The Lime Tree Children’s Day Nursery

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is outstanding

Children make excellent progress at this extremely nurturing setting.

The staff have implemented a highly effective curriculum. This ensures children have access to exceptionally rich and stimulating activities which efficiently support their rapid development. For instance, older children delight in taking part in a morning exercise session to prepare them physically and mentally for their day.

The children have exemplary behaviour and are very knowledgeable about the routines at the nursery. For example, children use Makaton and speech to confidently explain why they use their listening ears. They skilfully le...arn about behaviour expectations from staff and each other.

During play, children competently vocalise their feelings. For instance, they learn to tell their friends, 'please stop, I don't like it' when being chased. They are extremely respectful towards each other and resolve conflict exceedingly well.

Babies excite in playing together, and take turns sharing resources, as the staff are wonderful role models.Leaders and staff have very high expectations for their children, which are clearly evident in children's overflowing confidence and independence. For example, older children are exceptionally excited to introduce themselves, and demonstrate how they tidy up and where resources belong.

Children feel incredibly safe and secure. They frequently embrace and cuddle staff, sharing special moments together.

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

The quality of teaching is outstanding across the whole nursery.

Staff are highly skilled teachers and use many wonderful opportunities to promote language development. They demonstrate new vocabulary such as 'massive' and 'enormous' during mathematics, which helps children to be descriptive with their language. Children are highly engaged and listen intently at story time.

They giggle and laugh as the staff use enthusiastic voices and animated expressions. Children make imaginative predictions about what will happen next, analysing the pictures and reciting familiar phrases excitedly.The curriculum is expertly aimed to make sure children have an incredibly wide range of exciting opportunities that skilfully prepare them for their future success.

For example, children go on wondrous adventures to learn about the local community through regular visits to the library, supermarket, train station and farm. Children learn impressive new skills during forest school sessions, including how to use tools safely and how to cook food on open fires. The well-resourced outdoor area provides the children with various opportunities for exploration, risk taking and challenge.

Staff are highly attentive to the needs of the children. They modify and change their teaching to best suit their children. For instance, staff recognise some children need further support with their fine-motor skills and set up a variety of 'finger gym' activities.

Staff are also incredibly effective at implementing targeted support for those with special educational needs and/or disabilities. This ensures those children achieve the best possible outcomes and progress rapidly.Children form excellent relationships with their friends.

They have an infectious energy and excitement to learn and play. Children demonstrate wonderful creativity and have vivid imaginations. For example, children use their 'bow and arrows' made from sticks, and balance across the 'drawbridge' of wooden beams.

Children have strong and meaningful attachments with the staff at the nursery, as the key-person system is extremely effective. Babies are given cuddles and have memorable one-to-one moments with staff while having their bottles. Staff sing attentively to them during care routines and give wonderful eye contact, supporting their flourishing development.

The leadership team is incredibly passionate about providing children with an outstanding early years experience. They have a prime focus on their staff's well-being and provide them with fantastic mentoring and support. This is reflected in the joy and commitment staff have to their roles.

Staff encourage and skilfully support each other throughout the day.Leaders are continually striving to improve, and use highly effective evaluation processes to ensure they maintain their exceptional standards. The provider has incisive meetings with her team to swiftly identify training and develop their teaching skills even further.

This helps support excellent outcomes for children in their care. For example, staff have recently learned Makaton to further enhance children's communication skills, particularly those who need additional support with their speech and language.Parents are incredibly pleased with the nursery and the superb service provided by the staff and leaders.

Partnerships with parents are central to the nursery's ethos and the staff work impressively hard to build strong relationships with them. For example, recently the provider organised a very successful meal locally to support the community feel of the nursery and allow parents to meet each other. Parents liken the nursery to a family and are delighted with their extremely supportive care.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.The management team is highly vigilant when promoting safeguarding within the nursery. There are strict policies and procedures in place, which all staff uphold.

Managers have robust recruitment procedures to ensure the excellent suitability of all staff, which is reviewed regularly. All staff complete a rigorous induction process that requires them to undertake thorough face-to-face and online training. This results in the staff demonstrating superb confidence in recognising the signs that may indicate a child is at risk of harm and how to report any concerns.