The Aldridge Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are happy and settle well into the nursery on arrival. Staff greet them with smiles and a warm welcome. This helps children to feel safe and secure in their care. The nursery curriculum is embedded well throughout the setting. Staff know the children well. They have clear intentions for what they want each child to learn to build on their existing knowledge and skills and prepare them for the next stages of learning. Staff arrange the play environments to include resources and activities that interest children and motivate them to engage in play. For example, babies have fun with staff while sitting in a ball pool. They giggle together when they play a game to throw the balls up and watch them fall again. Staff include repeated words for children to hear, such as 'up' and 'down'. This helps to build on babies' understanding of these words.

Children behave well in this nursery. This is because staff consistently model positive and respectful behaviours with each other and with children. Staff use gentle reminders for children to be kind to their peers. They include opportunities during play, such as turn-taking games, which help children to begin to understand how to share.

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

• When new children start to attend, staff make use of their time with parents to gather information about what children enjoy, know and can do. This helps staff to decide what children are ready to learn next and to prepare exciting activities that continually build on their learning from the outset.
• Staff promote children's communication and language consistently well. For example, they engage all children in stories, providing opportunities for them to share their ideas about what might happen next. Children chat with staff about what they see happening in the pictures. Toddlers are keen to engage and sing all the words to familiar songs. They follow the actions along with enthusiastic staff. Children use props of scarves to float in the air while they sing about going to the moon.
• Children who need additional support receive the help they need to continue to make progress in their learning. Staff liaise effectively with parents and other professionals to ensure their plans are tailored to meet the needs of these children. For example, children make rapid progress in speaking, from making sounds to beginning to use single words clearly and with meaning.
• Children become increasingly independent in all areas of the nursery. This is because staff provide consistent opportunities for children to build on their skills. For example, babies learn to feed themselves using appropriate cutlery as they become more able. They begin to manage their self-care as staff help them to learn the sequence of washing hands. The oldest children manage their personal care and serve and feed themselves competently at mealtimes. They are keen to help others and fill the water jugs at lunchtime.
• Children enjoy learning about different shapes and how these fit together to build structures. They make decisions about what they want to build and identify what shapes they need to put in the remaining spaces when building the walls of their house. Others name and collect triangles to position along a magnetic board. This helps young children to develop their understanding of early mathematical concepts.
• Managers provide regular opportunities for staff to reflect on their practice. Staff receive the required training to enable them to fulfil their duties. However, there is scope to tailor further guidance and support for some staff to improve their personal effectiveness. In particular, to help staff recognise when and how they may interact with children to enhance their learning, without interrupting play or discussions.
• Parents speak highly of the nursery and the progress their children make. They say staff are approachable, friendly and nurturing towards children. Parents value the detailed information they receive about their child's care and learning on collection and in the information they receive online.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• provide tailored support and guidance to help some staff to improve their personal effectiveness so that their interactions during play enhance children's learning further.