The Railway Children's Day Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are happy, and they thoroughly enjoy their time in the nursery. Staff implement a structured routine, and there is a tailored settling-in process that helps new children to settle quickly. Staff are kind, warm and offer children emotional support and cuddles if needed. Consequently, staff know the children very well and close bonds form quickly.

There is a strong focus on teaching children about the world around them. Staff support children to care for the environment and animals. Children help to look after the nursery rabbit. Staff teach them to use gentle hands and act with kindness and respect. Staff encourage children to think about how to limit food waste as they help to feed the rabbit the remains of their apples from snack time. Children know to wash their hands after touching the rabbit. In addition, staff plan activities that support children to understand their social responsibility. They discuss the impact they have on the world around them, like their rubbish and recycling. As a result, children understand their effect on wildlife and know the importance of putting their rubbish in the bin. This is preparing all children well for their future as positive members of their community.

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

• Leaders have clear intentions for children's learning. The structured curriculum progresses and builds on what children already know. Leadership is strong, and there is a passion for supporting children in their early years. Leaders reflect on practice and support their wider community. They attend a range of training and cascade the learning effectively to their team. Leaders are alert to local issues and have in-depth safeguarding knowledge. They fully understand their role and responsibility to support and protect children and families. As a result, children learn and play in a safe and happy environment.
• Support for children's communication and language is good. Staff use effective techniques to help children who speak English as an additional language. For example, they use communication picture books, assessment tools and key words in children's home languages. All children learn some basic sign language. Staff introduce lots of new words, like 'anchor', 'manta ray' and 'lionfish', as they read stories. This helps to broaden children's vocabulary and supports all children to communicate with others. However, there are occasions where staff do not fully consider the environment when reading stories or participating in focused learning time. It can be noisy and distracting when staff read in busy areas. This sometimes makes it difficult for children to clearly hear the words being spoken to them.
• All children enjoy daily outdoor play, those who prefer to learn outdoors are well catered for. Staff praise children and gently implement rules. They encourage children to share and take turns. Staff challenge children with open-ended questions. However, at times, some staff repeat lots of questions in quick succession. Therefore, children do not have the opportunity to think and respond to what is being asked of them.
• Leaders are keen to create an exciting environment that children thoroughly enjoy. Staff consider children's family background and prior knowledge. Children enjoy rich experiences they might not have tried before. For example, children enjoy daily access to the on-site soft-play centre and regular outings in the local community, often using public transport. Children learn extensive physical skills; they have many opportunities to be active. They slide, climb, jump and roll with great skill. They delight in throwing and catching balls with their friends. As a result, their physical development and large-muscle skills develop rapidly.
• Leaders foster a feeling of mutual respect among the staff. They work well as a team, and staff feel well supported in their roles. Staff feel comfortable to raise any concerns. They deploy themselves effectively to meet the needs of all children. They regularly carry out headcounts as children move out of the nursery to the soft-play centre next door. This ensures that all children are safely supervised and accounted for.
• Children enjoy nutritious, home-made meals and snacks prepared by the on-site cook. They have access to fresh drinking water. Hand hygiene practice is embedded into the routines of the day. Risk assessment is effective and all areas of the nursery, including the kitchen, are clean, hygienic and free of hazards. This supports the overall good health of children.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• use the environment more effectively so that children can hear more clearly during focused learning or story time
• support staff to enhance their questioning skills so that children have enough time to think and respond to what is asked of them.