The Little Ripley Day Nursery

Inclusion: Strong standard

Leaders and staff consistently deliver a highly inclusive culture. They recognise, celebrate and support all children's individual needs. Staff identify children's emerging needs early and implement targeted and responsive support. They review children's care plans accurately to ensure support is embedded, including for those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Leaders and staff use a communication and language screening tool to identify any delay in children's language. They implement targeted next steps to help children make progress. Staff work closely with parents and carers and other professionals, such as the area SEND team and medical professionals. This helps to secure timely support for children and their families.

Leaders ensure the environment is inclusive and accessible for all children. For example, adapted handrails enable every child to use the stairs safely and confidently. Leaders and staff fully understand the importance of the early years pupil premium funding. They provide thoughtful additional resources, such as the lending library, spare coats and personalised resource packs, including items to support children adjusting to new siblings at home. Staff take time to learn key words in children's home languages, helping them to feel understood. This consistent and targeted support ensures that they meet children's individual needs effectively, including those with SEND and those facing other barriers to their learning and/or wellbeing. As a result, children feel secure, valued and fully included in the life of the setting.

Curriculum and teaching: Expected standard

Leaders provide a broad and ambitious curriculum that covers all areas of learning. Staff know all children well and plan activities that build on their interests and next steps. They use books, stories and rhymes to develop children's communication and language skills. Staff sing familiar rhymes with babies and young children. They use actions and simple signs to build children's confidence in communication. Staff model and introduce new vocabulary through their daily interactions. However, staff do not consistently deepen children's thinking to a higher level, when children show they are ready. This means, at times, children do not consistently benefit from rich teaching and learning experiences.

Staff plan opportunities for children to develop their physical skills. Babies climb low-level climbing frames and delight as they splash in water. Toddlers manipulate play dough with growing control as they poke, stretch and reshape it. They enjoy using tools to roll and cut the dough. Older children enjoy making marks using large movements. They show confidence as they negotiate space outdoors as they ride bicycles. This supports children to develop their strength, coordination and control they need for future learning.

Children develop their mathematical skills. Staff support children to count and to recognise numbers. They introduce mathematical language to name shapes. Children, including those who may face barriers to their learning and/or wellbeing, enjoy creating circles and triangles as they practise straight and curved marks. This helps children's early understanding of numbers and shapes.

Achievement: Expected standard

Typically, children make progress across all areas of learning and development. Babies and children gain confidence in their physical skills as they explore the environment. Babies learn to pull themselves up to standing and take their first steps. They persevere when they fall, showing determination as they get back up and try again. Older children develop strength and control in their gross motor skills. They learn to pedal tricycles and use balance bicycles with coordination. Children develop an awareness of how to negotiate space safely as they face obstacles when they ride their bicycles.

Children, including those who face other barriers to their learning and/or wellbeing, are confident communicators. They love to chat with their friends and readily engage in conversations. Children learn ambitious vocabulary, such as 'pollen' and 'microscopic'. They use these words in context to describe minibeasts and explain that bees need pollen. As a result, children develop communication skills and are prepared for the next stage of their learning, including the move to school.

Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines: Expected standard

Leaders and staff have high expectations for all children's behaviour. Staff take time to get to know children and understand their individual needs. They are kind, nurturing and gentle in their approach. This helps children to feel secure and respected. As a result, children are respectful, kind towards one another and enjoy playing and learning together. Leaders promote the importance of regular attendance with families. They check in with parents and carers regularly and offer support where needed. This helps to support positive attendance habits for the future.

Children know and follow their routines with confidence. Staff support children by using signs, visuals and stories to reinforce expectations and help children to understand what comes next. This helps children, including those who face other barriers to their learning and/or wellbeing, feel calm and ready to engage in their play and learning. Staff provide sensitive and calming support to help children manage their emotions. For example, they offer quiet time with stories that are familiar to children, which naturally soothes them and helps them regulate. Leaders have identified a key priority to further develop strategies, such as managing positive behaviour for older children. They recognise this will help to prepare children for the eventual move to school even more effectively.

Children's welfare and wellbeing: Expected standard

Leaders and staff implement effective care practices, including managing children's dietary needs, allergies, sleeping and feeding routines. They work closely with parents and carers to understand and meet children's individual needs. In addition, leaders work with parents to create care plans for all children prior to starting, and ensure all staff understand these. Settling-in sessions and a key-person system help children to build secure attachments and feel safe and confident.

Children develop their independence. Staff encourage children to self-serve and feed themselves, helping them to build confidence and coordination. Children wash their hands independently and enjoy preparing their own snack, such as making 'fruit kebabs' using a variety of fruit. They talk to each other about which fruits they like and link this to the story of 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar' that they have been learning about. However, staff do not always recognise the importance of consistently following hygiene practices during mealtimes. As a result, children do not always develop secure healthy habits for the future. Leaders recognise this as an area for improvement and plan to implement changes to strengthen and embed hygiene routines at mealtimes.

Staff supervise children closely as they take safe and managed risks. For example, when children show an interest in climbing the tree in the garden, staff guide them to have a go. This supports children to climb safely and feel proud of their achievements. Staff use stories and calm time effectively to help all children to recognise, express and manage their feelings. This helps children to feel valued and included.

Leadership and governance: Strong standard

Leaders are extremely passionate and caring. They place children and families firmly at the heart of their practice. Leaders and those responsible for governance take a strategic approach to improvement and are highly reflective. Leaders work closely with the nominated individual and wider leadership team to continually develop the setting so that children benefit from the provision. They have identified key areas for development and are already addressing these, but this is not yet fully embedded in practice. Leaders have built secure relationships with staff and share a clear and ambitious vision. As a result, staff are committed to learning and growing and feel valued and well supported. Leaders have built secure relationships with staff and share a clear and ambitious vision. As a result, staff are committed to learning and growing, and feel valued and well supported.

Leaders prioritise staff time effectively to secure the best outcomes for children. They carry out regular supervision sessions and provide targeted training. Staff benefit from opportunities to share their skills across other settings within the company and gain new knowledge that enhances their practice.

Parents and carers speak highly of the setting. They appreciate the wide range of opportunities that leaders and staff provide, such as the lending library, which supports shared reading at home. Parents describe staff as patient, caring and genuinely dedicated. They say their children feel safe, happy and valued. Parents also comment positively on the support they receive from leaders and staff, including the way they work collaboratively with all families when concerns arise or additional help is needed.