Westwards Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are happy and enjoy their time in this warm and homely setting. They are supported well by the kind and knowledgeable staff. Children settle quickly and make good progress in their learning. Staff encourage children to share and take turns from a young age. Children of all ages play well together, creating a positive learning environment. Very young children smile at each other as they take it in turns to handle and explore the different components of a wooden toy. Older children invite their friends to join them in the role-play area as they pretend to be doctors and patients. Children are encouraged by staff to take turns using knives to chop different fruits to share at snack time.

Leaders have a clear curriculum that focuses on children's communication and language skills. Staff regularly read to children. Children of all ages develop a love of books and stories as they enjoy listening to their favourites. Staff give children time to fill in the end of sentences or to make predictions about what they can see in the pictures. They provide activities that enable children to discover stories in different ways. For example, children show their imagination as they pretend to walk through mud and grass on a sensory bear hunt. Staff talk to children as they play and during daily routines. They offer a commentary and frequently use signs and visual aids to help all children to understand and develop their communication skills.

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

• Staff know children well and overall their interactions with them are encouraging and positive. They gather detailed information from parents when children start and use this, along with their knowledge of child development, to plan activities that support children's good progress. However, on occasion staff do not present some activities as well as they could. Consequently, at times children do not maintain their interest and engagement in activities to support a deeper level of learning.
• Children's physical development is supported well by staff. Young children are offered time on their tummy to help strengthen their core muscles. When children are ready staff encourage them to pull stand on the well-placed furniture in preparation to take independent steps. Older children learn to handle tools and utensils with skill and confidence as staff encourage them to serve themselves lunch and pour their own drinks.
• Staff complete accurate assessments of what children know and can do. They work closely together with parents and other professionals to ensure that children receive the support they need.
• Staff pay high regard to children's health and well-being. They support children to attend to their own self-care needs. Children know to wash their hands before eating and find a tissue to wipe their own noses when needed. Staff talk to children about oral hygiene and the importance of looking after their teeth. Staff are attentive to children's individual routines. They recognise when children are tired and ensure that they can sleep safely and comfortably for as long as they need.
• Partnerships with parents are positive. Staff provide parents with regular updates about children's learning and progress through an online application and face-to-face meetings. The addition of a lending library enables parents to borrow books to read with their children at home. Parents speak highly of all the staff and appreciate the experiences the setting provides outside of the nursery. For example, time spent at the forest school and trips to places of interest in the local area.
• Children build strong friendships with their peers and have warm relationships with staff. Children understand what is expected of them as staff offer clear and consistent messages. Older children safely walk up and down the stairs. They know they must hold onto the handrail and walk one at a time. Staff offer lots of praise and encouragement and praise children's achievements, promoting their self-esteem and confidence.
• Leaders demonstrate that they know their setting well and have a clear ethos and strong vision for the nursery that is shared with staff and families. Leaders support staff's well-being effectively. They meet regularly with staff and encourage them to complete training to help build on their knowledge and skills. This has helped foster a strong and well-established staff team. This contributes to the positive environment for children and a very strong setting overall.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• strengthen interactions with children to help them to sustain their interest and engagement in activities.