N Family Club Cobham

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is outstanding

Children's behaviour is exemplary. They are extremely happy and settled in the exceptionally calm and stimulating environment.

There are very high expectations for all children to be challenged in their learning and development, and to make the best possible progress. Children are highly motivated to learn. They actively explore the exceptional range of resources, indoors and outdoors.

For instance, they thoroughly enjoy playing in a mud kitchen and using their hands to mix ingredients to make modelling dough. Children develop excellent physical skills. They show great delight when they learn to jump safely off ...low-level tree trunks.

Babies keep on trying to pull themselves to standing, to explore sand and touch brightly coloured chiffon scarves suspended from a frame.Children have excellent opportunities to learn about the world. They thoroughly enjoy regular outings away from the nursery in a minibus.

For example, to a forest school where they make bird feeders and collect charcoal, which they bring it back to the nursery and use for mark making. Children also use an allotment to plant and look after fruit and vegetables. They visit a respite home for disabled children, where they have access to a soft play area that the nursery helps to fund.

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

Staff have an exceptional understanding of how to support and extend children's learning and development, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. They provide children with an exciting curriculum and an exemplary range of well-organised, interesting activities. Children make outstanding progress.

Since the last inspection, the nursery building has been completely refurbished. Managers and staff have worked hard to provide children with an exciting, well-resourced and welcoming learning environment. Managers and senior advisors consistently work with staff to review and continually improve their exemplary practice, and the delivery of an ambitious curriculum.

Staff now focus strongly on using children's interests and choices to move them forward in their learning and development.Staff have received training that has helped them to successfully develop children's literacy skills. They consistently respond to children's great interest in books and read to them throughout the day.

Staff have provided older children with books that have blue prints of buildings, in response to their interest in construction.Staff encourage children to have a go during all activities. Their highly focused, enthusiastic approach successfully motivates children to learn.

Staff skilfully support children to develop the skills they need for the future. For instance, to support their pre-writing skills, they provide opportunities for children to use ribbons attached to sticks to help create large movements. Staff challenge children to use these to form shapes in the air, such as triangles, and successfully extend what they can do.

Staff provide children with excellent role models. They are exceptionally calm, positive and encouraging to children at all times. Staff patiently manage children's behaviour and help them to learn to share and take turns.

They skilfully re-focus older children's attention, successfully capturing and maintaining their concentration, through highly successful strategies.Staff focus strongly on meeting children's individual care needs. For example, they follow babies' home routines and make sure they feel comfortable, relaxed and secure.

Staff have an exemplary knowledge and understanding of children's individual medical needs. Managers ensure that all staff know what to do if a child needs urgent medical attention.Staff give top priority to supporting children's independence, self-confidence and language development.

They talk aloud to help children hear, copy and learn new words and sounds and give children time to talk and respond to questions. All children, including those who speak English as an additional language, develop and use a wide range of vocabulary.Staff work extremely well in partnership with parents, to meet children's individual care, health and learning needs.

They welcome parents into the nursery and fully value their involvement. For instance, parents join in nursery outings and events, such as farm visits. The nursery staff provide a daily breakfast bar for parents to stay and have a coffee and meet other parents.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Staff have an excellent understanding of what to do if they are concerned about a child's welfare and safety. This includes the whistle-blowing policy and procedure.

All staff complete safeguarding training, including the 'Prevent' duty, which they regularly update. Managers use risk assessment exceptionally well to meet children's individual needs and keep them safe. For example, they meet with parents to complete comprehensive risk assessments to meet children's individual health needs.

They also use robust risk assessments to ensure safety in the premises. For instance, during extensive refurbishment of the premises last year. The nursery has received a recognised accreditation for health and safety.