Julia Durbin Day Nursery

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is outstanding

All children are incredibly happy and settled at the nursery. Children build strong bonds with the staff and excellent relationships with their peers. They thrive in a happy, safe and nurturing environment.

Staff are caring and nurturing towards the children. Children behave exceptionally well and develop positive attitudes to learning. Staff have an enthusiastic approach, which helps children develop a zest for learning.

Children's communication skills develop rapidly in the language-rich environment created by staff. They share favourite books and stories. As children grow and develop, staff encourage them to ...put words together to form simple sentences.

Children learn and develop autonomy and decision-making skills. For example, a rolling mealtime allows children to decide when they are ready for lunch. This gives the opportunity for children to come to a natural break in their play.

Young children show when they are ready to eat by moving to the sink area to wash their hands. They then move to the table where they get their own plate and cutlery before serving themselves. Children make excellent progress and enjoy sharing their achievements.

They take part in planning activities that will help them in their next steps of learning. Children of all ages show high levels of confidence to explore their surroundings. They gain an excellent understanding of how to take care of themselves.

Babies show high levels of confidence when moving around the nursery making choices in their play.

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

The provider has identified a clear and ambitious curriculum, in conjunction with staff, children, and parents. This is sequenced highly effectively to build on children's prior knowledge and skills.

The provider values each staff member and supports their continued professional development. This helps the provider to retain a skilled, knowledgeable team, who provide children with exceptional care and learning experiences.The manager and staff build extremely close relationships with other settings and professionals.

For instance, they share extensive information with teachers before children move on to school. They follow this up at half term to check on how the children have settled and if there is any new learning for the setting to consider in supporting children in readiness for the transition into school.Children make excellent progress and enjoy opportunities to research subjects of interest to them, based on what they find or see.

For example, children enjoyed learning about owls after finding the remains of an owl's meal. They researched owls with staff to find out about their eating habits and habitat. This was extended to discover how owls digest their food and the children enjoyed the opportunity to dissect owl pellets.

All children remain focused and engaged in their play. Staff plan a wide range of interesting, hands-on learning experiences, which build on children's natural curiosity as learners.Young children spend long periods of time engrossed in activities, due to the skilled approach of staff.

They enjoy exploring sensory experiences, such as weighted and different sounding balls and shakers. Children develop their hand-to-eye coordination and explore the changing feeling of the toys they pick up. They shake them with delight as they make different sounds.

Children behave exceptionally well. They build positive and lasting friendships with their peers as they progress through the nursery. They enjoy sharing resources and taking turns.

They demonstrate this in their play as they talk to each other about what they want to do or play with.Parents confirm they receive comprehensive feedback on their children's care and learning. Staff create positive links with home and arrange regular parent forums to engage parents in what is happening in the nursery.

This also ensures parents have input into the provision for their children.The manager makes excellent use of rigorous performance management and training. Staff feel valued and appreciated.

They have excellent opportunities for progression with the support of the manager.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Staff demonstrate a robust knowledge of safeguarding issues with awareness of current issues within the local authority.

Robust risk assessments are in place and staff encourage children to identify and assess risks in their play. Staff have a clear awareness of their roles to safeguard children. They confidently identify a wide range of indicators of abuse.

They clearly understand referral procedures should they have any concerns about a child or a staff member. The environment is securely maintained. There is a culture of safeguarding running right down through the staff team from leaders, designated safeguarding leads and all staff members.