The Playhouse Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Staff warmly welcome children into this homely setting. They build strong attachments from the beginning and ensure that children feel safe and secure. Children go to staff for reassurance as they are settling in the baby room. Staff are warm and nurturing, and they know children well.

Staff embed the routine consistently, so children know what is coming next. They are engaging and interact with children to support their communication and language skills. Staff use strategies to help all children, including those with more than one language, to learn new words and speak confidently. Staff know their children's next steps and track and monitor their progress. They plan activities to promote their physical development, making good use of the well-resourced garden spaces and soft play areas. This helps children to practise and develop coordination and balance.

Diversity is celebrated and embraced. It is at the heart of the nursery, and staff are passionate about teaching children about similarities and differences and about giving them a sense of belonging. For instance, they help toddlers to learn each other's names during circle time and older children to explore a country of the month. They use a map to explore new places around the world.

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

• Children are confident communicators. They express themselves clearly and say they are 'super happy' to be at nursery. They develop a love of reading and are immersed in songs and stories during the day. They have opportunities to choose the story they would like to hear and enjoy retelling their favourite ones through play. Children develop good concentration skills and listen intently to shared stories, joining in with familiar phrases.
• The curriculum is clear, well planned and ambitious. Children enjoy a variety of experiences that build on what they already know, and they enjoy local trips to the park and library. They are learning to stretch and move their bodies as they take part in daily yoga sessions, and all children are learning to count in new languages.
• Children behave well and follow instructions. They listen carefully when the 'golden rules' are explained and understand why they need to use their 'kind hands'. They are maintaining attention and developing their fine motor skills as they roll and manipulate play dough and learn to cut it with scissors.
• Staff foster independence and consistently encourage children to try and do things for themselves. Children lay the table for lunch and think about how many plates they need for their friends. They get a tissue when they need to and pour their own drinks.
• Healthy lifestyles are promoted, children enjoy nutritious lunches and select from a variety of fruits and vegetables at snack time. They are encouraged to try new things and be involved in cooking experiences. Children talk about keeping their teeth healthy and learn how to brush them properly at nursery.
• Parents speak highly of the nursery and how well their children settle. They form strong bonds and attachments, and staff communicate well about what the children have been learning and their routines. They enjoy receiving regular updates and newsletters, and can really see the progress their children are making, particularly in their communication skills.
• Leaders and managers welcome feedback from parents and are reflective. They take swift action to make improvements. Parents enjoy being involved in their children's learning and coming into nursery to read stories. They receive vocabulary lists for the weekly theme so they know how to support learning at home.
• Leaders and managers are organised and dedicated. They prioritise staff well-being and staff feel happy and supported. They plan a clear and ambitious curriculum and help staff to personalise this to meet all children's needs, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. However, they do not always provide focused training opportunities to enhance staff's practice, knowledge and skills to support children's outcomes.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• provide targeted support for staff so that it helps them strengthen their skills and knowledge, and has a positive impact on children's learning.