Millfield Nursery School

Activities: Staff provide good opportunities for children to develop their mathematical skills. For example, they count out loud the number of footsteps children need to take when they play a game.

Skills , Knowledge and Behavior: Staff support children's literacy skills well. They help children to develop an interest in books and to extend their early writing skills. For example, they read children stories and give them time to finish off repeated phrases in familiar books. Staff encourage children to write letters of the alphabet that are in their name.

Communication: Parents attend meetings with the manager to discuss their children's achievements. This helps them to know what children are learning. The manager and staff offer parents opportunities to continue their children's learning at home. For example, children take home books to share with parents to promote their literacy skills.

Welcoming and Professional Staff: The manager meets with staff to help them to reflect on their practice. Staff extend their professional development. This helps them to identify different ways to manage children's behaviour, such as to give children choices in their play.

Safeguarding Training: The manager and staff know the signs of abuse and where to report concerns they may have regarding children's safety or welfare.

Play and Learning Integration: Staff offer group activities to help children develop their creative skills and to explore different equipment. For example, they ask younger children to choose musical instruments to play. Children bang and shake the instruments and learn how the sounds can change.

Transition to Primary School: Children learn key skills in preparation for their move on to school. They listen well and follow instructions.

Child Safety Management: Staff promote children's safety when they play in hot weather. For example, staff ensure that children wear hats and sun cream and keep hydrated.

Happiness and Settling: Staff are responsive to younger children's needs. For example, they provide them with a quiet and cosy place to sleep and give children comforters from home. Children's emotional well-being is promoted effectively.

Nutritional Menu: Staff find out about children's dietary needs when they first start. This helps them to provide appropriate food to support children's good health. Staff offer children healthy snacks and meals.