Early Start Lawrence Avenue

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents

This provision is good • Staff develop extremely warm and supportive relationships with the children. This helps children to settle quickly and feel comfortable and confident in the nursery.

For example, children who are struggling to say goodbye to their parents are given a cuddle by staff and soon happily walk into the nursery to join the activities. • Children's behaviour is exceptional. Staff model their high expectations of behaviour, and support children with praise and smiles.

For example, younger children are encouraged to help put the crayons back into a tub and children smile broadly at staff when they receive praise. Older children are encouraged to share a fa...vourite bicycle in the outside area and are rewarded with praise when they let their friends have a turn. • Staff know the children well and plan activities that they know will interest them.

For example, they provide a range of watering cans for children to water the herbs in the garden. They notice that children are enjoying themselves and put out a water tray so that pouring opportunities can continue. • The manager has a clear vision about the strengths of the nursery and the areas for further development.

She uses strategies to collect the views of parents and children and acts on these. For example, a parental questionnaire identified that parents would like to see more of the children's work and so they organised a gallery of work in the entrance for parents to see as they drop off their children. • Children make good progress, particularly in their communication and language development and are well prepared for the next stage in their learning.

For example, children in the baby room are using words to name objects and two-year-olds are asking and answering questions about their activities. • Leaders' procedures to monitor and evaluate the progress of groups are not yet fully embedded in their practice. • Occasionally, staff do not use opportunities consistently well to challenge children and extend their learning during activities.