Wagtails Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children thrive, they are happy, safe and feel secure in the warm and nurturing environment provided by the setting. Children are highly motivated and very eager to join in. They instantly settle and become quickly engaged in their play. Staff follow children's lead and use opportunities to support and extend their learning. For example, children that have mastered cutting paper, use sharper scissors as they work on cutting cardboard. Children's behaviour is outstanding. They demonstrate empathy and build strong friendships with each other. They are caring and considerate of each other and take turns with ease during their play. As a result, children play harmoniously together and build on their ideas collectively. They discuss what they need as they work together to build a rocket out of boxes. Staff have high expectations for children to gain key skills that will support their future learning, including when they go to school. Children respond positively to the good role modelling of staff and follow rules with ease during group activities. Children build strong bonds with staff and seek them out for cuddles and to join in with their play. Children respect and maintain the well-organised environment as they help to tidy things away.

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

• The passionate management team regularly reflects on their practice and makes improvements to benefit the children. They provide support and coaching for all staff, to develop their skills and enhance learning experiences for the children. Since the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, staff complete their training online, but speak very highly of the support and training opportunities they receive.
• Staff embed mathematical development well. This is a strength of the setting. Children use mathematical language freely in their play as they spot numerals and attempt to write them. Children use language of size as they talk about towers they make. They confidently count and match quantities of toys with numerals one to ten.
• Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, and those who receive additional funding, make good progress in relation to their starting points. Staff work effectively with other professionals to ensure these children reach their full potential.
• The management team have a good understanding of the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on children and families. This information is used to build a well-informed curriculum. For example, staff place high priority on building children's confidence, self-esteem and independence. As a result, all children display a can-do attitude. Children listen contently to each other and wait their turn to talk. They ask to join in with other's play and share ideas. Children use manners during their play without any encouragement.
• Partnership with parents is, overall, effective, parents speak very highly of the staff and comment how happy and settled their children are. Parents feel listened to and valued. Staff give plenty of feedback about children's care and experiences, However, they do not consistently share information about children's individual learning and how this can be supported further at home.
• Staff have a good understanding of child development. They know children well and plan a wide range of activities, which follow children's interests. Staff support children to develop good language skills in English. They frequently sing songs that children happily join in with. Staff ask thoughtful questions that encourage children to think and test out their ideas. However, children who speak English as an additional language have fewer opportunities to develop and use their home language in their play.
• Children learn about the importance of healthy lifestyles and good oral hygiene. Children use toothbrushes to brush shaving foam off pictures of teeth as they talk about when they should brush their teeth. Meal and snack times are a social occasion. Staff sit with children and engage in discussions as they enjoy healthy snacks. Children grow and taste their own fruit and vegetables and learn the importance of washing their hands.
• Staff provide outdoor spaces that enrich children's enjoyment of the natural world. They plan plenty of opportunities for children to practise and develop their physical skills. For example, children develop good balance, mobility and coordination as they climb tree stumps in the forest area, take part in yoga and join in with running regularly.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• improve how information is shared with all parents about their child's individual learning and how this can be supported further at home
• increase opportunities for children to develop and use their home language in their play.