Hurst Court Day Nursery School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is outstanding

All children make remarkable progress in their learning, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who speak English as an additional language. Many children exceed their developmental milestones from an early age. Children thrive in the stimulating and nurturing environment of the nursery.

New starters settle extremely well and very quickly as they establish firm bonds with their key persons. These strong attachments help children to feel safe and secure. Children receive truly exceptional learning opportunities indoors and outdoors.

The nursery's own special programmes to pro...mote mathematics and children's understanding of the sounds around them are used extremely well to stimulate young minds and make learning fun. Children are enthusiastic about their learning. They concentrate hard as they count on their fingers.

They begin to understand the sounds of letters and form simple words. Children are impressively active learners. They are highly motivated and ready to learn.

Children decide on the physical challenge they will choose as they balance on one leg and stretch their bodies. Children's behaviour is exemplary. They understand the rules of the nursery and are wonderfully happy and content.

Children learn how to express their feelings and regulate their emotions through sensitive and imaginative activities and stories.

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

Children develop a deep sense of belonging as they find their name labels and photographs. They quickly identify a place to keep their possessions and are heartily welcomed by all the staff and their friends.

Children develop an excellent degree of confidence and self-assurance. They make choices in their play and vote for their favourite story or the next superb challenge.Staff engage children in meaningful conversation as they discuss together the events of the day.

Staff skilfully extend children's vocabulary and encourage their speech. For example, they describe how a 'sensory trail' of different textures might feel on children's bare feet with words such as 'sticky', 'prickly', 'fluffy', 'soft' or 'rough'. Children are fascinated and excited by an electronic pen that records different languages.

This helps children who are learning to speak English to feel reassured and eager to learn.Managers and staff are extremely well qualified and experienced in the care and education of young children. Staff are highly motivated and determined in their quest to develop their skills to the fullest degree.

Managers are dedicated to their roles and secure boundless opportunities for the professional development of their staff team. Staff move between nurseries within the company to gain experience and share their exceptional practice with their colleagues. This helps to ensure the continued outstanding service they offer to all parents and children in their care.

Children receive highly nutritious and appetising snacks and meals. Staff support all children to become independent from an early age. Babies and toddlers learn to eat their delicious meals from a spoon.

Older children skilfully serve their own food and tidy away their plates. Staff are exceptionally vigilant in the way they monitor children's dietary needs to ensure they stay safe. They carry out rigorous risk assessments in all areas of the nursery and enlist the help of children as 'safety detectives'.

This encourages children to take responsibility for their environment and teaches them to keep themselves safe.Partnerships with parents are exceedingly strong. Staff provide resources and information for parents to continue their children's learning at home.

Parents have access to a range of resources, from a lending library to resource packs, to support them with their children's learning and care. Parents are exceptionally enthusiastic in their praise of the nursery, the management and staff. They say their children are nurtured by staff, grow in confidence and excel in their learning.

Managers and staff continually evaluate their practice and the service provided for children. They observe the performance of their peers and have established a reflective practice cycle to ensure the highest standards are maintained. Children are fully involved in the nursery self-evaluation.

They attend 'mini meetings' where staff listen to their wishes and ensure that children's voices are heard. Staff listen and take account of parents' views and are keen to embrace new and innovative ways to continually enhance their outstanding provision.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Staff receive extensive training in safeguarding and related matters. Managers ensure that staff's knowledge is secure by questioning them regularly to confirm their understanding of procedures. Staff fully understand their responsibilities to protect the children in their care.

They are extremely confident in their ability to recognise the signs that may indicate a child is at risk of harm. They understand the procedures to follow for recording of evidence and reporting concerns. Managers follow safe practice when recruiting new staff and ensure that all staff working with children remain fully suitable to do so.