Southmead Saplings

Activities: Toddlers have fun outdoors in the ball pit and pre-school children search for insects and 'sell' ice creams using wooden blocks as the cones.

Skills , Knowledge and Behavior: Staff use different tones of voice to engage babies, talk about the different-colored balls with toddlers and encourage pre-school children to count spoonfuls of cornflour to make 'moon dough.'

Communication: Parents comment on the thorough feedback they get from key persons about their children's achievements.

Community Building: Parents value the flexibility of the staff to meet changing needs of them and their children.

Programs and Resources: The SENCo works with key persons to monitor children's needs and liaise with parents and other professionals to put in place support.

Staff Training: Staff focus on children's language development, particularly those with SEND or learning to speak English as an additional language.

Welcoming and Professional Staff: Staff welcome children warmly and settle them into the nursery.

Safeguarding Training: Staff update their safeguarding training regularly and know what to do if they have any concerns about children's welfare.

Play and Learning Integration: Pre-school children make 'moon dough', count spoonfuls of cornflour, and think of solutions to problems.

Transition to Primary School: Parents feel that their children develop well and are well prepared for their future learning, including the move into school.

Diversity Management: Staff ask parents for keywords in children's home languages and use picture cards as prompts.

Child Safety Management: Managers made changes to risk assessments to ensure children's safety when moving between indoor and outdoor play spaces.

Children's Safety and Security: Managers check names and the number of children, ensuring gates or doors are shut for safety.

Happiness and Settling: Children arrive eager and keen to learn, showing high levels of involvement in activities.