Pomfrett Cottage Nursery

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children are happy and engaged at nursery. Close staff interaction helps them to quickly become immersed in play and learning.

Staff provide a safe, well-resourced learning environment that enables children to freely select resources and initiate their own play. Children demonstrate this as the have great fun spreading paint with their hands. They delight in the 'sticky' and 'cold' feel of the paint and explore colour mixing, noticing where paints have gone 'darker purple'.

Staff provide an inclusive, homely environment, where children are cherished, and their uniqueness and individual needs are celebrated. The nurturi...ng approach of staff helps all children to feel very happy, safe and secure. Children develop a strong sense of self-esteem and have confidence in their abilities.

All children progress well from their starting points, regardless of their circumstances, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and those who are learning English as an additional language. Children understand the importance of being respectful, kind and caring towards each other. Older children negotiate well as they play.

For instance, they work harmoniously together as they build and create different models out of cardboard boxes which they have freely painted. They have great fun as they hide in the boxes and jump out, and ensure that all children have a turn.

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

Children learn about healthy lifestyles.

They have access to plenty of space, in a very well-resourced and imaginative outside area. Children can run and happily challenge their physical skills. They enjoy growing their own vegetables and fruit and share nutritious meals.

Parents are extremely eager to share their personal stories of how staff support them to care for and help their children. They know what their children are learning and how to continue their learning at home. Parents of children with SEND say they are 'amazed' at how much their children have developed in just one term of attending.

The manager, who is also the owner, and staff continually observe and monitor the progress children make. They recognise where children may need additional help or support, and plan activities that help children to achieve their full potential.The manager sets a strong example of how to teach effectively and offers staff the opportunity to work towards additional qualifications.

However, she does not use a wider range of opportunities to further extend the teaching skills and interests of staff and help them to reach their full potential. For example, at times staff do not give children enough time to think and respond to questions asked of them.Staff create exceptionally strong links with relevant agencies and the host school.

They very quickly identify where new children need early help. New children swiftly receive highly targeted support. Staff work very closely with professionals, including paediatricians.

They use interventions, such as visual prompts and sign language to support and develop children's communication and language.Children are highly aware of any risks that may be in the nursery. They are appointed as the designated 'busy bug' for the day and complete a picture risk assessment with a member of staff every morning and afternoon.

Staff support children to develop a can-do attitude. For example, when children struggle to find matching pairs in a turn-taking game, staff support the children to 'look harder' and 'more closely' to identify differences and similarities.The well-being of staff is a high priority.

The manager values her team of highly qualified staff and places great importance on ensuring that they feel supported and that their opinions are important.Robust procedures are in place to ensure that individual dietary needs, allergies and preferences are always known and met. Parents comment that they are very confident in the staff's abilities to meet the needs of children with severe allergies.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Staff have a very good understanding of, and are able to recognise, the signs that indicate that a child may be at risk of harm. There are effective procedures in place to follow should staff have a concern about a child or an adult in the nursery.

All staff have completed relevant training in safeguarding and know who the designated lead practitioner is within the setting. The manager has robust procedures in place to make sure that staff undergo suitability checks to ensure children's safety.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: focus more sharply on supporting staff in their professional development to raise the overall quality of teaching to the highest level.

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