The Firs Day Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are cared for by highly qualified, extremely nurturing and exceptional staff. The nursery is a hive of activity with learning, fun and laughter at every turn. Children separate from parents and carers with ease, as they are excited to see what learning opportunities await them. Those children who need extra support or those who are new and settling in receive one-to-one attention from staff to help them feel safe and secure. A highly ambitious curriculum is deeply embedded throughout the nursery. Staff have an excellent understanding and knowledge of how children learn and take the time to gain an in-depth knowledge of the children they care for. This means that the activities on offer meet each child's individual needs extremely well. Children are highly motivated and engage in purposeful play. They sustain long periods of time at their chosen activity. Staff support children to investigate and explore and try new experiences.

Young babies explore cooked noodles. Staff hold the noodles and show how they can be 'stretchy' and 'slithery'. Young babies are given gentle encouragement to touch them. They enjoy squishing them through their fingers and wafting them in their hands. Toddlers show delight as they explore a tea party. They scoop and pour water, making their tea in teapots, cups and jugs. Children smell the different aromas from flavoured tea and offer them to their friends to smell. Pre-school children use their imagination and work together to build a bouncy castle using large cardboard boxes, tubes and masking tape. Children are thriving and thoroughly enjoy being at this outstanding nursery. There is a deep sense of belonging, which staff help to foster.

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

• Highly effective professional development ensures all staff have the appropriate qualifications, skills and knowledge to be able to offer high-quality and outstanding teaching. Leaders ensure staff have quality feedback on their practice. Dynamic supervisions ensure staff have opportunities to raise concerns and discuss further options to develop their skills. Staff report high levels of morale and say they are the 'Firs family'.
• Leaders are inspirational. The dedication and passion they have for shaping children's lives by ensuring they have the best start is outstanding. They, along with their staff, strive constantly to give children rich experiences. They take children out on public transport to local nature parks. Each week, pre-school children attend a local school for forest school sessions that are delivered by highly trained, skilled staff. Children receive weekly French lessons. This ensures children learn about the world around them and communities beyond their own.
• The curriculum is outstanding. It is designed to be unique and is tailored to each individual child's needs, giving them the skills they need to be successful learners. Staff have high expectations for all children. Through their teaching, the children learn confidence and independence. Children are exceptionally well prepared for the next stage of learning.
• The support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is superb. The nursery has staff who are qualified SEND teachers. They ensure each child has an individual support plan. Early intervention is put into place with targeted support. One-to-one sessions ensure each child receives quality interactions. Highly effective working partnerships with other professionals who may be involved in the care of the child means that the appropriate support is obtained. Consequently, children make excellent progress with their learning.
• Children enjoy lots of fresh air outdoors. The nursery has an amazing outdoor space that children love to explore. Toy dinosaurs hidden in a forest of bamboo ignite a curiosity and thirst for learning. Children confidently name the dinosaurs and talk about whether they are herbivores or carnivores. An outdoor role play kitchen provides children with the opportunity to pretend to make food for their friends.
• A deep love of literacy is promoted in all rooms. Young babies sit and cuddle with staff as they look at books. Toddler children enjoy the story 'We're Going on a Bear Hunt'. Staff provide resources to bring the stories alive. Artificial grass and fir branches enable children to retell the story. Their favourite part is using the shaving foam to create a swirling snowstorm. Pre-school children work cooperatively to build a bridge for their 'billy goats'.
• Parent partnership is brilliant. Staff build strong relationships with the children and their parents. Communication is highly effective, and every six months, staff provide parents with a progress report on their child's learning. Parents say staff are amazing and the support they receive is second to none. They comment that their children are happy and are safe and extremely well looked after.
• There is a strong focus on children's emotional development. Children look in the mirror and talk about how they are feeling. Staff discuss with the children why they may feel like this and the impact for them and others. This helps children understand how they, and their friends, may feel and behave. Children make faces out of play dough and talk about what makes them sad and what they can do to support each other to feel happier. Children show empathy for each other, kindness and respect. Children's behaviour is exemplary.