Brookfield Day Nursery

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is outstanding

Children are extremely happy and settled. Their independence and self-care skills are exceptionally well supported. Even the youngest children are encouraged to try and do things by themselves.

Young children feed themselves confidently, and older children independently manage self-care routines. Children enjoy home-cooked food and understand the impact that healthy eating has on their body. They enthusiastically tell staff that milk has calcium which makes their bones strong and that carbohydrates give them energy to run.

Children enthusiastically engage with their peers as they play outside together. They show... a positive attitude to learning as they talk about their shared interests such as dinosaurs and water. Children squeal with delight as they throw the water into the air.

Staff skilfully intervene to extend learning. They question if children have noticed the different sound the water makes as it splashes into the puddle. Children begin to experiment with new ideas and make their own predictions.

Children's behaviour is exemplary. They understand the rules of the setting and recognise the impact their behaviour has on others. Children have ample opportunity to take on extra responsibilities and contribute to decision-making.

Children across the nursery are listened to by attentive staff and are given ownership over their learning.

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

The exceptional manager provides a culture of mutual support and is dedicated to ensuring that staff are fully supported. Staff are well qualified and are committed to ensuring that all children have the best start in life.

Staff are provided with a comprehensive range of training and development opportunities, combined with regular meetings, mentoring and management support. This means that they continually update their knowledge and skills.Staff are exceptional teachers.

They are knowledgeable and demonstrate a deep understanding of how children learn and develop. Staff use their knowledge of children's interests to create exciting learning opportunities and build on what children know and can do. They skilfully extend learning as children explore the play dough.

Staff ask open-ended questions, challenge thinking and model language. Children learn new words and their meaning, such as 'crunchy' and 'gritty'.Parents are fully informed about their children's progress and receive regular information on how to support learning at home.

They comment that staff have implemented effective risk assessments to keep the children safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Parents particularly praise staff for placing importance on providing exciting activities that support children's confidence and self-esteem.Staff treat children with the upmost respect.

They ask their permission to complete care routines and empower children to discuss how they are feeling. Children develop a positive sense of themselves. Staff support them to recognise what makes them unique.

For example, children look in the mirror and staff comment on the colour of their eyes and hair. Children's emotional well-being is extremely well supported.Staff support children's communication and language extremely well.

They learn basic sign language and share new words with children, connected with planned activities or their interests. Staff use repetition and give children time to respond, to support emerging speech for babies and toddlers. They work closely with parents and outside agencies to ensure that all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, are provided with support to help them make rapid progress in their learning.

Children show high levels of curiosity and engagement in their play. Toddlers use the chalks to make marks and show a keen interest in early phonics. Older children understand that stories have a beginning, middle and end.

They proudly tell staff about the 'illustrator' and 'author'. Staff bring activities and stories alive for children, stimulating their imagination and enthusiasm. Children spend time exploring books independently and sharing stories with friends.

This prepares them for their next stage of learning, including school.Children learn about their community and develop a deep understanding of the world around them. They learn about charity work and local initiatives.

For example, children collect food for homelessness charities and have opportunities to meet the people who have benefited from their kindness. Children are eager to learn about families and communities beyond their own.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Partnership working with other agencies to support families is highly effective. Staff care deeply for each child and prioritise their safety and well-being. The manager and staff have excellent knowledge of how to keep children safe and how to identify when children may be at risk of harm.

This includes wider safeguarding matters, such as radicalisation. The manager follows safe recruitment procedures to ensure that all staff are suitable to work with children. Staff complete robust risk assessments to ensure that the nursery is safe.