate larger objects into the bottles. Staff support them if they encounter difficulties, such as by asking children effective questions to help them to solve the problem. Children contribute their ideas and test them out independently. All children are thoroughly immersed in their play. Children confidently join in small-group activities. Staff adapt their interactions to meet individual children's needs. They swiftly identify children who might need extra support and adapt the flexible curriculum to ensure that all children achieve their full potential. As a result, teaching is inspirational, and staff have very high expectations for what all children can achieve.

Staff place a high focus on supporting children's communication and language skills. They provide an environment rich in language. Staff introduce new vocabulary to children throughout their play and when reading books to children, such as 'ginormous', 'evaporation' and 'delighted'. The curriculum is well understood by staff in all rooms. All staff have a great depth of understanding about children's stages of development. Staff are deeply attentive to developing children's independence. Babies can recognise their photos on their water cups. Toddlers and older children chop their own fruits for snack using safety knives and individual chopping boards. Children independently wash their snack pots. There is a calm and purposeful atmosphere of learning throughout the setting.

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

• Teaching is consistently outstanding. Staff meticulously plan an abundance of activities for children to enjoy inside and outside. Children independently choose where they wish to play, and staff deploy themselves to meet their independent choices. Staff encourage older children to recall and reflect on activities they have been involved in and share their experiences with their friends.
• Leaders of the setting are passionate and inspirational. They maintain a reflective culture that drives continuous improvement. Staff feel valued and supported. They receive daily coaching and mentoring and regular professional development opportunities from leaders. This has helped to contribute to a highly experienced and consistent staff team, which demonstrates excellent teamwork and respect. Staff are empowered to provide the highest quality of care and education to each child.
• All staff complete accurate and detailed assessments of children's learning. Their excellent knowledge of child development means they can identify when children's development does not meet expectations or exceeds them. Staff skilfully adapt the curriculum to ensure that all children experience teaching that expertly meets their individual needs. This encourages all children to thrive and gain new knowledge.
• Staff provide children with meaningful opportunities for learning outside of their immediate experiences. Children learn about what makes them unique and individual. For example, babies thoroughly enjoy using mirrors to recognise their own faces. All staff promote a warm and inclusive environment. This helps all children to gain a strong sense of identity and sense of belonging at the nursery.
• Children's behaviour is consistently excellent. This is largely because they experience such high-quality learning experiences that they remain deeply engaged in their play. Staff get to know children exceptionally well and create strong attachments with them. Children settle with ease. They develop close and trusting relationships with their key person. Staff embed manners and respect across the setting.
• Staff are always respectful and considerate towards children and their feelings. For example, staff consistently ensure that children are prepared for care practices to be carried out. They show genuine care and attentiveness to children and their individual needs and routines.
• Parents and carers state that staff provide exceptional care and education. They value the daily communication they receive from staff about their children's progress. Parents comment on how developed their children's social skills are. They are reassured with how staff support their children with the transition between each room and school. Despite feeding into multiple local schools, staff collaborate with individual teachers to ensure that every child is ready for the next stage in their education.
• Staff prioritise children's health, safety and well-being. Children enjoy nutritious home-cooked food. They comment on how much they enjoy the food in the setting. Staff teach children about how fruit and vegetables grow. They encourage children to try new foods. Staff teach children about oral health. For example, they model how to clean their teeth thoroughly using plastic teeth and discuss the importance of brushing their molars.