West Thames College Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children thoroughly enjoy their time in the nursery. The attentive and caring staff are extremely welcoming and interested in what children and parents have to say. Children show a real sense of belonging in the setting. On arrival, they are happy and settle very quickly. Babies and young children's care needs are met very well. Staff respond swiftly when children need reassurance or are tired.

Managers and staff have very high expectations for all children. The enticing activities engage and excite children and support their learning and development very well. For example, children use their small muscles as they make pictures of blossom trees with tissue and sticks. Staff help them develop an understanding of the changing seasons. Babies enjoy exploring different sensory resources, such as play dough. Children have excellent opportunities to develop their imaginative ideas. They use a variety of materials to create different artwork and learn about famous artists.

Helping children learn about the wider world is a key strength of the nursery. Children of all ages show high levels of curiosity and wonder as they observe the ducklings in the water tray. Staff skilfully extend their learning by introducing new words. They talk about the ducklings' webbed feet and beaks. Children recall when they observed the ducklings hatch from eggs and study the shells. They show that they know how to care for living things.

Children behave exceptionally well for their age and stage of development. They quickly learn routines, listen and follow instructions. Children show kindness and consideration towards others, and quickly learn to share and use good manners. They learn about their feelings and develop respect for others. Staff are very positive role models. They interact politely and courteously with children and each other.

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

• The highly ambitious curriculum is implemented very effectively and prepares children for the next stage, including school. The well-qualified and highly experienced staff are passionate about their work. They are very aware of their key children's individual needs and talk knowledgeably about the children they care for. This supports children's emotional well-being extremely well. Staff comment they are well supported by managers, who consider their well-being. They have frequent training opportunities and share this information with the team. Regular supervision, team meetings and appraisals ensure that all staff understand and implement all aspects of their work very effectively.
• Partnerships with parents are strong. Staff and managers work closely with parents and other professionals to ensure any gaps in children's learning are quickly identified and closed. For example, they work with speech therapists to support children's communication. This has a positive impact on the outcome for children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Staff find out about each child from the onset and share this information, enabling all staff to be aware of each child's individual interests and families. Staff complete assessments and keep parents well informed. They make suggestions of how to support children's learning at home. Staff actively seek feedback from parents through discussions, questionnaires and parent forums. Parents are highly complimentary about the nursery. They comment that their children are very happy.
• Adult-led activities are extremely well planned. For example, staff help children to follow instructions as they plant seeds, and skilfully encourage them to recall what happened when they last did this. This helps children to consolidate what they already know. Staff extend children's learning even further by introducing mathematical language. They encourage children to compare the size, shape and colour of the seeds they plant. Children are confident to join in and highly engaged and motivated to learn.
• Staff give high priority to the development of communication and language skills. For example, they are animated as they engage children in stories and songs and ask questions during play. Children who speak English as an additional language have opportunities to hear and use their home languages in the nursery. Staff learn key words in children's home languages. They use their language skills and visual aids to support communication. Children hear music in different languages. Babies enjoy singing rhymes and benefit from staff interactions during daily routines. Small, focused language groups also help to ensure that all children make rapid progress in their language development.
• Children thoroughly enjoy fresh air and physical play. They strengthen their large muscles as they step over tyres, and use their small muscles to dig in the mud kitchen and allotment. Babies explore the environment and stretch to reach resources. Weekly dance and sports sessions provide further opportunities for children to move their bodies in various ways. Children learn good hygiene routines. They develop independence, including handwashing and brushing their teeth.
• The managers and staff continually reflect on their high-quality practice. They work closely with early years advisers and review their policies and procedures to continually enhance their service.