Little Forest Nursery

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is outstanding

Children are highly engaged and motivated to learn in this delightful nursery. They have superb opportunities to play and learn in the carefully designed spaces, such as the sensory room. Members of the dedicated management team demonstrate immense passion, knowledge and ambition.

They share their clear vision and curriculum planning to ensure all areas of staff practice are consistent and of high quality.Staff are extremely caring, attentive and enthusiastic. A culture of respect, warmth and concern for the welfare and care of each child is evident across the nursery.

Staff wait and observe children as they pla...y before asking effective questions or offering support to aid learning. They involve children in making choices and changes to their activities to help develop learning fully. Children are impressively self-sufficient and keen to do things for themselves.

Learning experiences are continually evolving, particularly in the inviting garden. For example, children fully use their imagination and resourcefulness to turn the pirate ship into a house. They show high levels of concentration and perseverance.

Children's physical skills are further developed as they climb and peg tarpaulins to the structure. Children engage in lively conversations, sharing their experiences. They behave extremely well and demonstrate excellent social skills.

When they have finished building, they find guitars to play and say they need to 'celebrate'.

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

Staff provide an abundance of opportunities to enhance children's communication skills and develop their love of books and stories. For example, children listen intently to an 'invisible' story, enthusiastically told without a book, that stretches their imagination.

They recall previous learning and respond positively to adults and each other. Children learn exciting new vocabulary, such as 'labyrinth' and 'astonishing'.Staff skilfully develop children's understanding and control of their emotions to support their well-being.

For example, they use the calming sensory space and the story of the 'Colour Monster' to help even the youngest children understand their feelings. Older children discuss how they feel nervous about moving on to school. Staff use positive reminders of starting in the nursery to reassure them.

Children show that they are happy and secure, which helps them to learn with great enthusiasm.Managers and staff know the children and their families incredibly well. They are completely committed to meeting the needs of each child's learning and development.

For example, managers provide additional staffing to help children to access all opportunities for learning. They form highly effective partnerships with other professionals to help to ensure children have the extra support they need. Meetings continued through video calls during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.

All children, including those with special educational needs, make rapid progress.Children learn about the world around them and to take care of their environment. For example, they watch tadpoles in the pond and know they will become frogs.

Children grow tomatoes and beans to eat. They carefully recycle paper and card at tidy-up time. Staff encourage all children to help by singing a 'tidy-up song'.

Mathematical concepts are cleverly woven into daily routines and activities. In the garden, children use positional language and talk about full and empty as they fill bottles with 'magic potions'. Older children add numbers together and tell staff there are 'more than a hundred aphids on this plant'.

Managers actively support staff well-being. For example, they meet staff at frequent intervals to discuss their practice and how they are feeling. Targets set for staff are highly focused on continually improving outcomes for children.

Staff continually learn from each other and work together as a highly motivated team. They benefit from excellent opportunities to develop their skills, knowledge and qualifications further.Partnership with parents is particularly strong.

This partnership has a significant impact on children's outcomes. For example, staff record videos of nursery activities for parents to use at home. This helps children settle when they first start.

Staff use family values provided by parents to help children learn about the similarities and differences between people. Parents are extremely complimentary about the nursery. They comment on the 'happy staff' and the wonderful use of the garden.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Staff prioritise children's safety and well-being in this nursery. They support children to discuss any worries and concerns.

Staff have frequent and in-depth training and staff meetings where they can discuss child protection. These contribute to their secure and up-to-date knowledge of how to keep children safe. Staff understand their role and know what to do if they have any concerns about a child's welfare.

Managers check staff's suitability to work with children. Regular checks and timely interventions help to minimise risks in the environment. Managers deploy staff very well to ensure children have effective supervision both indoors and outdoors.

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