Crystal Palace Day Nursery

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Staff are enthusiastic, kind and caring. Their nurturing approach supports young children to flourish and promotes children's emotional security.

Staff warmly greet children on arrival, and they share key information with parents to support the day ahead. New babies are gently and sensitively encouraged to settle. Staff offer lots of cuddles and follow babies' routines closely, which supports their emotional well-being.

The curriculum is carefully planned to provide children with a wealth of learning opportunities, supporting their all-round development. Children make secure progress from their starting points. Songs a...nd stories are regularly featured during the day.

Children learn the rhyme and repetition of familiar songs and stories, which builds their vocabulary. While playing outside, children join in singing 'The Grand Old Duke of York'. They giggle as they pretend to march, moving their bodies imaginatively.

Staff skilfully create a stimulating learning environment with a strong focus on sensory play. Babies and young children are keen to explore a range of different textures, such as leaves, soil and dough. Children show fascination as they feel materials in their hands.

Staff model kind and respectful behaviour. As a result, children show that they feel safe and secure in staff's care.

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

The management team is enthusiastic and ambitious.

It has a good overview of the quality of the provision and uses evaluation to identify areas for future improvement effectively. The management team supports strong practice by effective coaching, mentoring and role modelling. Subsequently, the opportunities for children are of high quality to support their developmental progress.

Staff comment that they enjoy working at the nursery and say that they feel valued and supported. There is a strong commitment to staff training to support their skills and professional development. Staff share what they have learned with the rest of the team so that there is a consistent approach to supporting children's learning.

Staff explain how recent 'Boogie Mites' training has enabled them to plan more creative music sessions for children.Staff know their key children extremely well and use their knowledge of children's individual learning needs to target their teaching. They make regular observations to identify children's interests and next steps for learning.

Staff plan the curriculum with children's interests in mind. For example, they know that children are particularly interested in dinosaurs and transport. They ensure that children have varied play opportunities to develop these interests further.

All children, including those who speak English as an additional language, are supported well with their language development. Staff are good role models and speak clearly to children, skilfully introducing new vocabulary. They ask them questions and give children time to think and respond.

This helps children to develop their communication skills. Key persons learn key words in children's home language to support children's understanding of daily routines.All children have daily access to the outdoor play areas, where they explore with their senses and develop confidence with their mobility.

Children skilfully transport sand between containers and move wheeled toys, showing good spatial awareness. However, opportunities for children to regularly develop their physical skills even further are not fully established.Partnerships with parents are a key strength of the nursery.

Parent feedback is incredibly positive. They feel well informed about their children's learning and are supported to continue children's learning at home. Parents describe the nursery as 'a special place' and say their children run excitedly into the nursery on arrival.

Children are sensitively supported to manage their feelings and emotions. Staff encourage children to share resources and be kind to others. Children respond to positive praise and encouragement from staff, such as when they help to set the table for lunch.

Staff are skilled at using photos of daily routines to help children understand what is going to happen next. This provides reassurance to children as they know what to expect.Staff are vigilant about children's health and safety.

They support children to follow good hygiene practices, such as washing hands prior to eating. Children benefit from healthy and nutritious meal provision. Arrangements for meeting children's dietary needs have recently been strengthened, and all staff are aware of their responsibilities.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: develop the learning environments for children to focus more closely on promoting their physical development even further.