Good Ofsted grading all areas March 2022. Ofsted said "the quality of care and education children recieve remains high"
"The curriculum is geared well to children's individual needs and interests. Staff support all children's learning and development well and all children make good progress during their time at nursery."
Little Waves Community Nursery is situated in the grounds of Windwhistle Primary School. It is part of the South Weston Children’s Centre and operates from a purpose built premises. Children access three playrooms and a secure enclosed outside area.
Staff
The nursery employs highly skilled, motivated and qualified staff to work directly with the children.
All Early Years practitioners have a qualification at Level 3 or above, including the manager who has Early Years Professional Status and two additional staff who have their BA Hons in Early Years and a number of staff who are working towards their Foundation Degree in Early Years. We support apprentices and students to train.
Staff know children well, they are good role models and provide all children with opportunities to celebrate what makes them unique.
All staff have statutory qualifications/training in relation to safeguarding and child protection. They all have a paediatric first aid certificate and a food hygiene certificate.
The nursery and its staff have a strong commitment to professional development with strong links to the 'North Somerset Early Years Team'.
Environment
The nursery playrooms are equipped with high quality resources with a strong focus on natural materials.
Staff set up provocations and activities in order to inspire and nurture children’s interests, creativity and curiosity, in all areas of learning and development.
Within the rooms we have provision for books, storytelling and poetry basket, small world, construction, expressive arts and design, early maths and literacy. The nursery is a member of the North Somerset 'World of Stuff and Story' and we use these resources to extend children's learning and development.
The nursery garden has a mud kitchen, playhouse, sandpit, wooden stage, willow den, a water table with pump attached and a variety of other resources. This natural environment is enhanced by the flowers, herbs and willow tree to enable children to connect to their natural world. The nursery garden provides opportunities for children to develop physically as well as supporting other areas of learning.
Children have access to a well equipped kitchen for participating in snack and cooking activities. We access the local community regularly, visiting nearby parks, allotments and the library as much as possible.
Ofsted said that "the nursery environments both indoors and outdoors are well maintained, safe and clean, well planned out, inviting and stimulating to children and children are motivated to learn."
What we offer
Each child is allocated a member of staff to be their key person to support our Nurturing approach 'Five to Thrive'.
The nursery team plan and implement an enriching and exciting curriculum across the educational programmes to support individuals’ progress.
The key person completes a learning diary for each child celebrating their achievements and working in partnership with parents and carers.
"Children form strong bonds with their key person from the outset. They are happy at nursery eager to join and engage on the activities."
At every session children are offered a healthy snack and drink with water available throughout the sessions.
The nursery has a strong vision “To be the best we can be".