Brimpton House Nursery

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is outstanding

Babies and young children are exceptionally curious and motivated learners. On arrival, they eagerly greet each other and staff.

Children chat excitedly about activities and very quickly begin playing and exploring. Babies show their contentment as they crawl confidently to investigate toys within this inspirational environment. The personal, social and emotional development of all children flourishes as they play in harmony.

Children show great care and consideration for each other. For instance, they have a comprehensive understanding of how to keep themselves and others safe. When preparing to go out to play,... they help each other put on their coats and hats.

When using the staircase, children hold onto the bannister and concentrate on being extremely 'careful'. Children are eager to help staff with head counts as they venture in and out of the nursery. This helps to ensure everyone remains safely accounted for.

Children develop exceptional language and mathematical skills. They are supported to explore letters and sounds and thoroughly enjoy word games. Children enjoy a wealth of high-quality learning experiences that are expertly organised.

This helps to build precisely on their existing knowledge and skills. All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, embed secure knowledge on which to extend their future learning.

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

Parents speak very highly of the nursery.

They comment on how their children have 'grown in confidence'. Parents thoroughly enjoy watching their children flourish, as they share their learning, for example, repeating lines from stories they have enjoyed, such as 'fe-fi-fo-fum' from 'Jack and the Beanstalk'. Parents talk about how excited their children are to continue exploring and learning at home.

Children and babies have tremendous fun as they explore shapes and numbers. Older children create bird feeders using cereal and pipe cleaners. They accurately count each piece as they compare who has the 'most' or 'least'.

With encouragement from staff they identify simple fractions, such as 'quarter' and 'half full'. Babies explore shapes and counting. Staff diligently introduce number language to help them become familiar with numbers from one to five.

Outside opportunities offer exceptional play and learning for those children who prefer to be outdoors. Children concentrate for prolonged periods of time as they search for worms and ladybirds. They carefully explore rocks, using their imagination to search for a 'cave' which they decide is the minibeasts' home.

Parents complement the nursery curriculum by sharing activities at home. A wide choice of home-activity bags provide further ideas and resources to promote shared learning with families.Staff are extremely engaging and driven to research and test out new ideas and learning concepts.

They take great interest in enhancing opportunities that stretch children's thinking to the optimum. Staff pay great attention to their professional development and this is supported exceptionally well. Recent developments include enhancing activities linked to science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Staff embrace and implement these new and exciting learning opportunities. Children thoroughly enjoy researching buildings of interest, such as The Shard, Big Ben and Buckingham Palace. They draw on existing skills to design replicas with boxes and containers.

Children engage in problem solving as they work out how best to construct their creations.Leaders are inspirational. Excellent systems are in place to support staff well-being.

Meticulous reviews of staff and overall nursery practice enable the management team to obtain detailed information to sustain exemplary ongoing progress. Staff are highly valued, including those not working directly with children, and feel listened to and able to share ideas. This helps them to provide an overall environment for children that is highly responsive to their care, interests and learning needs.

For example, cooks take time to learn about and incorporate foods that reflect different ethnicities.Partnerships with other professionals and staff working in other settings children also attend are excellent. This ensures that children receive consistent care and learning opportunities specifically planned to build on their overall experiences.

Children are exceptionally well prepared for their eventual move to school.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Staff have a robust knowledge of the signs and symptoms that may indicate a child is at risk of harm.

They have an excellent understanding of the process to report any concerns about a child's welfare. Staff know the whistle-blowing procedure, enabling them to deal swiftly with any allegations or concerns about colleagues. The manager ensures staff safeguarding knowledge is kept up to date.

They regularly attend training and have briefings during staff meetings. When appointing new staff the manager follows safe recruitment processes. This ensures that they are suitable and have the necessary skills to fulfil their roles and responsibilities.