The Woodlands Nursery

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children arrive, eager to enjoy the wide variety of interesting activities that awaits them in this welcoming nursery. Staff get to know children extremely well during comprehensive and sensitive settling-in procedures.

They form strong and caring attachments with babies, who reach out to staff for a cuddle as soon as they arrive. Staff are kind and considerate to children, which supports children to behave well. For example, older children happily help each other to find their water bottles when they need a drink in the warm weather.

The manager and staff create a child-centred curriculum. They work very closely with ...parents to identify children's particular interests and needs. This helps them to successfully build on children's achievements through activities that inspire their learning.

Children benefit enormously from daily opportunities to learn about the natural world around them. For example, children are captivated while watching birds and squirrels outdoors. They whisper, 'Wow!', as staff encourage them to quietly notice the different feeding habits of the squirrels and the birds in a nest.

Children enjoy daily fresh air and exercise. They show a positive attitude to learning as they climb and balance with determination to extend their physical skills.

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

Parents speak very highly of the nursery.

They comment favourably about the kind and caring staff and say that their children are making good progress. Parents feel fully involved in children's learning and appreciate advice about different aspects of supporting their child, such as weaning and toilet training. There is an effective two-way flow of information that promotes consistency and extends children's learning and development The manager is passionate about her role and highly ambitious for the future of the nursery.

She leads a dedicated staff team and, together, they regularly reflect on the service they provide for families. Staff say they are happy to work at the setting and feel well supported by the management team. Most of the staff are relatively new to their roles in the nursery and are enthusiastic about developing their skills further.

The manager recognises the need to extend professional development opportunities for staff to raise the standard of teaching to an even higher level.Staff provide good support for children's speech and language development. For example, babies babble and begin to copy staff as they make sounds with their voices during play.

Staff are very responsive and encourage their communication with laughter and fun. Older children are confident communicators. They are happy to explain what they like doing in the nursery to visitors and use an ever- widening vocabulary.

Throughout the nursery, staff demonstrate a good understanding of child development. Babies smile with delight as staff playfully encourage them to enjoy a range of sensory experiences. Older children gain good mathematical skills as they count the number of legs on a beetle they spot in the grass.

During some adult-led activities, however, staff do not give children time to express their own thoughts and ideas to deepen their engagement and extend their learning further.The manager and staff monitor children's development thoroughly. They talk to parents when children first attend to establish children's interests and achievements.

Staff continually observe children so that they can provide appropriate and timely support if there are any gaps in their learning. They work with other professionals effectively to ensure that all children reach their full potential.Children become increasingly independent under the gentle guidance of the staff.

They become motivated learners. For example, older children eagerly and competently chop strawberries to make delicious milkshakes. They show great pride as staff praise their efforts.

Children go on to their future education with confidence and self-assurance. Partnerships with local schools are developing and are effective in helping children to become familiar with school life.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

The management team recruits staff safely to ensure that they are suitable to work with children. There is a thorough induction procedure, and all staff attend safeguarding training. They are aware of the signs and symptoms that might indicate a child is at risk of harm.

Staff have a firm understanding of local safeguarding procedures. Robust risk assessments are effective in keeping children safe and secure. Staff regularly review the premises for potential hazards and teach children to play in safety.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: support staff to develop interactions with children further during adult-led activities to allow children time to explore and follow their own thoughts and ideas