Koala Kidz Ltd - Old Buttery

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is outstanding

The children know that due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, their parents can no longer come into the nursery. Parents now say goodbye at the main gate. To help children feel safe and welcome, they are collected at the gate by their key person.

The management team and the staff continue to think about how they can make the nursery safer. They have transformed this traditional nursery into an outdoor nursery and forest school. Children develop exceptional levels of confidence and independence as they manage tasks and make decisions about what they want to play.

Their behaviour is excellent. They share toys..., demonstrate new ideas to staff and each other and organise group play. These positive relationships help children to become strong and resilient.

Children use their imagination with a host of creative items. For example, leaves and pegs become green dragon flies or a stomping stegosaurus and a triceratops. Children of all ages learn to manage risks appropriately.

As they grow, they become even more in tune with the outdoor environment and how to play safely alongside birds, insects and vegetation. Children identify brambles and nettles that sting. They understand that other plants, such as mallow or buttercups, are gentle and can be added to their mud sausages or potions.

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

Staff observe children's abilities and interests from the first day they attend. This enables them to build on what children know and can do, planning a wide range of activities that engages children in discovery and learning. Children investigate independently and confidently.

They develop their play based on real-life experiences, mixed with a lot of imagination.The manager and the staff observe ongoing practice through peer-on-peer reviews and supervision meetings. These help to promote excellent practice throughout the nursery and to identify training to continue building skills.

Staff confirm that they feel listened to and are very much supported within their 'work family'.Staff talk with children from the earliest opportunity. They recognise, respond to and support children's physical needs.

Staff promote healthy eating, narrating to babies and to children what they are preparing for snack. Older, more-able children share their ideas about different foods, such as where foods come from and how they help the body in different ways.Children thoroughly enjoy large-scale construction.

They plan their designs, meticulously drawing these on paper before building. Children evaluate their creations and make any adaptations needed. They demonstrate an excellent growing vocabulary and a very broad knowledge of the natural world.

For example, children confidently name different birds, including collared doves, woodpigeons and robins. They talk about the different calls these birds make.Babies build on their physical skills as they pull themselves up to standing, increasing their independence.

Their curiosity is sparked remarkably well by staff. Sensory play absorbs their attention as they pat and squeeze various materials.Toddlers chat fluently.

They hold conversations, showing skills above those expected for their age. Parents and carers confirm that language development within nursery complements what they do at home. They comment on the speed their children's communication skills develop.

They explain how they know this learning is being embedded at the nursery as their children are using phrases they have not learnt at home. Children become extremely articulate and very self-assured.Children are deeply involved in their learning.

Insects are a source of endless fascination. Children use magnifiers and bug jars to closely examine woodlice, shield beetles and slugs. They show immense kindness to each other and this is extended to the minibeasts they find as they carefully place these back in their natural habitats.

Children create spheres and cubes by moulding mud. They skilfully recall their knowledge of three-dimensional shapes and what these look like in the everyday environment. Children's excitement is visible as they remember and name items, such as meatballs, apples and footballs.

The management team and the staff are very keen on continuing to develop practice. They have engaged with local authority advisors to raise the standard of teaching to an exceptional level.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Safer recruitment procedures help to ensure that all staff are and remain suitable to work with children. The management team and the staff pay excellent attention to developing their knowledge of child protection and wider issues. All staff update their training annually.

They have ongoing discussions and answer challenging questions in a quiz format to help keep their understanding current. Clear procedures are in place and a host of safeguarding audits are completed, including following up on any child who does not attend to ensure their well-being. Policies are shared with parents and are updated regularly to reflect changes in legislation.