Wise Owls Nursery

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is outstanding

Children thrive in this exceptional nursery. They self-register on arrival and are warmly welcomed by the exceptionally friendly and enthusiastic staff team. Children are excited to enter nursery and keen to see what is on offer in the interesting learning environment.

Children are extremely happy and settled in the provision. They seek out staff for comfort and assistance. They confidently ask for help and are enabled by staff to carry out tasks by themselves.

Children are secure in the learning environment. They make independent choices and instigate role play with their peers. Older children play cooperativel...y and successfully take turns and share resources.

For example, during a music session, children offer their own soft toys to others, in order to cheer them up and make sure they feel included. Children's physical health is a priority. They engage in movement and exercise sessions at various points throughout the day.

They delight in copying the energetic and enthusiastic staff members in stretching, jumping and running on the spot. Children know that their heart rate increases when they have been moving quickly, and they put their hands on their chest to feel their own heartbeat.

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

Leaders are inspirational, passionate and highly committed to supporting the staff team to deliver an ambitious and interesting curriculum.

Leaders are exceptional practitioners, and they have extremely high expectations across the provision. Staff feel extremely well supported, and they are enabled to reflect on and evaluate their teaching and interactions with children and families.Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) receive rapid and highly appropriate intervention.

Staff are expertly supported by the exceptionally knowledgeable special educational needs and disabilities coordinator (SENDCo), and they have high expectations of all children. They skilfully observe children and use the information gathered about their interests, motivations and learning styles to plan highly engaging and targeted play opportunities, enabling children to reach their potential.Children's communication and language development is exceptionally well supported.

Staff members are excellent role models, and they provide a language-rich environment. They create one-to-one opportunity to skilfully engage with children, using methods that acknowledge and respect their preferred communication style. For example, staff use sign language to support their interaction with children.

Staff create endless opportunities throughout the day to introduce new language and embed the skills needed for communicating effectively with others. Staff support children with turn taking and social interaction to further extend their skills in communication. As a result of this excellent teaching, children develop as exceptionally confident communicators.

The successful development of children's self-care skills and independence is a priority across the provision. Staff offer time and space for children to persevere and focus intently on tasks. For example, very young children are taught the appropriate action needed to successfully wipe their own nose.

This is clearly demonstrated by staff, and children are then encouraged and enabled to try for themselves. Staff acknowledge and celebrate children's efforts and achievements. This contributes to children's positive self-awareness and self-esteem.

Children behave extremely well. Staff consistently and calmly remind children of their high expectations. Children respond extremely positively to their interactions.

They listen intently and follow instructions promptly. Staff expertly plan learning experiences for children, to build on what they already know. For example, younger children delight in going on an 'animal hunt' in the outdoor play space, using the repetitive language of a familiar book.

Children are delighted to use carrots and apples in a game of hide and seek that reflects the book they are exploring that week. Children confidently choose members for their team and work cooperatively to hunt for their items. Children are extremely kind, and they also help their friends on the opposite team to hunt for items.

Staff skilfully weave in mathematical learning. Children competently count and engage in simple addition, successfully calculating 'one more' and 'one less'.Parents are delighted with the service and the exceptional progress that their children make.

Parents have extreme confidence in the knowledgeable staff team and the approachable and kind leaders. They feel highly involved in and well informed about their child's learning and development. They are particularly appreciative of the online learning diary for each child.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.The setting has a strong culture of safeguarding. All staff are highly trained, and they reflect and discuss safeguarding as part of everyday practice.

The designated safeguarding lead is extremely committed and determined to keep children safe. Systems for recording and reporting are robust and highly effective. Staff are extremely knowledgeable on the signs and symptoms of abuse.

They also have a clear understanding of their role in protecting children from harm. Staff ensure that the environment is safe and secure, and hazards are minimised. Staff supervise children effectively.

They move around the setting to ensure that staff-to-child ratios are maintained, inside and outside. Staff support children to help them to understand how to keep safe. For instance, they involve children in assessing the risk of using the climbing equipment in the wet weather.