Winchmore Hill House

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Staff are highly responsive to each child's needs. Children enjoy spending time at this welcoming and inclusive nursery. They settle quickly and are confident and relaxed in the nursery environment. Leaders ensure that emotional well-being is made a priority. Staff nurture children and provide reassurance and support for their families. They praise children's achievements so that children consistently have a positive experience. Staff guide children to try new things as they develop their independence. They boost children's confidence by encouraging them as they take age-appropriate risks. They show children how to use equipment safely, for example how to climb and ride their bikes across the various levels of the garden. They support and encourage children to solve problems, stay safe and face new challenges.

Staff help children to develop good personal, social, and emotional skills. Children are excited to share their knowledge and creativity with other children and staff. Staff encourage children to take turns and consistently model good manners. Children benefit from regular praise from staff and their behaviour is positive. Staff consider all children's backgrounds and individual needs, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities. They provide tailored support to ensure the best possible outcomes for children. Staff follow children's interests and extend their ideas. This helps children focus for longer periods building on their creativity and confidence. Staff use play to support learning across all areas. Children benefit from rich interactions and consistent support. As a result, they make strong progress in their development.

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

• Leaders and staff are committed to providing high-quality care and learning for children. They are reflective and regularly evaluate the provision to plan areas for development. Staff at the setting feel well supported. They attend regular training so that they can continue their professional development. They work closely together as a team to ensure consistency for all children.
• Staff create an interesting environment both indoors and outdoors for children to explore. They provide play and learning opportunities that children enjoy, such as modelling dough and water play. Staff understand how these activities promote children's development. When children show a lack of interest, staff are completely responsive to adapt the environment and encourage the children's sustained engagement in play. Leaders distribute funding effectively. Children enjoy sports sessions delivered by professional coaches so that all children can develop their physical skills.
• Staff promote the mathematical development of children. Counting is incorporated into everyday tasks. Children confidently count how many figures they have and how many blocks in their towers. They explain the pattern and number of circles they have used to paint. They use tools to measure and cut shapes and staff help them understand why objects get bigger or smaller.
• The promotion of communication and language is a strength of the setting. Staff deliver activities that provide focused support for the language development of all children. They skilfully play alongside children, narrating their play. Staff model language clearly and help children communicate as they are taught the value of being able to listen to others. They build strong social skills and prepare children to be resilient and ready for school.
• Children develop a love of books from an early age. They enjoy group story sessions delivered by enthusiastic staff. They also choose to explore books independently, relaxing on the cushions in the cosy reading area as they independently choose and look at their favourite books. Leaders have also introduced a library system so that children can take books home to share with their parents.
• Staff sensitively meet the personal care needs of children with a focus on toilet training. All children learn to wash their hands at appropriate times throughout the day. Staff take effective steps to ensure that those children who need a sleep do so safely.
• Staff give children clear guidance when it is time to transition from play to lunch or adult-led activities so that children understand the routines of the day. Children are provided with food that takes account of their individual dietary needs and parents have the option to provide a packed lunch for their child. However, at times, the organisation and communication between staff for snack and lunch could be strengthened. This is so that children do not have to wait for extended periods and so that for those children who are not keen to have what is on offer they can be offered an alternative.
• Leaders are open and reflective about the areas they are developing. There is a dedicated focus on enabling staff to receive good quality training. Staff appreciate the consideration given to their professional development and workload. They value the guidance and coaching given by knowledgeable and experienced professionals, including key areas of focus such as developing communication and language for children.
• Staff take time to include parents both as children are settling and throughout their time at the nursery. Parents praise staff's communication and support. They value the rich experiences on offer and the helpful advice to continue supporting their children's learning and development at home.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• strengthen approaches for children to make healthy choices and reflect on communication regarding the organisation so that children and babies do not wait for too long for meals to be served.