Honey Pot Nursery (Garston)

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is outstanding

Children thrive at this inclusive and inspirational nursery. They are exceedingly happy and secure and demonstrate an infectious love of learning.

The nursery is a hive of exciting and stimulating experiences inside and outdoors. Children are exceptionally confident learners who play an active role in leading their own learning and making decisions. They relish solving simple problems and consistently demonstrate a positive 'can-do' attitude when challenged in their learning.

For example, babies show great determination and resilience as they solve problems, such as which hole wooden shapes fit through in a shap...e sorter.Children make excellent progress in all areas of learning. Staff have incredibly high expectations of what children can achieve.

Children work collaboratively together, question each other and become deeply engrossed in their learning. For example, pre-school children negotiate and test out their ideas as they decide upon the optimum number of shells that can be carried in a bucket of water without spilling it. They count and discuss the weight of the bucket using an impressive array of mathematical vocabulary.

The experienced and highly-skilled staff are superb role models. They use their extensive knowledge of each child astutely when employing a range of strategies that help children to manage their feelings and regulate their own behaviour. Children of all ages demonstrate kindness, respect and behave exceptionally well.

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

Leaders and the manager are deeply passionate about providing experiences of the highest quality for young children and their families. They share their inspirational vision with the dedicated and enthusiastic team and offer an abundance of support and coaching when rigorously challenging them to excel. All staff are encouraged to research the latest developments in the field of early years.

For example, recent research into effective learning environments has helped staff to ensure that each environment provides the optimum conditions in which children can best learn.All staff have an exceptionally detailed understanding of what children need to learn next. They skilfully observe and accurately assess what children can do.

Staff use this knowledge, along with children's developing interests, superbly to plan an array of interesting and thought-provoking experiences. Staff carefully monitor children's progress and identify any emerging gaps. They swiftly work in close partnership with a range of outside agencies to ensure that children receive the precise support they need to make excellent progress.

Staff immerse children in a wealth of storytelling experiences. Recent visits from a local children's author to share stories ignited a passion for literacy within the children. They are now helping the author with the publication of her next book.

Children of all ages confidently and independently handle books. They look at the pictures and tell their own stories using puppets with great expression.Children enjoy a wide variety of nutritious snacks and meals.

The nursery nutrition manager ensures that each meal is healthy, and that good portion control is used. Furthermore, film footage of the chef preparing meals is shared with parents so that they can prepare their children's favourite healthy meals at home.Parents are superbly supported to contribute to their child's learning at home.

The setting offers a wide range of extremely popular training opportunities for parents, including workshops on topics such as behaviour management. Staff share detailed information with parents about what their child is learning. They provide an abundance of ideas and resources to help parents in extending their child's learning at home.

Children develop tremendous empathy and are skilfully supported to consider the impact they make on the environment. The nursery's 'eco committee', comprising of staff, parents and children, implement strategies that involve the whole community in caring for their local area. Furthermore, children demonstrate an impressive knowledge of worldwide events.

For example, they talk about how the recent bush fires in Australia have damaged the homes of wildlife and link this to their own feelings of sadness.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Staff complete safeguarding training annually.

They each undertake additional targeted training in different aspects of safeguarding and child protection. They also share their detailed knowledge to help to ensure that all staff have a robust and in-depth understanding of the possible signs of abuse. All staff know precisely what action to take in the event of a concern.

Staff undertake detailed risk assessments of all aspects of the nursery. Children are skilfully taught to manage their own risks and safety. For example, staff carefully explain how to use safety knives and closely supervise children as they teach them how to cut vegetables safely.