Wonderland Day Nursery

Inclusion: Strong standard

Staff know children very well. They carefully observe them during play to deeply understand their individual needs. They use these detailed observations along with conversations with parents and carers to plan high-quality activities that promote each child's unique learning, development and wellbeing to the highest level. Staff skilfully remove any barriers to children's learning. For instance, they thoughtfully adapt the daily routine so every child can engage fully and have their individual needs met, such as spending more time in the outdoor environment. Leaders and staff work in extremely close partnership with families and external professionals to fully support children and truly enhance their learning experiences. This allows children to receive targeted support to help them all fully participate fully in the curriculum. Leaders have implemented a detailed transition document when working with other settings children attend. This supportive, inclusive approach helps children feel confident and extremely valued.

Leaders value staff keeping their knowledge and skills up to date. Recent training on safer sleeping strengthened their already competent knowledge of how to keep children safe. Staff are highly experienced in supporting special educational needs and/or disabilities and they undertake regular training. Leaders are proactive in providing an inclusive environment in which children receive targeted support. This allows them to thrive and flourish.

Curriculum and teaching: Strong standard

Leaders provide a safe and highly stimulating environment where all children feel valued, confident and happy. The curriculum aims to promote secure, nurturing relationships and a deeply rooted respect for childhood. It is thoughtfully designed and carefully shaped around children's interests, alongside a rich variety of cultural events and festivals. Staff accurately assess children's progress to identify what is working exceptionally well and where they can further enhance opportunities for learning. Leaders run highly informative workshops for parents on how to further promote children's learning. This proactive and purposeful approach means that children make rapid progress across all areas of learning.

Staff understand the vital importance of promoting children's physical, personal, social and emotional development. Children learn to share, cooperate and manage their own feelings with increasing independence. Staff support children's language development expertly by introducing fun singing sessions, musical instruments and engaging in meaningful communication. They use simple sign language to help all children understand what is being said. This helps children become highly confident in their speech and communication.

Staff promote mathematical learning well through counting and thought-provoking problem solving. For example, children sit on the beach and look at different sized stones. Staff encourage children to observe carefully as they compare the sizes of stones, using mathematical language such as big and small. Staff know all children extremely well, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who face barriers to their learning. They make skilful and highly effective adjustments so that all children can take part and succeed in their learning.

Achievement: Strong standard

Children make secure and sustained progress from their individual starting points across all areas of learning of the unique curriculum. From the earliest stages, children build extremely positive relationships with their friends and staff. Children become confident communicators. Babies babble away to staff and staff smile and praise their efforts.

Children make choices in their play and confidently help themselves to toys and resources. Babies successfully climb into a low tray and show determination as they try to unscrew the lids off bottles. They turn them upside down and listen to the stones inside, showing impressive concentration skills, before shaking the bottles to make the sound louder. Children demonstrate excellent independence, resilience and curiosity. Children who face barriers to their learning are set measurable targets that are regularly reviewed. This helps them to achieve extremely well and gain key skills necessary to confidently move on to the next stage in their learning.

Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines: Strong standard

Staff have excellent expectations for children's behaviour and they are extremely positive role models. They support children to build friendships with friends. Staff model kindness, share toys, and guide simple turn-taking. Children watch each other play, before joining in with them. Children enjoy their time interacting with staff, receiving praise. Children build warm and responsive relationships with them. Staff listen attentively, show genuine care and use positive language. This helps children develop confidence and a strong sense of belonging.

Staff understand that each child develops at their own pace, and they plan activities to compliment this. They skilfully consider each child's age, stage of development and individual needs. Staff adapt routines to suit each individual child. For example, they adjust feeding routines and activities. Overall, staff create a nurturing, inspiring environment where children feel valued, supported and ready to learn.

Leaders promote good attendance and punctuality by working closely with parents. They explain why regular attendance matters for children's development. Staff follow up any unexplained absences without delay, to help keep children safe from harm. Parents and carers speak of the staff's high-quality care. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are supported through thoughtful adjustments, such as adapted activities, so they can join in confidently.

Children's welfare and wellbeing: Strong standard

Staff provide exceptionally high-quality care that meets all children's individual needs extremely well. Key persons work closely with parents and carers to adapt children's care to suit routines, preferences, and stages of development. Staff ensure children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities, those who face barriers to learning and those who are known, or previously known to social care receive highly effective additional support and careful planning. They track children's progress rigorously and act quickly should they have any concerns. This allows all children to have the same opportunities at the nursery.

Staff support children's physical development through providing safe spaces to move around, climb, balance and explore. They promote health and wellbeing by following robust hygiene, safe sleep practices, and healthy feeding routines. Children have regular access to the outdoor environment, in all weathers. They walk to the beach, dip their toes in the sea and watch the waves. This helps them to become familiar with their local area and socialise with a wider group of children.

Staff help children to learn to recognise and express their own emotions. They name emotions and model consistently calm and nurturing behaviour. This helps them to form secure attachments. Children feel safe and secure at the highly organised and calm nursery, because staff know them well. Daily routines for sleeping, weaning, and feeding follow each child's needs precisely. This helps children feel safe and settled.

Leadership and governance: Strong standard

Leaders provide a welcoming nursery where children feel happy, safe and secure. They are highly proactive in putting children's needs first and place great value on the close relationships formed with children's parents and carers. Flexible settling-in sessions, carefully tailored to individual needs, help to put children at ease prior to starting at the nursery.

Staff provide children with a rich range of experiences, such as visits to the beach and walks around the local area. These valuable opportunities help to develop children's physical development. Leaders regularly reflect on what is working exceptionally well, and where improvements can be made, taking swift action when necessary. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who face barriers to their learning are given excellent support. Staff work closely with external professionals and follow guidance carefully to support children and families known, or previously known, to social care. This ensures that all children get the support they need to thrive.

Leaders manage staff workload carefully and with consideration for wellbeing. Professional development is a clear priority and staff are able to attend training of their choice to support the needs of children in their care. Recent training around safer eating has significantly reinforced staff knowledge and ensures safety at mealtimes.