Westside Day Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children happily arrive at the nursery. They are eager to see their friends and staff. Children are warmly greeted by staff, who know them exceptionally well. Staff understand children's needs and interests. This helps them to engage children in activities as soon as they arrive. Staff have high expectations of children's manners and behaviour. They model good manners, demonstrating to children what is expected of them, and gently remind them if they forget. This helps children to feel safe and secure.

Staff follow children's interests. They introduce the skills and knowledge that children need to build on what they already know and can do. For example, staff teach children from an early age how to be independent. Children practise washing and drying painted plates and bowls in the water tray. They serve their own lunch and pour their own drinks. Staff make resources easily accessible to help children to make their own choices. For instance, when children find a worm in the garden, they collect magnifying glasses to watch as the worm goes into the soil. Children proudly demonstrate how they put on their own coats. Children show respect for their resources by helping to tidy away and place items back on the shelves. As a result, children, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, make good progress in their learning and development.

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

• Staff promote children's curiosity and sense of exploration through the type of resources, equipment and learning experiences they create. For example, children excitedly gather to take part in a 'magic blanket' game. Children watch in wonder as their shoes disappear into the blanket. Experienced staff encourage children to compare the size of their feet and the colour and style of shoes to identify whose shoe is missing. This supports children's turn-taking skills and introduces new skills, such as comparison and elimination.
• Staff readily share books with children. They sing songs and rhymes together. This helps to reinforce children's language so that they can apply it in their conversations. However, staff have not considered the impact on children's listening skills when multiple group activities are taking part in the same room. As a result, children sometimes struggle to hear what staff are saying, which limits their access to new vocabulary.
• The nursery's special educational needs coordinator (SENCo) is experienced in her role. She is knowledgeable about the children who attend that require additional support. The SENCo works closely with each child's key person, families and agencies to ensure that they receive timely interventions and targeted support to meet their development needs. This ensures that children continue to make good progress in their learning and development.
• The nursery cook prepares fresh, nutritious food for children. Children learn what is healthy for them and to make healthy choices. Staff are aware of children's allergies and dietary requirements when serving food, and ensure that these are adhered to. Children learn about oral health and brush their teeth, promoting their understanding of keeping themselves healthy.
• Children benefit from a highly effective key-person system. Staff observe and assess children's development effectively. They use children's next steps in development and interests to plan activities to engage children.
• The manager has a comprehensive training plan in place for staff. This ensures that staff have an up-to-date knowledge of how best to support children in their learning and development. When gaps in staff's knowledge are identified, the manager acts swiftly to arrange training for staff. As a result, staff are highly qualified and knowledgeable in how best to support children.
• Parents speak very positively about the nursery. They value the community ethos that the nursery provides. Parents have access to a book lending library to help to promote children's reading at home. They have access to an electronic app that shows photos and observations of what their children have been learning. Younger children have a daily diary to keep parents up to date about their routines, such as sleeping and eating.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• consider the impact of multiple group activities taking part in the same room, to ensure that children are able to listen effectively and gain a greater understanding of vocabulary.