Tom Thumb Nursery (Abbots Bromley) Ltd

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children relish their time in this superb learning environment. They are extremely happy, exude confidence and have high levels of self-esteem. Children are fruitfully engaged, as they choose from the wide array of high-quality resources and stimulating, ambitious activities on offer. Exceptionally respectful and warm relationships between staff and children are apparent. Children's behaviour is exemplary. They show great kindness to their friends. For example, a child invites another to climb the rope net with them, and when they decline saying 'I can't do that', the child says 'you can, I will help you'. Children demonstrate superb manners and consideration for others. For example, they ask if anyone would like some more water before pouring their own drink. Babies are completely at ease and content. Staff respond swiftly to their needs. For example, when babies become upset, staff promptly provide cuddles and gentle words to soothe them. Children benefit from excellent opportunities to engage in physical activities, indoors and outdoors.

The skilful storytelling of staff inspires children to develop a love of books and stories. Children talk enthusiastically about their own families and experiences, after listening to the adventures of a train. All children flourish in this highly professional and nurturing environment. Children develop a thirst for learning and consequently make rapid progress from their starting points.

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

• The dedicated managers and staff have high expectations for all children. The breadth and quality of the rich, well-sequenced curriculum is a major strength of the nursery. The curriculum takes account of the precise learning needs and interests of the children attending. The manager meticulously monitors children's progress from the outset, so that all children make the progress they are capable of.
• Staff enthuse about the excellent supervision, support and training they receive, and share that this helps them to continually enhance the quality of their teaching and children's learning.
• The manager and staff work diligently with parents and other professionals to ensure that targeted interventions are in place for children with special education needs and/or disabilities. All activities are sensitively adapted to ensure inclusion. As a result, all children flourish in this caring and professional environment, where children's needs are always top priority.
• The management team have developed a superior approach to self-assessment, which successfully identifies strengths and areas they would like to improve. Staff, parents and the children play an active part in their evaluation.
• Staff skilfully extend children's learning through their excellent use of open questioning. As a result, children are confident communicators. They answer questions with thought and expertly share their own ideas and opinions. Staff use every opportunity to encourage babies to use sounds to help them to develop their language skills. Pre-school children can recognise letters, say the letter sounds and some can write their own names.
• Staff support children's mathematical development at every opportunity. Consequently, children count confidently in sequence, start to recognise numbers and solve simple addition and subtraction problems as they play.
• Babies are fully absorbed in play as they experience the feel of sand between their fingers. Older babies engage in pretend play as they wrap dolls in blankets to sleep. Babies enjoy snuggling up to staff for stories. Babies are fully included in all nursery activities. For instance, when lambs come to visit, babies get to pet them along with the older children.
• Staff make excellent use of their close connections with the local community. Children learn about people who help us during visits to the fire station and dentist. They learn about ancient traditions, as they join in the annual 'Horn Dance' celebrations held in the village. Children have learnt simple knitting techniques and how to paint with water colours during visits from the local Women's Institute.
• Mealtimes are wonderful social occasions where, children and staff have tremendously interesting conversations. Staff teach children about healthy lifestyles in an extremely fun way. As children identify the healthy peas on their plate, staff extend children's learning asking children to recall stories with different vegetables in. Children become animated as they excitedly work as a team to retell favourite stories.
• Staff expertly manage children's behaviour, in a calm and sensitive manner. Staff get down to the child's level and quietly discuss how their actions affect others. Staff reward positive behaviour with lots of praise and encouragement. Consequently, children develop an excellent understanding of right and wrong.
• Parents overwhelmingly sing the praises of the staff and talk about the exceptional progress their children make during their time at the nursery.
• Children learn about healthy foods and the impact on their bodies. Parents comment that their children bring this knowledge home and say they provide commentary during mealtimes about what is healthy for them.