The Mericourt Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Staff are welcoming and caring. Babies quickly form secure attachments with their key staff who comfort and cuddle them. Children understand the routines of the day which supports them to feel secure. Staff offer lots of praise and help to build children's confidence. Children happily chat with staff about their day and about their new schools, for instance. The provider places a focus on celebrating diversity and children have lots of opportunities to experience interesting aspects of different cultures. For instance, they try on saris and have their hands painted with henna patterns.

Children benefit from a wide breadth of exciting experiences. They learn why it is important to follow rules and how to manage risk. For instance, in forest school sessions children enjoy a campfire where they carefully follow the rules and meet staff's expectations of them. Children learn about where their food comes from as they grow fruits and vegetables in their allotment. They enjoy eating meals outside with their friends as they learn key social skills. Children look forward to their regular dance sessions. Staff plan an exciting and ambitious curriculum, through which children make good progress in their learning.

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

• The provider is passionate about childcare and has a vision for the nursery. They are reflective of their practice and work hard conducting research and gathering the views of staff and parents. All aspects of the nursery are continually evolving as a result of the provider's diligence. This makes it an enabling environment where staff are well supported to develop their skills. This helps to support children's learning and development well.
• Effective monitoring and assessment procedures help staff to plan for children's learning. Staff use children's interests well to plan activities which capture their imagination and enthusiasm. For instance, staff plan bug hunts and painting activities which include counting and number recognition. This helps children to make good progress in their learning.
• Older and more capable children's communication skills are well promoted through an extensive range of interesting experiences and activities. The provider has plans in place for further staff training, for example, to support younger children and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) to the same level. However, these initiatives are still in their infancy. Therefore, children with SEND and babies do not always benefit from the same rich opportunities to hear language and practise their communication skills.
• Staff work closely with a range of outside agencies to provide appropriate support for children with SEND. Staff complete training to manage children's specific physical and medical needs. Staff offer parents targeted support as they make choices about the next stages of their children's education. Children with SEND make progress from their starting points.
• Children's mathematical understanding is well supported. Staff plan lots of opportunities for children to learn about shape and space and to use mathematical language. Children learn to recognise numbers and count proficiently. This gives them a firm base to build on their understanding.
• Staff support children well as they transition through the nursery rooms and on to school. Staff help children to become familiar with their new environments through phased transitions. This helps them to develop their confidence and love of learning as they explore new opportunities and develop more skills.
• Staff support children to keep their bodies healthy. Children try new vegetables that they have grown, such as spinach in their home-cooked bhajis. They develop stamina and their large muscles as they go for walks in the local area and climb on the exciting play equipment in the outdoor areas at nursery. Children's overall well-being is very well promoted.
• Staff help children to build on the skills that they will need in life. They encourage babies as they take their first steps. Older children make sandwiches and serve their own food at mealtimes. Children learn to manage their own self-care needs. Children learn important independence skills.
• Children learn how they are each unique. Staff teach them about different family dynamics and how they are similar to and different from one another. They learn about each other's backgrounds and heritage. Children learn to respect others and to celebrate their individuality.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• support staff to promote children's communication and language skills with more focus, particularly the youngest children and those with SEND.