The Willows Outdoor Nursery & Pre-School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children arrive at nursery and separate from their parents well.

They settle happily with attentive and caring staff. Younger children develop positive relationships with their key person, and begin to explore the activities on offer. Activities are planned to children's current interests.

Staff use familiar and new words to expand children's vocabulary. There is a strong focus for children of all ages to communicate positively. They develop conversational skills and enjoyment in learning new words and concepts.

This helps children to develop understanding in ideas wider than they might otherwise encounter.Sta...ff use their unique knowledge of each child's abilities to plan next steps, with children's interests in mind. Staff recount prior learning and build on this to ensure children understand what they have already learned.

This helps children to be confident in their skills and ready for their next stage in learning. This includes those children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. However, at times, staff do not enhance learning to extend further what children can learn in their activities and play.

Children who have not attended due to the COVID-19 Coronavirus) pandemic, show good progress, especially with speech and language. Children feel safe, valued and confident with their friends and staff.

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

The whole team aim for children to be confident communicators.

Staff focus teaching on introducing new concepts and language. Children recount their favourite stories in their own way. This helps children to understand different ideas and think in a wider context.

Staff encourage children to create friendships and play well together. Children mix magical glitter potions outdoors, taking turns to add mud and water. They use various containers, deciding to add more or less depending on the amount needed.

Children give and follow instructions from each other to concoct the perfect potion mixture. Children learn language from each other, listen and respond with ideas and opinions. This helps children to develop mutual respect, their vocabulary and understanding.

At times, staff do not extend learning in children's chosen activities to help build on children's existing knowledge.Children benefit from experiences they would not otherwise have. For example, they grow vegetables and fruit in the allotment and have them with their meals.

They learn about life cycles as they look after frogs in their pond. They dig for worms, realising that using water while digging makes the ground soft.Staff encourage children to explore their own interests through learning.

They persevere while rolling cars down the gutter run and try again when the car falls off. They are curious and persistent. Staff have high expectations for children's behaviour, quickly identifying children who struggle to share.

They listen to what children say and encourage compromise, helping children to develop empathy.Children have good levels of motivation and confidence. They challenge themselves when balancing on logs and tree stumps.

Children recognise when they need rest as they retreat into a den or sit and swing quietly. Children have a good sense of self and know what their bodies are capable of. At times, staff do not recognise tasks that help to encourage children's independence.

Staff report a manageable workload, and that they help each other when needed. There is a clear sense of teamwork as staff positively support each other. The manager is very proud of her team and has high expectations of their practice.

She plans their professional development to develop knowledge across the whole team. The manager's vision for the nursery is shared and embraced by all staff.Parents are very complimentary about the nursery and team.

They appreciate the communication they receive. Parents feel informed and updated on their child's progress. They feel their child is ready for the next stage in learning, including their transition to school.

They especially enjoy the outdoor stay and play sessions that have recently started.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.The whole team has good knowledge of what may be a concern with a child, adult, or staff member.

They know the nursery procedure to follow, how and when to report a concern to the safeguarding officer. They know where to find information on local processes regarding safeguarding. They have completed safeguarding training and update their knowledge in regular staff meetings, along with information and training on wider safeguarding issues.

The building is secure and well maintained, and COVID-19 risk assessments and procedures are embedded. This helps to maintain the safety and health of everyone in the nursery.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: strengthen staff's ability to identify opportunities to extend children's learning even further across all age ranges support staff to recognise opportunities to further promote children's independence, particularly during self-care routines.