AN INSPECTOR has praised the “positive experience” for children and babies at a Thornbury nursery.
Ofsted visited Happy Days Day Nursery in Cooper Road in August.
The regulator’s report found the nursery, which has 108 children aged four and under on its roll, was ‘good’ in all areas: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, leadership and management, and personal development.
Inspector Sarah-Louise Clements praised the nursery’s settling-in process, which was tailored to the needs of each family, helps children to have a “smooth transition” into nursery and ensures parents are happy their children’s needs are being met.
She said: “Leaders and staff provide children with a positive nursery experience.
“All children are safe and secure and very well settled.
“Leaders and staff create and implement a curriculum that they tailor to the needs of the children.
“Staff use their skills to keep children engaged and spark their excitement. Children listen to their peers, take turns and follow instructions successfully.”
The inspector said children respect others, build relationships and play well together.
She said leaders had worked hard to make changes to ensure they provide “inclusive, high-quality care”, with a “rigorous” recruitment and induction procedure for staff, who are supported well and given training opportunities to improve their skills.
Good role models
The inspector said: “Staff are good role models for children and create exciting learning opportunities for them.
“All children are very well supported. Any gaps in development are identified and strategies are put in place to help close these.
“Leaders provide support for the whole family to ensure they get the help they need.”
Children’s communication skills are helped by learning Makaton sign language and listening to music.
The inspector said children learn routines and expectations such as hand washing, although to improve further she recommended that staff do more to help younger children to understand why rules are in place for playing with balls or climbing equipment.
‘Fantastic achievement’
The report is the third successive ‘good’ rating for Happy Days – which is open every day except for bank holidays and has 24 staff – since the nursery opened in 2016.
Happy Days operations director Fiona Blackwell said: “This is a fantastic achievement for Darlene and the team who have been instrumental in turning this nursery around and creating a fantastic environment for both children and our colleagues.”