Nicoll Road Nursery School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision requires improvement The leadership team sometimes fails to ensure that children's individual care needs are suitably monitored.

Nonetheless, leaders and staff understand the signs and symptoms of abuse and know whom to make referrals to if there are concerns about a child or an allegation against a staff member.Children arrive at nursery to a warm welcome from staff who are kind and nurturing. Staff understand the importance of building strong bonds with children so that they feel safe and secure, ready to begin their learning.

Babies are given reassuring cuddles and older children often share their play experiences with staff. Staff are pos...itive role models who help children to follow routines and gently remind them of expectations during the day. Unwanted behaviour is swiftly managed, with kind words and alternative choices for children to make.

When children play in the role play area, they help each other dress as doctors, and demonstrate kindness before they begin to play. Children behave well and have a positive attitude to learning.Leaders are ambitious for every child to make good progress.

The curriculum is varied and well thought through so that children have access to a wide range of learning opportunities. Children make good progress in their development.

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

Occasionally, children's individual care needs are not adequately considered.

Parents are, occasionally, not notified of significant incidents. However, leaders have already put in place processes to improve practice and minimise ongoing risks to children. The impact of this cannot yet be measured as consistent practice at this stage.

This lapse does not affect the quality of education, or children's positive behaviour and attitudes to learning.The leadership team has worked hard to make the necessary improvements identified since the last inspection. Staff attend regular training and the leader has engaged in support from the local authority.

Staff say that they receive regular supervision from the leadership team, which helps to identify their areas of strength and areas that may need support. Managers ask staff about their workload and their well-being. Staff say that they feel valued in the nursery.

Staff help children to build their physical skills well. Children strengthen their finger muscles by making play dough. They roll, stir and squeeze the mixture as they count spoonfuls of flour into the bowl.

This helps children to develop early writing and mathematical skills. Staff support children to climb and kick balls in the garden. Children whoop in delight as they play 'What's the time, Mr Wolf?' with staff who engage children.

During weekly yoga sessions, older children follow familiar instructions as they stretch their bodies.Staff support children to learn about the world around them as they feed the rabbits and chickens daily in the garden. Leaders and staff help children celebrate what makes them unique and learn how to embrace the community around them.

Parents are encouraged to visit and share their cultural experiences, which children enjoy.Parents speak highly of the nursery and the kind and caring staff. They appreciate the well-thought-through settling-in process, which includes a home visit so that the nursery begins to learn about the child's family and their care and learning needs.

Parents say that communication is regular and helps to reassure them that their children are happy in nursery and making good progress.Staff teach children communication and language skills. Staff talk to children throughout play and extend their vocabulary.

Children who speak English as an additional language are supported well and make good progress in their communication skills. Staff take the time to learn key words in children's home languages, so children feel included. However, occasionally, newer, less-experienced staff miss opportunities to talk to children and build their vocabulary further.

Children build their independence skills to prepare them for school. They learn how to put their coats on and how to take them off. Older children arrive at nursery and are encouraged to hang their coats on their named peg.

Children learn from a young age how to use cutlery, and staff are patient as children learn the skill. However, during mealtimes, children are often served food and given their drinks when they are able to do this by themselves.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To meet the requirements of the early years foundation stage, the provider must: Due date ensure children with individual care needs are adequately planned for and procedures are robust so that all staff have good knowledge to manage their needs 08/05/2024 ensure that notifications of incidents are recorded and parents are notified, to monitor the well-being of the child.08/05/2024 To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: strengthen communication and language so it is promoted consistently, in particular by less-experienced staff strengthen how children build their independence skills, in particular in some rooms during the mealtime routine.