The Little Elves and Fairies Woodland Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children experience happiness, contentment and high engagement in this joyful setting. The use of music supports effective communication and language development. Children listen intently to the songs staff sing, demonstrating good concentration as they naturally enjoy sharing songs and actions together.

Children love going on walks to the woods, where they explore their surroundings while following safety instructions. They benefit from plenty of fresh air and physical exercise. Children develop independence, alongside good social skills. They initiate their own ideas with the confidence that comes from the self-belief instilled in them by staff. Children play hide and seek, taking turns successfully, hiding behind trees and laughing with one another as they reveal themselves.

In the farm setting, children become familiar with animals. During snack time outdoors, they enjoy the company of ponies in the neighbouring field. The setting supports children's play through activities like playing trains with lined-up crates, where children engage in imaginative play while discussing real trains they have ridden.

The setting's nutritious snacks and well-planned mealtimes further promote healthy eating habits and social interaction among children. Children build confidence to try new foods while they sit together. Children are polite, wait their turn and learn to use cutlery as they enjoy fresh food, often produced on the farm.

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

• The provider has developed an ambitious curriculum tailored to meet children's developmental needs. It has a strong understanding of how children learn and what they need to make progress. The provider offers activities designed to focus children on exploring the knowledge and skills they need to improve. For instance, they organise paints, brushes and large sheets of paper hung on a fence. Children show motivation to paint, experimenting with colours and drawing different shapes. These activities engage children, fostering concentration, physical control and enjoyment in their creations.
• The setting uses music effectively to support children's development. Children engage with instruments, experiencing a range of different sounds and textures. Staff teach techniques for playing instruments and producing a variety of effects. Children enjoy creating sounds, which helps them refine their physical control. Music also helps calm children. When they feel upset, strumming a guitar helps restore their composure.
• Staff provide accurate assessments of children. They know children well and adapt their interactions to support individual needs. For instance, staff use picture cards to enhance children's language development, strategically using these to expand children's use of new vocabulary. Children make good progress. However, occasionally, when children mispronounce words or phrases, staff do not model or correct their pronunciation.
• Children enjoy books. Indoors, they choose stories to read with staff. They take the time to discuss and share stories attentively with children, discussing the characters from the books they have read.
• The provider supports children's positive behaviour and attitudes to learning. Staff gather children into a circle for song time and remind them of safety rules in the woods. Children demonstrate their understanding of keeping safe and how to play well with one another. They know the expectations of them and respond well to the responsibilities that staff give them.
• Children delight in incorporating the ideas prompted by staff into their play. In the woods, they creatively use sticks as they explore their surroundings. They understand how to safely handle sticks, following clear instructions set by staff. They experiment with their newfound tools. Some children draw in the ground while others tap trees, experimenting further with the different sounds they can produce.
• The provider works closely with parents, which supports a smooth transition for children into the nursery. Staff engage in clear, two-way communication with parents, prioritising children's well-being and development. The provider prioritises children's emotional well-being by developing genuine relationships with them, helping them feel safe and secure and to form strong bonds with staff. Children's confidence supports them to try new things. Parents explain that, thanks to the provider, their children are eating new, healthy foods, helping them build good eating habits.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• strengthen the teaching of communication and language, so that children learn the correct pronunciation of words and phrases.