The Ark

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Staff at this nursery show genuine care and affection for the children who attend. Babies spend time in a nurturing environment, full of opportunities to explore a wide range of learning experiences. The well-thought-out environment means that babies have a wealth of opportunities to pull themselves up to standing, helping them to develop the muscles they need for walking. Staff stay close to children who need extra comfort. This helps them to feel safe and settled.

Leaders have designed an ambitious curriculum that builds on children's existing knowledge and skills. Children benefit from a range of extracurricular activities, where they visit local places in the community. Leaders consider how these opportunities support children to expand their knowledge and understanding of people and the world around them. Children learn how to build relationships with their peers and adults. They behave well and are respectful of others. Children learn to play cooperatively and make friendships. They help each other to solve problems. At times when they encounter minor conflict over resources, staff respond quickly and support them to resolve this calmly. Children are reminded of rules, and expectations are clearly explained to them.

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

• Staff know children well. They develop strong attachments with them and get to know what they are interested in. Staff show genuine interest in children and help them to make connections between their home life and nursery. For example, as children play with farm animals, staff talk to them about animals they have at home, helping them to recall familiar experiences.
• Children who speak English as an additional language make good progress. Staff create a range of opportunities for children to reach a good level of English. As a result, children quickly speak fluently, and show confidence when expressing their ideas in group situations. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are well supported. Staff work closely with parents and other professionals to ensure children receive support that is relevant and consistent.
• Children are independent and ready for school. As children progress through the nursery, they learn to complete personal tasks by themselves. Babies develop the skills they need to feed themselves and older children confidently use toilet facilities independently. This prepares children well for their next stage of learning.
• Children develop a sense of pride in their achievements. Staff enthusiastically praise them for their efforts. Children are motivated to persevere when they encounter difficulties. Consequently, they feel valued, and develop a positive sense of themselves.
• Children learn in a language-rich environment. Staff promote key words with children during their interactions with them as they play. They are skilled at asking children questions that help them to develop their critical thinking skills. Staff share familiar books with children, and incorporate music to help them remember events in the story. Babies joyfully copy actions, as staff sit with them and sing songs. Children show pleasure, and smile as they look attentively at staff. This helps them to develop their concentration, along with early language skills.
• Leaders meet with staff regularly. They observe staff practice and role model high-quality interactions with children. They identify training needs and offer opportunities for staff to improve their own knowledge and skills. However, the arrangements for monitoring staff practice, to ensure training has a positive impact on experiences for children, are not yet fully effective. As a result, some aspects of the curriculum are not always implemented consistently across the nursery.
• Parents comment positively about the care children receive. They say that children make progress, and they have regular contact with their child's key person. Parents appreciate the regular feedback they receive about their child's day at nursery. Leaders are committed to developing and maintaining strong relationships with parents. They consider different ways to share information, to ensure parents are kept up to date with their children's progress.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• improve the arrangements for supporting and monitoring staff practice further, so that all aspects of the curriculum are implemented consistently.