Apple Blossom Day Nursery Ltd

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children enter the nursery happily and are keen to explore the range of activities available. They form close bonds with the staff, who are friendly and caring. Children spontaneously cuddle staff or sit on their lap, and staff respond warmly. The nursery has made significant improvements since the last inspection. Staff have adapted their practice to help children understand the nursery rules and boundaries. They gently talk to children about how to keep safe, such as not climbing on furniture when indoors.

The curriculum is planned well and is adapted to challenge the more able children, such as introducing more complex words to support their vocabulary. Children use words including 'tinsel' and 'bauble' as they decorate the small Christmas tree. Younger children use two-word sentences and are inquisitive, asking questions such as 'What's that?' while pointing to a new Christmas activity being set up by staff.

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

• Children benefit from learning about the world around them. Staff take children on short outings to the provider's field to feed her horse 'Indie'. They also collect apples from the orchard and use these for snacks. On-site, the children feed the chickens and collect their eggs. They grow vegetables and learn where food comes from. Children watch how pumpkins decay and learn how this provides vital nutrients to the soil.
• Partnerships with parents are effective. Staff work closely with them to support their child's needs. Parents comment on how staff take time to listen and how they discuss their child's progress at termly meetings. They comment on how their children have developed well since starting, particularly in their communication skills.
• Overall, staff work well with children to help them understand how to share and to communicate their needs effectively. For example, older children say, 'Excuse me, can you help me please.' However, at times, some staff do not use consistent strategies and use overly complex sentences when children are upset. This frustrates some children, and they find it difficult to communicate their needs back.
• Children enjoy musical activities to support their physical development. Younger children use instruments and learn what sounds they make. Staff teach them to wave ribbons and how to jump. Older children engage in music and movement activities, following instructions and developing new skills.
• Generally, care practices are implemented well. The nursery has created designated sleep areas dependent on children's preferences, such as darker and lighter spaces. Children sleep in their preferred space, linking closely to their routines at home. The nursery provides home-made nutritious meals to benefit children's health. However, the deployment of staff at mealtimes is not consistently effective. Some staff who work with younger children are left to manage mealtimes on their own for short periods. Although children are safe, they sometimes become unsettled as they wait for their meals to arrive.
• The provider has reflected well since the last inspection and has improved the provision. All staff now hold valid paediatric first-aid certificates to ensure they know how to respond in an emergency. They have improved relationships with other professionals to enable them to meet children's individual needs. Staff have also implemented daily activities to help develop children's speech sounds to benefit their language skills.
• Children enjoy listening to stories read by staff. They engage well and concentrate for short periods. Staff talk to children about the front cover and ask what they think the story might be about. Children talk about the 'snow' and then recall past events of the recent snowfall.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• support staff to use consistent strategies to help children communicate their needs effectively
• deploy staff more efficiently, particularly during mealtimes, to meet children's care needs.