The Olive Tree Nursery

Inclusion: Strong standard

Leaders and staff show a consistent commitment to inclusion across the nursery. They run a robust monitoring system and use their secure knowledge and detailed understanding of each child to plan individualised support. Leaders hold regular discussions with parents, carers and other professionals. This enables staff to implement timely and targeted interventions within the provision so that children achieve their next steps in learning alongside their peers. For example, staff take opportunities as they arise through play to model 'my turn, your turn' in order to specifically support children's social communication and shared attention with an adult.

Leaders and staff create an accessible, adaptable environment that strengthens every child's sense of belonging. They act quickly to remove barriers to learning and ensure children can take part confidently. Staff adapt their teaching skilfully, responding to children's differing needs and using visual prompts, signs and gestures to support and deepen children's understanding consistently.

Leaders provide staff with access to high-quality training. This helps them deliver individualised, targeted teaching and supports their development of confidence and expertise. Leaders use pupil premium and individual special educational needs and/or disabilities funding effectively. They provide targeted resources and enriching experiences that help vulnerable children thrive.

Curriculum and teaching: Strong standard

Leaders hold a very clear and accurate understanding of the curriculum's quality, and staff know precisely what they want children to learn. Since the last inspection, leaders have strengthened staff confidence in the toddler room so that all children remain firmly engaged in their learning. Additionally, they continually reflect on and adapt the environment for all ages of children to help maximise their opportunities to hear and use language.

Teaching radiates warmth, joy and energy. Children often giggle, beam and immerse themselves in play as they learn alongside staff. Staff design highly purposeful activities that reflect all children's interests and meet their developmental next steps in learning. For example, young toddlers in the garden climb slides and stairs and crawl through tunnels with great enthusiasm, strengthening their core muscles and developing their balance as they move.

The curriculum flows in a well-sequenced progression and opens rich opportunities for children to develop skills across all 7 areas of learning. Teaching embraces every child and sustains strong engagement. Staff model turn-taking, guide problem-solving and champion perseverance when tasks feel tricky. For example, when children accidentally drop creations they have made and are proud of, adults comfort them and support them to rebuild their work. Children are encouraged to take the lead, explaining where each piece should go. Staff and children celebrate together when the model is complete again.

Achievement: Strong standard

All children make excellent progress from their starting points across all the areas of learning. They grow into confident communicators whose creativity blossoms as they share their ideas, thoughts and feelings. They show that they feel safe and quickly build secure bonds with staff. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, those known or previously known to social care and those who have English as an additional language thrive through the highly personalised support they receive.

Across the nursery, children demonstrate high levels of engagement and eager curiosity. They benefit from a rich learning environment indoors and outdoors, where they explore, investigate and develop their creativity and critical thinking. As they move through the nursery, children become increasingly independent. They treat one another and staff with kindness and respect. These secure foundations ensure that they are ready to flourish when they move to school.

Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines: Strong standard

The nursery creates a happy environment where warm, respectful relationships help children feel secure. Leaders and staff reflect on their practice and embed routines that support all children, particularly those with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who speak English as an additional language, to move smoothly through the day. They use songs to signal key transition points, such as tidy-up time, handwashing and snack or lunchtime. This helps maintain a consistently calm and purposeful atmosphere.

Staff interact with children in warm and empathic ways. They show genuine care for children, offering them positive role models. Staff's approach supports children to behave very well and form meaningful friendships. Children use each other's names and enjoy spending time together; budding friendships form quickly, especially in the toddler room. When children become distressed, staff respond swiftly and sensitively, using their deep knowledge of individual needs to help them re-engage in their learning.

Leaders and staff work closely with parents and carers to promote regular and punctual attendance. They take time to understand each family's context and put tailored plans in place to help remove barriers. This proactive approach ensures that children benefit fully from the curriculum and daily routines. As a result, children develop positive attitudes, engage enthusiastically in learning and grow into confident, increasingly independent learners.

Children's welfare and wellbeing: Strong standard

Children's welfare and wellbeing are prioritised at this setting. Leaders and staff demonstrate a strong commitment to ensuring that children and their families feel supported, valued and welcomed. Staff are highly attuned to all children and share professional observations when they observe changes in their behaviour. They regularly hold discussions with parents and carers, gaining valuable insights into children's lives at home so that consistent strategies can be agreed upon and implemented. This responsive approach ensures that children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who have English as an additional language, receive the support that meets their individual needs.

Leaders have designed highly flexible and robust settling-in procedures tailored to children and families' individual needs. Settling-in sessions are carefully planned, meaning that trusting relationships between staff, children and families develop swiftly. Staff extend these relationships further by implementing a highly effective key-person system.

During mealtimes, staff create a calm and nurturing atmosphere that supports children's wellbeing and independence. Older children collect their plates, cups and cutlery from the cook and return them when they have eaten their lunch. Staff sit alongside children as they eat and engage in relaxed conversations, taking opportunities to encourage healthy eating habits.

Leaders understand current nutritional guidance and recognise how a healthy diet strengthens children's learning and wellbeing. The on-site home-cooked lunches are a firm favourite with both children and parents. Staff promote children's emotional and physical health very well, including good oral hygiene. Children learn how to stay fit and healthy and communicate their needs from an early age. This approach helps equip children to make healthy lifestyle choices in the future.

Leadership and governance: Strong standard

Leaders show drive and dedication to their roles and create a highly effective and cohesive leadership team. They prioritise staff welfare and wellbeing. Leaders actively promote professional development at every level to benefit both staff and children. As a result, they maintain a very stable, highly professional and harmonious team.

Leaders know all children and their families very well. They hold an expert understanding of all children and families that access the setting and recognise additional challenges they may face. They adapt the provision swiftly and thoughtfully to ensure parents and carers receive the support they need. Leaders give families dedicated time and meaningful guidance, which builds parents' confidence in their children's development and deepens their sense of belonging in the nursery community.

Leaders maintain an accurate, insightful assessment of children's strengths and areas for development. They embrace continuous improvement and reflect critically on their practice, shaping consistent changes in close collaboration with staff. For example, leaders have introduced a dedicated sleep room for babies and younger children in direct response to staff feedback. Staff identified that children were struggling to settle at nap time, which affected their enjoyment and engagement throughout the day. Leaders acted swiftly and decisively, changing the provision to better meet children's needs. Babies and young children now rest in a calm and peaceful sleep environment. As a result, they wake happier, play more confidently, and engage more deeply in their learning for the rest of the day.