Alverbridge Nursery

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is outstanding

The exceptionally well-qualified and experienced team of childcare professionals successfully fulfils the highest of expectations for all children. It creates a vibrant, inspiring environment, indoors and outdoors and expertly plans a curriculum that ignites children's curiosity and thirst for learning.

Children settle very quickly, and they are extremely happy at the nursery. They gain an excellent sense of personal responsibility. For example, after reading a story about an orangutan and realising the impact of de-forestation on the environment, they created a successful campaign with staff to highlight this to others....

Children learn that their views matter and are acted on, as they place tokens in a pot to vote for next week's snack choice. They learn about their place in the community, for example they visit a care home for older people and play alongside the residents as they draw pictures together. Children persevere and show great determination to succeed at tasks.

They behave exceptionally well and develop firm friendships with each other. Staff develop highly effective and extremely well-thought-out strategies to help engage and involve parents in their child's learning at home. For example, they extend bespoke support, such as home visits, for children who are unable to attend the nursery for a period of time, to ensure they do not fall behind in their learning.

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

Leaders set ambitious goals and staff demonstrate a drive and passion for their work. Self-evaluation is highly accurate and focuses sharply on continually improving outcomes for the children. Leaders and staff make excellent use of additional funding to successfully support individual children's learning.

Gaps in children's attainment close rapidly, including for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, in readiness for school.Team morale is high. Leaders place exceptional attention on supporting staff's emotional well-being, including managing their workload.

For example, staff mental health first aiders have recently enhanced the staff room as part of their work in appreciating and valuing staff. Staff benefit from highly constructive feedback on their teaching and access ongoing professional development that effectively supports their teaching to the highest level.Leaders share their thirst and their expertise for learning through productive partnerships with other local settings and professionals.

For example, they promote open days where they showcase their curriculum for supporting children's learning outside, such as through a learning walk of their vibrant outdoor provision. Managers share their leadership qualities with others as they become professional mentors to settings in need of further support.Staff's attention to promoting children's resilience is exemplary.

Children, including those who have parents posted away in the forces or who experience social anxiety, benefit from a sensitive programme of activities that fosters their emotional well-being very successfully. Children quickly excel in confidence and show high levels of tolerance and acceptance of others.Children become highly effective communicators.

Babies join in with favourite songs animatedly. They squeal with delight and clap along to the rhythm and rhyme of the music. Older children read simple words, write their own name and solve simple mathematical problems with great aptitude.

They creatively decorate diva lamps and talk about traditional celebrations.Staff are inspirational teachers and have exceptional knowledge of their key children. They meticulously assess what children know and can do, and plan precisely for their next steps in learning.

Staff actively implement new ideas that build on children's interest, to improve outcomes further for children. For example, children enjoy toasting marshmallows over a barbeque, after playing in the pretend campground.Throughout the nursery, staff act as excellent role models.

Babies enjoy warm and secure emotional attachments to staff, who are kind, caring and highly responsive to their needs. Staff create challenging opportunities for children to take risks safely, such as sensitively modelling how to balance and negotiate an obstacle course when a younger child shows they are not sure. Staff promote children's understanding of online safety, such as through responsible use of media and devices.

Staff maximise opportunities to promote children's understanding of healthy living, through eating well and risk taking in the innovative outside area. Children enjoy nutritious and healthy meals and snacks. They develop excellent levels of independence and learn how to tend to their self-care needs from an early age.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Staff intervene swiftly when they have a concern about a child. They robustly ensure children's safety, showing an excellent knowledge of routes of referral.

Exceptional attention is given to working with agencies to promote children's welfare. Staff promote positive links with a range of community groups, such as a local support service to support new parents. The team works vigilantly to ensure spaces are safe for children to play in.

Staff diligently supervise children and take effective steps to review all risk assessments, should any accidents occur. Managers follow robust recruitment procedures to ensure the suitability of all staff. Staff are clear on what to do if they have a concern about the behaviour of another adult.