The Ducklings Day Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children thrive in this exceptional setting. Staff put relationships with children at the heart of everything they do. The setting has an ethos of 'love and care', which is seen throughout staff's interactions with children. Children receive the utmost care and attention from staff. Interactions are sensitive and nurturing. Children demonstrate that they feel safe and secure in the nursery. Children become engrossed in ambitious activities, exploring and investigating. Staff place a strong focus on children's well-being and sense of self-worth. Children form extremely close bonds with staff.

Highly qualified management and leaders excellently plan and implement a broad, ambitious curriculum. Staff provide children with exceptional early learning experiences. Highly attentive staff share the children's enthusiasm for what they see and imagine. Children focus well because staff use their excellent teaching style to excite children and keep them engaged. Older children plan their own play and learn how to manage and assess risk as 'risk rangers'. They problem solve how to pump water from the bucket, which is too heavy to lift, down the guttering pipe. They use piping and work together, sharing ideas to support each other. Children beam with delight as they master the use of the pump. They also harmoniously take turns with their friends. They have clear aims and negotiate and solve problems as they play together. Children are highly empathetic.

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

• Supporting and developing staff is a key priority for the owner. Staff are extremely knowledgeable and passionate. The dedicated and happy staff are well qualified. They receive specific training to meet the needs of the children that attend. For instance, staff attend sign language training, this supports all children and those with additional speech and language needs. Children feel included and can make their wishes, wants and needs known at the setting. Staff deliver high-quality teaching, which is individual for all children.
• Babies receive the most loving and affectionate care from staff. They sensitively look after them and babies respond with beaming smiles. During mealtimes, staff provide babies with spoons and encourage them to self-feed. As they get older, children confidently handle cutlery to eat. Staff are exceptionally skilled at recognising babies' cues. They respond to each child's individual needs incredibly well.
• The nursery provides excellent support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The well-qualified special educational needs coordinator provides tailored support for children. They create and implement small interventions, such as sensory experiences. Staff work closely with other professionals to share valuable information. As a result, children with SEND get the early and ongoing support they need.
• Leaders and staff have excellent parent partnerships. Staff speak to parents daily and invite parents to play sessions, where they find out more about children and share ideas. Staff work closely with parents to develop supportive relationships and build trust. Parents are very well informed and exceptionally well supported as a family unit.
• Children's early communication and language development is a key strength at the nursery. Interactions between children and staff are exceptional. Staff expertly tune into each child and repeat back the correct pronunciation of words. Children who speak English as an additional language settle quickly. Staff work closely with parents to learn key words and phrases. Staff weave in every opportunity to sing, count and repeat language. All children make excellent progress.
• Staff support children's independence skills very well. Children show independence at an early age. They hone their independence skills as they learn to serve their own food at lunchtime. Children develop excellent understanding about eating healthily and good oral hygiene. For instance, staff provide toy tooth cleaning sets for children to practise toothbrushing. They create original songs to deepen children's understanding of how to keep teeth and gums healthy.
• Children's behaviour and attitudes are excellent and all children feel included. Staff have established clear strategies to support children to learn about rules and boundaries. Staff apply a consistent approach to language and actions used to support children and are positive role models. Children actively learn about sustainable environments and eagerly participate in growing plants in an allotment. Children are cared for in a truly positive and nurturing environment.
• Staff are immensely proud to be part of the team. They speak highly of the 'inspirational leaders'. Leaders have total trust in staff and their abilities; in turn, staff feel valued and listened to. They regularly evaluate the setting and share ideas on improvements. They are motivated to provide excellent care for children. This is evident in their practice.