The Fledglings

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children love coming to the nursery to learn. They also enjoy the special occasions, such as when they eat their meals in the nursery's outdoor area. The roast dinner that the nursery cooks on Fridays are very popular with the children. The provider's curriculum places great emphasis on staff building children's skills to form happy relationships with other children and staff. Children settle well in the nursery playrooms and make new friends. They become confident learners, keen to spend time exploring, investigating and gaining new knowledge.

Babies at the nursery benefit from the high standard of care and nurture that the provider has established. The provider ensures that staff are highly trained. For instance, staff understand the care and learning needs of babies. Staff provide safe physical spaces for babies to develop their confidence and skills. Babies learn from staff's skilful support, such as testing what it feels like to pull themselves up on the carefully designed furniture. In this way, staff support babies to develop their core strength. Older children learn to climb trees with confidence. They learn from staff how to dangle on the rope swing and balance on the walking beams outdoors. Children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), develop positive attitudes to learning. They are well prepared for the next stage in their education.

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

• Leaders want the best for all children, including those with SEND. They have created an ambitious curriculum. For instance, the provider has given careful thought to the essential knowledge that they want children to remember in each area of learning. However, some staff understand the nursery's intended curriculum and what this means for their practice, less well than others. This means that, at times, children build less secure knowledge of key information.
• Staff understand that sharing books is important for supporting children's learning. Children and babies benefit greatly from listening to stories that staff skilfully share with them. For example, staff read books to babies about farm animals and encourage them to use their voices to practise animal sounds. Older children learn that books contain important knowledge, such as about each person being unique. Children love books, for example they keenly say, 'again', to hear the staff read the story all over again.
• Staff support children's communication and language skills ably. For example, staff explain to children the names of the trees, plants and small creatures that live in the nursery's wooded area. They help children remember such knowledge by using memorable phrases, such as 'Bruce the Spruce' to recall the name of a tree. Consequently, children develop an impressive vocabulary that supports them to hold detailed conversations with others.
• The provider's arrangements for supporting children with SEND are a strength of the nursery. They ensure that staff spot gaps in children's learning and development early. Staff take swift action to address any concerns. They think carefully about the steps that will help children to flourish. Children with SEND experience success in their learning.
• Children behave well at the nursery. This is because the provider ensures that staff have high expectations of how children should behave. Staff help children to know how to listen and be kind to each other. Children learn and remember the nursery's rules, for instance to use walking feet when indoors.
• The provider's curriculum for personal development is well thought out. Staff understand each child's abilities and when they need extra help. Children learn from staff to keep on trying, such as when putting on their own outdoor clothing. They learn to be responsible, persevere and have a go at tricky tasks.
• The nursery's work with parents and carers is effective and respectful. The provider acts on parents' feedback to improve the work of the nursery. Parents appreciate the regular communication from staff about their children's progress. They benefit from staff's helpful guidance to support their children's learning at home.
• The provider makes certain that staff receive helpful mentoring and coaching to improve their work with the children. Staff are supported to build their knowledge and skills through well considered training opportunities. Leaders also help staff to identify what they do well and where they need to do better to achieve the provider's ambitious vision. This focus helps staff to put their learning into practice.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• help staff to understand what the nursery's clear curriculum intent means for their practice.