The Jumbles Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children receive a warm welcome from staff as they arrive at this inclusive nursery. On the rare occasions that children become upset, they are quickly comforted and reassured by the staff, who know them well. This helps to ensure that all children remain settled and feel safe.

Staff have high expectations of children's behaviour. They support children to understand how to manage their emotions and how to follow the embedded routines. For example, staff model good manners and show children how to use their cutlery while eating. Staff sensitively talk to children about the importance of sharing toys and teach them how to tidy up. Staff help children to develop their concentration and to maintain attention when accessing activities. Children are developing positive attitudes to learning.

Staff provide learning experiences that stimulate children's curiosity about the world around them. Children explore the leaves that have fallen from the trees. They mix the leaves with water and make predictions about what might happen. Children of all ages stir, pour and scoop a range of natural materials. Staff consider what they want children to learn and promote this through a range of well-planned activities. All children are making good progress in their learning. They are developing the skills and knowledge that they will need in the next stage of their education.

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

• Leaders have addressed previous identified weaknesses to ensure that all early years foundation stage requirements are met. For example, leaders have strengthened their understanding of reporting safeguarding concerns to statutory agencies. They have improved their processes for recording, sharing and storing information about children to ensure that staff understand their needs. Leaders have strengthened the risk assessment procedures for children with allergies and medical needs. The actions taken by leaders have successfully addressed previous weaknesses.
• The nursery works in partnership with parents and professionals. Staff share information with parents about children's development. They identify any gaps in children's learning and seek advice about how to support children's progress. The information parents receive from the nursery enables them to extend children's learning at home. Parents state that the nursery communicates with them well in relation to meeting their children's health needs. Partnerships with parents and professionals are effective and support all children to make good progress.
• Staff promote a love of reading throughout the nursery. Children of all ages enjoy listening to the staff read stories aloud. They listen carefully and point out what they can see. Older children make links with other stories that they have read. For example, when they see a beanstalk in the story, they make predictions about what might be at the top. Children's early literacy skills are developing well.
• Children benefit from the many opportunities they have to develop their physical skills as they play and explore. Babies show resilience as they learn to crawl and climb. Children develop their strength and coordination as they pour water, scoop up sand and make marks with chalks. Children of all ages make good progress in their physical development.
• Children are taught about the importance of good health and hygiene. Staff support children to blow their nose with a tissue and to wash their hands thoroughly. Children also take part in toothbrushing at nursery. Children are beginning to understand how to meet their own personal needs and how to look after their bodies.
• Staff know children well and are clear about what they intend for them to learn. In the main, staff's interactions with children are positive and support them to make good progress. However, staff do not consistently use their interactions to extend children's learning. This means there are some minor inconsistencies in the quality of education that the nursery provides.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• support staff to make better use of their interactions with children, so that they consistently promote children's learning.