Sure Steps Day Nursery Ltd

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The nursery is a hub of excellence. Children thrive in this nurturing, friendly and fully inclusive nursery. Leaders are dedicated and passionate about providing all children with the very best start. They are extremely successful at conveying their curriculum intent to the whole staff team.

Staff plan activities that ignite children's curiosity and thirst for learning. Children of all ages consistently demonstrate extremely high levels of interest and engagement. For example, babies are enthralled as they explore the blocks of ice as they begin to melt. They are absorbed in learning as they try to free the flower buds that are stuck inside the ice cubes. Pre-school children use their vivid imaginations as they begin their space adventure. They use their knowledge of the solar system to discuss features of the planets they can see out of their rocket. Toddlers gasp in awe as they observe the fizzing reactions that they create during their experiments.

Children are incredibly confident, independent and happy. They have formed secure relationships with both staff and their peers. Staff prioritise children's emotional security throughout the nursery. They tailor children's settling-in sessions and transitions to subsequent rooms in the nursery to suit the individual needs of each child. Staff have very high expectations for all children. Children's behaviour is exemplary and they are kind and caring to their peers. Children are supported effectively to develop their independence and extend their 'can-do' attitude to learning. As a result, children become competent and confident who are fully prepared to move on to the next stages of their development.

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

• Leaders devise a highly ambitious curriculum that gives children the breadth of knowledge, skills and experiences they need to succeed in life. All staff know the curriculum extremely well and work diligently to implement it. Staff know each and every child exceptionally well. They use their knowledge of children's interests to plan a curriculum that children thoroughly enjoy and excel in. Consequently, children are highly engaged in their play and learning throughout all the rooms in the nursery.
• Promoting children's communication and language skills is at the heart of the nursery. Staff create a language-rich environment, where children hear and engage in meaningful conversations and where singing permeates from every room. Staff work relentlessly to instil a love of books from a young age. Children become immersed in the copious story-time sessions throughout the day. Staff introduce children to a plethora of vocabulary each week, including 'words of the fortnight' which are linked to their learning theme. Both children are their parents choose books to take home from the lending library to read at home. Children benefit from outings to the local library to borrow books to share together at nursery. These opportunities help to foster a great love of books throughout children's families and continue to widen children's impressive vocabulary.
• Children's behaviour is exemplary. They have a clear understanding of what is expected of them and why they need to follow the rules. Children interact with their peers with kindness and tolerance. They understand that their actions have an effect on their peers. Children play harmoniously together, actively taking turns and sharing equipment. Staff consistently praise children for their positive behaviour. This continuously builds up children's self-esteem.
• Leaders monitor and coach staff superbly. They monitor staff rigorously and tailor a variety of coaching and training opportunities to their needs. Leaders use highly effective supervision to set targets to develop staff practice. This promotes continuous improvements to the curriculum and quality of teaching. Consequently, staff are equipped with excellent skills and have a robust understanding of how children learn and develop.
• Parent partnerships are exceptional. Parents speak very highly about the nursery and the continuous updates they receive about children's development. They are invited into the nursery for regular activities. For example, parents attend 'grandparent train track' challenges and spend time with their child to support their transition into subsequent rooms. These highly positive relationships and two-way flow of communication help to secure children's ongoing progress.
• Staff are incredibly intuitive to children's emotional needs. They consistently encourage children to talk about their feelings, which helps them to develop their emotional literacy. Children engage in activities such as completing emotion journals. They take part in yoga and spend time in the tranquil sensory room. This helps to enhance children's mindfulness.
• Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are expertly included into the setting. The special educational needs coordinator (SENCo) is knowledgeable and passionate about her role. She works with a range of professionals to ensure timely referrals are made. The SENCo ensures children's needs are identified as early as possible. All children, including those with SEND, are effectively supported and they make exceptional progress from their starting points.