Windmill Hill City Farm

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

On arrival, children rush into the nursery, excited to see friends and find activities to play with. They feel safe and secure. Staff build strong connections, and children often invite them to play in their games. Staff understand early years education and how children learn.

Staff support children to listen to music often, both indoors and outdoors, learning about songs, tone and rhythm. Staff play soothing music to help babies feel calm. Outdoors, pre-school children listen to staff play guitar songs. They dance and learn to move their bodies to music, improving coordination. The nursery has outdoor areas for different age groups, plus a large shared outdoor space, where children of all ages mix during the day. Siblings spend time together, and older children enjoy interacting with babies. This supports them to develop social skills. Staff help children see how their behaviour affects others and the importance of being gentle with smaller children. On a picnic rug, children of all ages sit together to make pretend cupcakes, sharing and encouraging each other in their play.

The nursery sits within a city farm and children hear cows mooing and ducks quacking as they play. Staff regularly take children to visit the animals, boosting their understanding of farm life and nature. Children meet newly born kid goats and lambs, learning about life cycles. Staff support democracy in the nursery and children know their opinions matter. For example, pre-school children vote on trips they can take. As a result, staff recently took children on a walk to the nearby railway station, building children's local knowledge.

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

• Trained staff with outdoor learning skills guide older children as they play in a small woodland area. Children discover insects hiding under logs. Staff help build the children's vocabulary by describing the 'sparkly slime' of a slug trail. Children learn to recognise different types of birds and their birdsong, for example a robin and blackbird. They confidently count and recognise numerals to 10.
• There is a strong focus on guiding children to develop their physical skills. Under adult supervision children climb low trees, which helps them develop coordination and strength. They improve their balance by walking along tree trunks and obstacle courses. However, staff sometimes bring out equipment that is not suitable for the environment. For example, toddlers try to ride tricycles, but the woodchip-covered ground makes it impossible to ride vehicles with wheels. Sometimes, children become frustrated.
• Children are encouraged to develop their independence skills. Following naptime, toddlers are responsible for collecting their clothes from their baskets before getting dressed. Older children learn to use cutlery to eat and then clear their plates before putting away their crockery. Children are taught to be kind to one another and share. They are curious learners and concentrate well. Staff help children understand how their behaviour impacts those around them.
• Staff understand the importance of building children's communication skills. They engage pre-school children in rich conversations, and older children eagerly explain what they are doing or what they already know. Babies are supported to spend time babbling and listening to books and stories. However, in the toddler room, staff ask questions that only require brief answers, not giving children enough time to think and respond. When this happens, toddlers do not consistently develop their communication skills further or explore their own ideas and interests.
• Staff feel valued in their roles and work well together as a team, particularly during communal outdoor play times. They are confident in the curriculum and monitor children's progress well. Managers develop links with other early years settings, sharing best practice and training. For instance, they welcome staff from other provisions to learn about their effective outdoor play approach for babies. Staff regularly undertake training to stay up to date with recent developments. As a result of their training they have adapted their approach to support children's behaviour, engaging in listening to children more to understand the underlying issue.
• Parent feedback is positive and parents recommend the nursery to others. They praise the effective communication, saying they feel well informed about their children's activities and progress. Parents comment that their children are happy in the nursery and develop strong friendships. They report that staff support them in childcare matters.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• strengthen the organisation of outdoor activities even more to enable children to fully participate in learning
• engage younger children in conversations that support and encourage them to explore their ideas and interests even further, to benefit their communication skills.