Once Upon A Time Nursery School - White House Farm

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is outstanding

Children show that they feel secure at nursery.

They quickly form strong attachments to staff, who are highly perceptive to children's individual needs. Babies are soothed by staff and are extremely settled. Children relish taking on responsibilities.

For example, they eagerly show the inspector around their room, displaying a real sense of pride while talking about the different areas indoors and outside. Children thoroughly enjoy their time at nursery. They are curious to investigate the thoughtfully planned environment.

Children eagerly use their hands to investigate plastic animals hidden under a mi...xture of shaving foam and cotton wool. They confidently talk about the animals they uncover, making links to the nursery's zoo trip. Younger children feel at ease as they move around their environment.

They independently find their favourite plaything and act out real-life experiences. Young children watch as staff interact with babies and attempt to copy their actions. For example, they shake a rattle in front of the baby doll positioned on their lap.

Children of all ages learn to foster a love of reading and enjoy a wide range of books. They select books independently and enjoy listening to staff read stories. Children eagerly join in with words to familiar rhymes and songs.

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

The management team has high expectations and works tirelessly to ensure children have the very best experiences at nursery. Staff plan the environment to inspire children to learn. They provide children with an extensive range of stimulating and varied activities, often linked to a storybook.

The manager has a highly successful drive for continued improvement. She reflects on feedback promptly, for example, from parents and staff, and makes any necessary changes to continue to enhance the provision.Staff are excellent role models.

They give children important messages that reinforce and encourage positive behaviour. Staff sensitively encourage children to talk about and manage their own feelings. They support children to relate to others and continually provide them with meaningful praise.

This helps to raise children's confidence superbly.The manager competently oversees the running of the nursery. She supports and monitors staff's practice to ensure that they maintain their current high level of teaching.

Less-qualified staff are mentored to gain relevant childcare qualifications. All staff regularly reflect on their own and each other's practice to help them to continually improve outcomes for children.Children have a voice in the nursery.

They understand how to vote and express their own views. For instance, children place a counter into a cup to indicate who they would like to be the 'helper of the day'. Staff count the counters with the children and clearly explain who the helpers will be.

Staff give children's well-being the highest priority. They are committed to maintaining friendly and trusting relationships with parents. Staff successfully engage with parents to support children's learning in the nursery and at home.

Parents comment on their children's progress and how happy they are to attend.Children of all ages have excellent opportunities to explore the world around them as they learn about nature and their environment. For example, staff regularly take children on walks in the local area.

Young children proudly show the twigs they have collected while out on a walk.Staff support children's communication skills exceptionally well. For instance, they use small-group activities to encourage children to listen to each other and take turns.

Children respond effectively to staff's instructions. Staff are highly skilled at encouraging children to be motivated to play and learn.Children develop high levels of independence throughout all activities.

They experience sociable mealtimes as they sit alongside peers and staff. Staff effectively support children in the butterflies room to adopt good table manners.Children learn to recognise their name in print and have excellent opportunities to practise their early writing skills.

Outdoors, they explore how different brushes, water and mud make marks on the fence. Indoors, some children use their name cards to help them to write their name independently. This helps children to gain the skills they need for the next stage in their learning.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.The management team implements thorough procedures to ensure the safe recruitment and ongoing suitability of staff. All staff have a very secure knowledge of safeguarding and understand wider issues surrounding child protection.

They fully understand their role to protect children from harm. The management team ensures that staff keep their safeguarding knowledge up to date. For instance, they hold regular discussions and provide staff with scenarios and quizzes.