University of Sheffield Union of Students Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are confident learners who develop excellent language skills at this diverse nursery. Families are greeted by their key person on arrival. Staff are warm and welcoming. They build positive relationships with children and families. Children feel happy and safe. Staff encourage children to develop their independence skills. Children self-serve at lunch time and learn to fasten the zip on their coat. They confidently walk up and down the steps to the outdoor area, holding the rail for support.

Staff have high expectations of children's behaviour. Children learn simple rules and are happy to help tidy their toys away. They are respectful of each other and say 'excuse me' as they wait to get past. Children have a positive attitude to their learning. They are focused and engaged in their play, showing high levels of involvement. Children solve problems and think about what they can do next. They show resilience when facing difficulties. For example, when a tower of shapes collapse, they keep on trying to rebuild it.

Children learn about the diverse world in which they live. They learn about different countries and cultures around the world. Children's individual ethnicity is celebrated. Staff speak to families about their culture and language. Parents spend time in the nursery and share stories from their own cultures.

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

• Leaders and managers plan an ambitious curriculum to meet the needs of all children. They have a clear view of what they want children to learn. Overall, staff support children very well. They provide opportunities for all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) to develop in their learning. Children make good progress.
• Skilled staff lead small-group sessions to develop children's language. They use every opportunity to speak with children. Staff introduce new language and support children to develop their communication skills. Babies babble as they hold a phone to their ear. Toddlers use long sentences when they act out going on a trip to the seaside. Older children describe in detail what they are doing. Children become expert communicators.
• Staff model mathematical language very well. Children use this language freely in their play. For example, they say, 'Let's sit on the big chair' to their friend. Children identify shapes in the environment. For example, a young child points out a circle on a spirit level. Staff encourage children to count objects. They use questions to extend their learning. They ask, 'How many will I have if I add one more?'
• Staff use assessment effectively to check what children know and can do. They use this information to plan what they need to teach. Staff plan challenging activities and respond to specific needs of children. They share information with parents regularly.
• Staff work well with outside agencies. They provide support for disadvantaged children and those with SEND. Additional funding is used to support the individual needs of children. Staff complete the progress check at age two years and share this information with parents. Staff encourage parents to share this with their health visitor.
• Staff take every opportunity to share books and sing with children. Babies wave scarves as they sing rhymes. Toddlers choose which song they want to sing. Older children sit with their key person as they listen to stories. They join in with the words. All ages of children develop a love of books, stories, songs and rhymes.
• Staff plan opportunities for children to explore familiar stories. They provide activities for children to make puppets so that they can use them to retell a story. However, some activities do not always support children to develop their own creativity and make choices. For example, children are only given brown crayons to colour the monkey body parts.
• Parents are very complimentary of the nursery. They comment staff are warm and welcoming. Children love coming to the nursery and get excited when they see the road that the nursery is on. Parents feel well informed about their children's learning. They welcome the feedback they receive. Parents report that the nursery is very supportive to the whole family.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• extend further opportunities for children to develop their creativity during adult-led activities.