Young Haymakers Nursery & Montessori School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is outstanding

Children are happy and flourish in this high-quality nursery.

Children form extremely strong bonds with the caring staff, who welcome them with smiles and cuddles. Children settle easily and have superb opportunities to play and learn in the exceptionally well-designed environment. They are highly motivated to learn through exciting sensory exploration and experiences that spark their curiosity.

Even the youngest children make independent choices and readily share resources. Older children help their friends to join in and negotiate roles in their play. Children take turns in cooperative games and applaud the ac...hievements of others enthusiastically.

They play together extremely well.Children make regular and inspirational trips to the woodland. These are an integral part of the provision.

They provide a wealth of opportunities for children to learn, through exploration of the world around them. For example, they look carefully at plants along their way, collecting some on their 'journey sticks' to study further. Children listen carefully to sounds around them.

They creatively describe the sound of children's boots as they walk on broken tiles on the path. Children confidently discuss why the farmer might have placed them there. At the woodland camp, children develop imaginative play as they excitedly find 'fairy doors' that have appeared in the trees.

Children develop a deep love of learning outdoors.

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

The passionate management team share their wealth of knowledge and clear ethos to ensure all areas of staff practice are consistent and of high quality. Targets set for staff are highly focused on continually improving outcomes for children.

Staff benefit from excellent opportunities to develop their skills, knowledge and qualifications further. Children's learning and development is significantly enhanced by the resulting staff knowledge, confidence and sense of well-being.The skilful staff consistently add challenge and help children to make links, remember and build on previous learning.

They actively encourage them to think and experiment. For example, children notice their play dough is sticky. They try adding items, such as rose petals, to no avail.

Staff suggest thinking about what they use to make dough and children successfully add flour. All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), make impressive progress in their learning and development.Staff use books and stories exceptionally well as a vital part of learning through every area of the nursery.

They often use stories as prompts or to enhance an activity. Children develop a love of words and show excellent concentration as they listen to frequent, animated story reading. Older children learn how books work and confidently write their own stories.

Staff provide exciting opportunities to encourage children's speech and language development. Children engage in lively conversations, sharing their experiences. Toddlers learn new vocabulary, such as cocoon, as they look after real caterpillars.

They remember the new names as they explore, making light shadows of butterflies on the wall.Staff support children to develop extremely secure social skills. Children quickly make friends and become part of the nursery 'family'.

They show an impressive sense of belonging as they happily sit together, listen carefully and take turns to respond at group times. Children are active, inquisitive learners and are very well prepared for the next stage of their education.Managers and staff have a calm manner.

They role model respect and kindness and help children to understand their behaviour. Staff sensitively help children to recognise and self-regulate their feelings. For example, children learn and practise yoga to help themselves stay calm.

Children learn to be extremely independent. For example, they get themselves ready for the woodland walk and know they need hats and sun cream to stay safe.Parents speak extremely highly of the nursery and the 'amazing' staff.

Shared planning with parents, particularly for children with SEND, helps to ensure continuity of practice and that children's needs are fully met. The nursery is a valued part of the community. For example, the local church minister blessed a tree as part of the recent Jubilee celebration party at the nursery.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Managers and staff have a strong culture of safeguarding. They always have children's safety and well-being in mind.

Staff carry out risk assessments and support children to begin to manage their own risks. For example, they learn to negotiate steps outside safely. Managers follow safe recruitment practice to ensure staff are suitable to work with children.

Staff have regular training and know what to do if they have any concern about a child's welfare. Managers and staff actively work with families and other agencies to ensure any early intervention needed happens promptly. The premises are well maintained and secure.