Swiss Cottage Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children feel relaxed and happy. They show curiosity as they explore a wide range of activities. For example, children explore water and bubbles as they fill different containers. Staff provide challenging opportunities for children to solve problems. For example, children fetch pipes and observe the different ways sand and water travel down them. Children are motivated, concentrate and try hard.

Children have warm relationships with staff and are confident when asking for help. When children struggle with their feelings, staff give them reassurance. Children cooperate and share with their friends well. For example, in the garden, children share the spray bottles and use a timer to know when it is their turn next. Children learn to respect one another and treat each other fairly. They listen to each other and behave well.

Children develop a love of stories. They help themselves to books and sit with staff as they listen and turn the pages. Children hear stories in groups throughout the day. They listen to new language and learn the meaning of new words. For example, staff repeat the names of zoo animals and point to pictures to clarify children's understanding. Children learn a range of more complex words.

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

• The manager creates a curriculum with a clear vision. She wants children to build positive and warm relationships with others. The manager shares this vision effectively with all staff. Staff support children by celebrating their achievements and giving them praise and encouragement. Children develop high levels of self-esteem.
• Staff understand that it is important for children to be physically active. However, they do not plan consistent opportunities for children to run freely and explore open spaces. This means that children's ability to be physically active is sometimes limited.
• Staff find out what children know and can do. They work with parents to understand children's previous experiences. This includes, where appropriate, assessing children's ability in their home language. Staff use this information to plan activities for children to practise their skills and develop knowledge. Children reach their developmental milestones.
• Children enjoy exploring natural materials. They show high levels of curiosity around plants and growing. However, the opportunities for children to extend their understanding of the natural world are limited. Children are not able to fully develop their interest in nature.
• The manager and staff understand that some children may need additional support with their learning. They work effectively with external agencies to identify any gaps in children's knowledge. Staff help parents to access support from experts where appropriate. All children are well prepared for the next stage of their education.
• Care practices are effective. Children learn self-care skills. For example, at snack time, children cut up their own fruit and hand it around to their friends. Children learn to look after themselves and others. They develop a sense of responsibility.
• Parents are happy with their children's care and education. They say that staff help them to understand what children are learning. Parents report that this helps them to extend children's learning at home.
• The manager is reflective of her practice. She supports staff to access opportunities to enhance their knowledge and skills. This helps the quality of education to continually improve over time.
• Children hear new language and understand what words mean. They gain confidence as they speak to staff. However, on occasion, staff do not encourage children to speak to each other. This means that children do not always have extensive opportunities to practise saying the new words they have learned.
• Staff understand that it is important for children to celebrate their uniqueness. They plan opportunities for children to learn about themselves and other people. Children enjoy meeting visitors to the setting. This includes listening to books in different languages. Children talk about their families and the festivals that they celebrate. Children gain an understanding and respect for other people.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• develop opportunities further for children to develop their physical skills outdoors
• enhance the planning of activities to develop children's interest in the natural world
• build on existing good practice to develop opportunities for children to use expressive language.