The Nest Nursery Copper Beech

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are exceptionally happy, secure and eager to attend the nursery. They have clear and strong relationships with staff and their peers. Staff support all children to become engaged and independent in their learning, especially children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Children come in enthusiastically and cannot wait to greet the staff. They have an intense desire to learn.

Children's respect and kindness to one another is awe-inspiring. Staff create an environment of high expectation with clear embedded morals. Children discuss how they can share and take turns among each other. Older children invite their peers to join them in conversation and play. They work together in role play to decorate their 'tepee' they have built. Children discuss and plan how to manoeuvre big resources, such as scaffolding planks and crates, to make bridges. They laugh together on the swing and talk about the books they have read in hammocks. Children ask questions, enquire and find out information about insects together from books.

Children's communication is excellent. They discuss their day trips to their forest school, what they have built and the insects they have identified. Children talk about how to make play dough and share it among their friends. Younger children discuss books, and role play with the animals in the story. They talk about the names of the herbs they have planted and describe them using all their senses. Younger children can express their needs and wants, gesturing and saying short phrases, such as 'cereal please'. They talk openly about their family pictures and home life.

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

• Leadership is exemplary. Leaders provide their staff with excellent and frequent training. This allows staff to be incredibly knowledgeable about early childhood education. Staff embed their knowledge into their practice in everyday activities. Leaders provide amazing support to staff in their training and mental well-being. Staff work closely with families to obtain accurate information about children's needs and interests. Staff assess, observe and plan for next steps effectively. Children settle quickly and make great progression. Children with SEND make strong progress because staff use tailored plans to aid each unique individual.
• Children thrive in their communication, discussing an array of topics with their peers. Younger children talk about animals and where they might sleep. They read stories with the staff and talk about the storyline. Children discuss healthy eating and what ingredients they need while cooking. They follow an array of recipes with staff to make flatbread, salmon croquettes and onion bhajis. Staff send recipes and ingredients home so parents can make red pepper and sweet potato soup.
• Older children sing songs and repeat refrains from books about their own safety. They discuss how to handle real tools and natural materials while hammering flowers to make prints. Children discuss stranger danger on their outings with the staff to the local park, library and sea-life centre. They talk about how to use a bus and discuss road safety when visiting their local shop to buy fruit to make a fruit salad.
• Staff have a clear passion for children's personal, social and emotional development. Children make clear progress in building relationships, being kind and taking turns. They learn to tolerate all unique individuals. Children discuss differences in the people of their community when visiting their local church to listen to a choir and hear an organ play.
• Children have excellent physical skills. Older children become independent, self-serving their own hot lunches and using cutlery to eat together at the table. They manoeuvre pallets, tyres and ladders to climb, balance and race. Older children begin writing letters and paint butterflies they have seen in the garden. Younger children make play dough, mixing, squeezing and exploring different textures. They use scissors to cut plants before smelling them.
• Parents are ecstatic with the high-quality care their children receive. Staff integrate parents into all areas of their children's learning. Staff give parents an abundance of knowledge. They provide parents with stay-and-play sessions to introduce them to recent topics and celebrations. Staff provide an array of courses for parents to learn about good sleeping routines, dental hygiene and healthy eating. Parents are incredibly appreciative of the consistent support they receive from staff, especially those with SEND children. Children's progression is phenomenal.