The Laurels Nursery School and Preschool

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children show they feel safe and have a sense of belonging at this nursery. Staff are caring and attentive to children. They notice when children need support and show an interest in what they are doing. Babies look intently at staff, who encourage them to explore. Some babies are confident to sit in the sand tray, while others look to staff for reassurance before they touch the sand. Staff provide effective support for children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities. For example, children who are not yet walking have the same experiences as their friends when playing outside. Staff help them access the toys and sit with them on the grass. Toddlers begin to learn about different sizes. Staff talk to them about which are bigger or smaller when they play with toy animals. Pre-school children develop their physical skills and confidence as they balance on tyres in the garden with staff support.

The staff know the children well. They find out what children already know and provide activities that follow their interests and offer challenges to help extend their learning. Children are interested and motivated to explore. They are confident to ask staff for assistance if they need it. The effective curriculum and staff's positive involvement with children promote good behaviour and a harmonious atmosphere in the nursery.

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

• Management works effectively with the staff team. Staff state they feel supported by the managers. They are encouraged to reflect on their practice and complete training to keep their knowledge up to date. Managers inspire staff to identify their priorities for the development of their group room to ensure the use of the available space and that what they offer the children remains fresh and vibrant.
• Staff are effective in their teaching. They help children extend their interests and provide resources to support children's ideas. For example, pre-school children are curious about ladybirds and worms. Staff provide books and clear pictures for children to paint pictures of ladybirds. Children look intently at the features and count the spots before including them in their paintings. Outside, children eagerly use trowels to dig for worms. They listen to staff when they speak about the worms being living creatures and the importance of being careful when handling them.
• The staff engage children in detailed conversations as they play alongside them. They extend children's vocabulary by using descriptive words, and children eagerly join in, trying to say the words themselves. For example, two-year-old children copy staff when they say the names of colours. Pre-school children look at pictures of sea creatures. They learn words such as 'manta ray', 'lionfish' and
• 'camouflage'. However, occasionally, staff ask children lots of questions in quick succession, and children do not know how to respond.
• Children's needs are met well. Staff anticipate when children are tired and give them their comforters and plenty of cuddles. However, staff do not always encourage children to put their dummies away when they do not need them. Staff encourage children to talk as they play while they have their dummies in their mouths. This does not support children's developing language skills.
• Children learn to behave well. They listen to staff and respond to their clear reminders to work together, share and take turns. Children are curious and confident to select resources and activities and lead their own play. Staff help children learn to respect and care for resources. Children carefully place books back on the shelves and help tidy toys away at the end of the session.
• Staff promote children's developing independence. Children serve their own food at mealtimes under close supervision and learn to use cutlery. Staff help children to learn about taking risks during their play. They talk to children about potential dangers and what might happen and suggest ways they can do things safely.
• Staff work well with children's parents. They find out what children do at home and offer opportunities for children to widen their experiences. For example, children learn about plants and how to care for them as they grow flowers and vegetables at the nursery. Parents are happy with the nursery. They comment on the progress their children make and how the staff give them ideas that help to regulate children's behaviour at home.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• improve staff's understanding of how to consistently promote and encourage children's conversational skills
• improve staff's skills in how to fully support children's developing language, particularly in relation to discouraging children's use of dummies during play and activities.