The Old Station Nursery, Stratford-upon-Avon Preschool

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children flourish in this inclusive and welcoming nursery. They are warmly greeted by friendly staff, and nurturing conversations commence from the onset. Staff know children extremely well, and strong attachments are well established. Children's behaviour is exemplary, and they are kind and compassionate to their friends.

Children are curious and confident learners. They are fascinated by the shape, size and texture of pumpkins and the different textures of the leaves in the autumn activity. They are encouraged to problem-solve when there are only five spoons for eight children and share ideas on how to make the butter soft so it is not 'so tricky' to stir. Children confidently identify the different-shaped cutters and are adept at using them to make their own biscuits. These actions will fully support them to be strong, confident learners as they move on to school.

The curriculum is sharply focused on what children need to learn while they are in nursery. This promotes rapid progress in their learning and development. Staff know the children exceptionally well, and each interaction is used to share new ideas and information. Staff focus on enhancing children's language and communication skills. They naturally weave simple sign language and the use of visual aids into everyday conversations. This supports all children to follow the flow of the day alongside their friends.

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

• Staff have high expectations for all children. They adapt activities and provide an enabling environment so that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are fully included and progress as well as they can. Staff act as positive role models and actively encourage children to participate in discussions to help them understand what is expected of them. Children are very familiar with the routines of the day and are fully invested to help brush up sand and tidy away resources in preparation for lunch. Staff praise children for their efforts, and this contributes to their emotional well-being and strong sense of belonging.
• Children are introduced to healthy lifestyles, and staff place a strong emphasis on promoting healthy choices. The nursery chef is passionate in her role to promote new and healthy food to children. Children are provided with highly nutritious, freshly cooked meals that consider any individual dietary requirements. Highly effective systems are in place to ensure children only receive food that is suitable for them. Children know that if they have a red border on their name card, there are some foods that 'make them poorly'. Staff encourage conversations to raise their awareness of the needs of other children and of choosing healthy options.
• Children develop a passion for books and storytelling. Staff ignite children's interest and imaginations as they recreate stories using characters and props to bring the story to life. Children sit in anticipation of the next loud burst of words or quietly spoken refrain. They laugh excitedly as highly skilled staff use tone, intonation and whole-body expression to retell a favourite story. Children eagerly await their turn to fill in repeating words, such as 'whale', 'snail' and 'tail'. After story time, the book and props are freely available to enable children to retell the story in their own way. This supports children to recall information and build their imagination.
• Children have ample opportunities to participate in outdoor pursuits. They freely access a large garden with a great variety of opportunities on offer. Children work together to build an obstacle course using planks and blocks. They learn to move their arms and body to maintain their balance as they carefully navigate the track and step across the gaps. Children develop a strong core as they push sack trucks across the soggy ground to transport resources and use large paintbrushes to draw on the fence and ground. These skills foster strong coordination and a sense of spatial awareness, which enhance children's early writing techniques.
• The leadership team is extremely self-reflective and has skills that complement one another. They demonstrate a strong commitment to ongoing professional development for the whole team. All staff attend regular training to ensure their knowledge of providing children with excellent learning experiences remains very high. The leaders hold regular supervision meetings, where the staff's well-being is a key focus area. This creates a positive working environment and makes staff feel valued.
• Partnership with parents is highly effective. Parents praise the enthusiastic staff team and feel they go above and beyond what is expected of them. Parents share that staff are proactive in identifying their child's needs, and liaisons with other professionals take place rapidly. Detailed information-sharing takes place through daily conversations and in-depth records and photos, which are shared via the electronic system. This ensures parents are fully informed of their child's progress and can support learning in the home to fully promote continuity in their child's learning.