The Old Library Day Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children arrive happy at the nursery. They are greeted by friendly staff, who are warm and nurturing towards them. This helps children to feel safe and secure. Children settle in quickly to play with their friends. They make independent choices of what they want to play with from the resources that are set out for them. Children behave well. Older children are kind to others. They readily help the younger children. They are gentle when they feed the nursery's pet rabbits.

Children are exposed to a wide range of books. They develop a deeper understanding and love of familiar stories. For example, children play with hay, sticks, toy bricks and animals as they listen to a story that is read well. Children smile and use these resources to act out the story, blowing on their structures.

Children have ample opportunities to develop their physical skills. Inside, they engage in movement sessions with staff. They also have great fun as they run freely and climb or balance on the resources outdoors. Children's self-help skills are supported well. They put on their own coats and boots with increasing independence. All children, including those in need of additional support, make good progress. They are developing the skills they need to move on to their next stages in learning.

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

• The manager has designed a curriculum that is clearly sequenced to support children to learn through the stages they need to make progress. Staff know each child well. They gather detailed information from parents at the start. This helps them to plan experiences to build on what children already know and can do. However, not all activities are adapted to include support for the youngest children to fully engage at their level.
• The environment is carefully planned to enable learning across all areas. Children enjoy engaging in planned activities that are generally led by staff. However, children would benefit from more opportunities to explore open-ended resources in order to lead their own play and learning. Communication and language are promoted well. For example, children engage in group activities that help them to develop their language skills. They use props together to learn the meanings of words, such as 'in front', 'behind', 'under' and 'next to'. Children listen carefully and concentrate as they position their props.
• Children who speak English as an additional language make good progress in their communication skills. Staff use a range of words from their home languages alongside English words, pictures and signing to support them to acquire English. Children have access to a variety of books that are written in different languages.
• The behaviour of children is good in this nurturing environment. Staff use positive strategies to help children to understand how to take turns and be patient. Older children begin to understand and manage their own feelings and behaviours.
• Children have opportunities to learn about the similarities and differences in themselves and others in wider communities. They celebrate a range of festivals and hear stories to develop further understanding. They engage in activities that help them to know that they are unique.
• Children are provided with healthy meals and snacks. Mealtimes are sociable occasions where children talk with staff about what they are eating. Children develop increasing self-help skills as they master the use of their cutlery and pour their own drinks.
• Children show high levels of confidence. They are happy to talk to visitors and show them their drawings. They enjoy playing games with staff. For example, they use their knowledge of number to count dots on the dice to take their turn during a game. They receive lots of praise for their achievements, which helps to raise their self-esteem.
• Staff have good relationships with the manager. They are supported to access a range of training to increase their knowledge and understanding. They have regular opportunities to discuss their work and their own developmental needs.
• Parents are happy with the nursery and say that staff are friendly and helpful. They say their children are happy attending and speak positively about how much they are learning. Parents value the detailed daily feedback they receive about their children's care and learning.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• ensure that activities that are provided for all children are adapted to include support for the youngest children to fully engage at their level
• provide more opportunities for children to explore open-ended resources to lead their own play and learning.