The Norton Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children thrive and enjoy their time at this friendly nursery. Staff offer parents and children a warm welcome as they arrive. Children separate from their parents and show that they feel safe and secure. Staff offer additional support to children who are unsure, enabling them to bring toys from home for reassurance. Children go off to explore the range of stimulating activities that staff have specifically chosen to help them to follow their interests.

Children learn about the wider community. For example, they meet a dental hygienist and have visits to the library and beach. Children learn about different cultures, focusing on festivals that occur in the local community. This prepares them for life in modern Britain. Staff use observations to identify relevant next steps in children's learning and know what they want children to learn. Children show excellent attitudes to their learning. They benefit from targeted activities and experiences that meet their needs, including those children in receipt of funding.

Children develop their communication and language ability. They have opportunities to practise their speaking skills. They sing familiar songs, such as number songs. Staff skilfully support children. For example, they repeat words slowly to show the correct pronunciation for younger children. Staff ask older children questions that require longer responses.

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

• Staff use the nursery's outdoor areas to provide children with a wealth of opportunities to develop their physical skills. Children enjoy riding bicycles around the garden, developing their balance skills. They explore a wide range of mark-making resources, making large and small creations. Staff use different climbing equipment to encourage children to develop their climbing skills. They support children to manage risks independently.
• Staff and the manager have created a curriculum to meet the needs of all the children who attend. This is in line with the nursery's ethos that places children at the heart of everything they do. Staff build on the skills that children already have and allow them time to practise. All children within the nursery make good progress, regardless of their age and stage of development.
• Children behave very well. Staff use visual aids, such as timers, to encourage children to share. Children learn and follow the boundaries of the nursery and remind each other not to run inside. Children are encouraged to talk about conflict situations and how they feel. This helps children to understand the impact that their actions have on others.
• Overall, the quality of education is good. Children have access to a rich variety of interesting resources and activities, which inspire them to be curious.
• However, at times, staff do not always provide additional resources for children to explore fully during activities. This means that children do not always have opportunities to investigate further.
• The manager is reflective and proactive in her practice. She is able to identify the strengths and areas for development to improve outcomes for children. Staff benefit from regular supervision sessions. Staff state that they are happy and report being well supported by the manager.
• Comments from parents are very positive. They say that staff take time to listen to and support them. Parents report that their children 'come on in leaps and bounds and staff are amazing'. Staff work in partnership with parents to support children's development and learning at home.
• Staff provide opportunities for children to learn about healthy lifestyles. For example, children learn about good oral hygiene, and discuss healthy and unhealthy foods during snack routines. Children are able to pick pears from the fruit trees for snack. Staff encourage children to wash and dry their hands before meals and to use tongs when selecting foods.
• Staff work in partnership with the schools that children will move on to. They provide schools with transition documents to share what children know and can do. Staff encourage teachers to visit the provision, to gain a holistic view of children and provide continuity for children.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• develop opportunities and resources for children to explore and investigate further during activities.