Melrose House Nursery School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children feel safe and settle very well at this vibrant nursery.

Staff are warm, kind and welcoming towards children. Children take part in a range of exciting activities. They sit together on arrival and complete the activities on offer.

For example, older children complete a number activity while the younger children paint face masks. Children are eager to join in singing songs with instruments. They show good levels of independence and self-care skills.

There are many varied opportunities for children to develop their curiosity and language skills. They count competently and have a range of experiences to d...evelop their knowledge of shapes. Children receive regular praise from staff, which helps them to keep motivated during activities.

They are guided to make choices in what they do. Children behave well. They listen actively and cooperate with adults.

They know to tidy up once they have finished playing. Older children self-register on arrival, while staff gently support younger children. They share, willingly wait their turn and are helpful.

Children enjoy being outdoors in the well-organised nursery garden where there are lots of activities to explore. Children make good progress from their starting points.

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

The manager is ambitious for what children can achieve in this setting.

The management team evaluates practice well to help improvement. Staff are supported to gain a childcare qualification and enhance their knowledge and skills. They also receive regular training, supervision and coaching to help improve their personal effectiveness and provide good-quality teaching.

The learning environment is rich in challenging and exciting resources for children to access. The play areas are bright and well planned for children to make independent choices in where they play. Younger children access a broad range of resources with ease.

They show interest in imaginary play, using a toy hammer and nails to attach shapes to a board. Older children have fun as they explore outdoors, using real tools to dig the soil. They develop strong body coordination and movement.

Children explore textured balls with curiosity. They fill and empty containers as they talk about 'full', 'more', 'overflow' and 'empty'. Older children confidently use scissors to cut around shapes.

This helps to strengthen their arm and smaller hand muscles, which supports writing.Independence is promoted very well for all children. They find their coats and skilfully put them on.

Older children fasten their zips themselves, while younger children need some guidance from staff. Children learn to manage their self-care routines independently. They wash their hands.

However, the facilities for drying hands do not fully promote an effective hygiene routine.Children behave well. They listen to staff, follow instructions, share resources and wait their turn.

However, on occasions, opportunities to encourage children to develop their confidence to interact with their peers are not fully supported, in particular for the younger age group.Parents speak very highly of the nursery and the staff. They say that staff are very supportive and help them to understand how they can extend their children's learning at home.

They say that their children make rapid progress from when they first start.Staff plan enjoyable activities that challenge children and help to develop their counting and number recognition. For example, older children correctly identify numbers that staff call out and understand the amount they represent.

They know shapes well. For instance, they know that a pentagon has five sides. Children have ample opportunities to develop their reading and writing skills.

For instance, younger children use a range of tools to make marks, while older children identify letters and sounds, and learn to write their name competently. Children sit and listen intently to stories, although at times, some group activities do not hold children's interest and they lose their concentration.Children learn about people and the wider world.

For instance, they learn about different cultural festivals, which helps to raise their awareness and understanding of similarities and differences in others.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.All staff complete regular safeguarding training and are confident in their roles to help protect children.

They know how to identify, record and report any concerns they might have about children's welfare. They remain vigilant to what they see and hear. The management team follows robust selection and recruitment procedures to help ensure that all staff are suitable.

Staff complete daily checks to reduce any risks to children. Managers also conduct checks throughout the day to make sure all areas of the nursery are safe for children to play.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: nimprove the hand drying facilities to help enhance hygiene routine strengthen support to encourage children to develop their confidence in social situation with their peers develop the organisation of some group activities to help promote children's learning to even higher levels.