Crescent Day Nursery

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is outstanding

This outstanding setting provides children with rich, varied and interesting learning opportunities. The busy but calm atmosphere demonstrates the success of providing thought-provoking, meaningful and imaginative activities for children.

Older children are engrossed in an activity, alongside skilful staff, where they build a hospital using large wooden blocks, tape and ramps. Children become excited when staff provide logs and natural materials to make the hospital bigger, encouraging children's problem-solving skills. Children use a measuring tape to compare the sizes of their hospitals, reading the numerals.

...Children use their social skills to confidently talk to each other about their personal experiences of visiting a hospital. They share stories with the staff and competently explain how to call the emergency services. Other children sit and concentrate while they 'save' a toy whale that is wrapped up in cling film.

They tell the staff 'we are saving it'. Outside, children have meaningful conversations with the visitor about how rubbish 'is bad for the environment' and 'we are going to recycle this', while they collect litter. Babies contentedly crawl around the inviting, secure and stimulating environment.

They smile and giggle as they watch staff blow bubbles into the sky. Toddlers excitedly move between areas, such as a sand pit, water tray, sensory area and book area. They learn how to care for things when they enthusiastically wash dolls using sponges and soap, before wrapping them in a towel and putting a nappy on them.

Children are learning beneficial self-help skills. For example, young children use the accessible self-care area, where they wipe their own noses while looking in a mirror and use antibacterial gel independently. They approach the visitor and proudly hold out their hands to share their achievements.

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

The experienced manager has successfully created an environment that is welcoming, positive and child focused. On entry into the setting, visitors are welcomed by helpful displays and resources that support children's learning, such as literacy on internet safety, emotional well-being and the importance of storytelling.The exceptional curriculum is consistent throughout the setting and links to children's interests, which are age-appropriate and relevant.

Next steps in children's learning are a focus and staff meticulously plan exciting activities to help children make excellent progress in all areas.The outdoor area is expansive and provides ample opportunities for children to explore and use their imagination. Children can access a forest school area, wheeled toys, sand pits, water trays, a reading corner and large amounts of green grass to extend their gross-motor skills.

Older children learn how to perform first aid when they use picture booklets to bandage up their favourite super heroes. Staff are successfully preparing them for school. They provide school uniforms, bags and literacy books for the children to experience.

Furthermore, children visit local schools and then design their own school classroom at their setting.Staff are extremely conscious of the surrounding community and environmental issues. Children learn about the effects of litter on the planet and what impact this has on animals.

In addition to this, staff use different key words from various languages to celebrate diversity and cultural backgrounds. The setting is hugely inclusive.Providing nutritious snacks and meals is a priority at this setting.

Individualised meal plans are provided to support children with additional health and dietary requirements. Children are encouraged to smell and taste fresh herbs, further expanding their knowledge on fresh food. Older children visit local restaurants and use their new knowledge to grow their own vegetables, which they then eat for snack.

The provision for supporting children with special educational needs and/or disabilities is outstanding. The special educational needs coordinator ensures that important information is shared between parents, staff and other professionals about children's specific needs and next steps. This information is thoughtfully added onto personalised support plans, which are regularly updated to ensure all children make excellent progress.

The leadership and management team provides ample training opportunities for staff. Staff receive regular supervisions which identify areas for personal development. For example, staff attend training that identifies ways to build on babies learning through a curiosity approach.

This approach is implemented in practice and babies make significant progress in exploration skills and physical development.Parents are delighted with the care that their children receive. They speak highly of the welcoming, friendly and attentive staff.

They express how much their child has developed and particularly praise the healthy meals provided.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Safeguarding the children in this setting is a priority.

Staff receive regular and relevant updates and training. Furthermore, they learn about safeguarding issues in the local area, such as radicalisation and county lines. This ensures that staff have knowledge to help them recognise signs of different types of abuse.

The staff have excellent knowledge of who to contact should they have safeguarding concerns about a child. This ensures that appropriate information is shared between relevant professionals, enabling children and families to receive appropriate support. Children are given the best possible outcomes should they suffer an accident or injury, due to all staff holding a paediatric first-aid certificate.