Abberley House Nursery

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children are very happy and settled at this welcoming nursery, and develop secure relationships with the kind and caring staff.

They display a strong sense of belonging and demonstrate that they feel safe and secure. Children are independent and lead their own play. They benefit from lots of fresh air and exercise.

Children learn about the world around them. They enthusiastically explore the spacious and well-resourced outdoor areas. Children have fun as they take part in small-group activities throughout the day.

They sit comfortably on logs in the woodland area to listen to stories read by enthusiastic staff.... Children excitedly join in with action songs, including a song in French. Young children recall stories and pretend to go on a bear hunt.

Children behave well. They respond positively to adults and each other. Children wait patiently in line to independently wash their hands at the outdoor handwashing station.

They help their friends as they pass the liquid soap to the next person in line. Babies and young children are very content. They babble and giggle as staff play 'peek-a-boo' with them.

The youngest children delight in exploring sensory play activities, such as water and shaving foam. They use their fingers to make marks in foam and fill and empty different sized containers with water. Staff introduce single words and use associative sounds to support their emerging speech.

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

The experienced provider and manager show dedication to their roles. They have a good knowledge of how children learn and develop. Leaders plan a child-led curriculum.

They share their vision and strive to always deliver high-quality care and education. Leaders provide children with an exciting indoor and outdoor learning environment.Staff know the children well.

They plan a wide range of interesting activities around children's interests. Staff make regular observations of what children know and can do, and use this information to plan what they need to learn next. Children make good progress in their learning.

Staff support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) effectively. They ensure that the curriculum they provide meets the needs of all children who attend. Staff speak regularly with other professionals to share information about children's learning and development.

This helps staff to actively plan to move children with SEND forward in their learning.Links with staff at local schools are good. Children enjoy attending taster sessions at their chosen school, and when they return from their visit, they eagerly tell staff about their teacher and new classroom.

Staff invite Reception Year teachers into the nursery to get to know the children in their own surroundings. This helps children to feel confident and relaxed when the time comes for their move to school.Staff morale is high.

The experienced and well-retained staff report that they are very happy in their roles and feel supported by leaders. They meet regularly with leaders to discuss their ongoing professional development and to talk about their well-being. Although leaders are keen for themselves and staff to develop their knowledge and skills, they are yet to target professional development opportunities to raise their already good teaching skills to an outstanding level.

Partnerships with parents are well established. Staff speak to parents on a daily basis about children's time at the nursery. They share photographs on children's online learning records so parents can see for themselves the range of activities children take part in.

Parents speak highly of the nursery. They comment on the great staff team and the wonderful range of outdoor learning experiences their children engage in. Although staff share information with parents in a range of ways, they are yet to consistently share enough information about children's achievements to fully support parents to extend and continue their child's learning at home.

Children develop positive attitudes towards healthy lifestyles. Staff provide children with nutritious meals and snacks. They support children with allergies or food intolerance effectively.

Children have food diaries and individual place mats which list foods they are not able to eat.Care practices are good. Young children sleep peacefully in comfortable surroundings.

Staff regularly check on them to ensure they are safe and well.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Staff promote a culture of safeguarding.

They are clear about their responsibility to keep children safe. Staff supervise children well. They carry out daily checks on all areas of the nursery to ensure children play in a safe environment.

Recruitment and vetting procedures are thorough and help to ensure that staff are suitable for their roles. Leaders and staff attend regular training to keep their safeguarding knowledge and skills up to date. They have a good understanding of signs that may indicate a child is at risk of harm and they are clear on the procedures to follow should they have any concerns about a child in their care.

Children learn about risks and how to keep themselves safe. Staff provide them with clear explanations as to why they must wear eye protectors and a glove when they use the hammer and nails.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: target professional development opportunities on raising leaders' and staff's already good teaching skills to an outstanding level share even more information with parents about children's learning, to support them to extend and continue their child's learning at home.