Banana Moon Day Nursery Gloucester

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children receive a warm welcome from the friendly and kind staff. They settle quickly and show that they are happy and content at nursery. Children form strong and secure relationships with the staff who care for them. The youngest children confidently hand books to staff and sit on their laps to listen to stories. Older children involve staff in their imaginary play. Staff support children to learn to be independent in managing their needs throughout the nursery; even the youngest children go to the sink independently and wash their hands before and after meals. Staff involve children in tidying up and children enjoy taking responsibility for their resources. They eagerly use the dustpan and brush to sweep up the sand that they spill.

The curriculum is well understood and implemented throughout the nursery. Staff reflect on their environments and incorporate activities that reflect on children's interests to extend their learning further. Staff are considerate of children's needs and emotional well-being. They place a high focus on children's personal, social and emotional development. For instance, staff help children to learn about what makes them unique and to celebrate their individuality. Children enjoy sharing photos of their families with staff and they eagerly talk about who is in their family and who is special to them.

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

• Since the last inspection, the provider and manager have worked hard to raise the quality of the provision. They have reviewed their routines to meet children's needs more closely. The manager provides staff with effective, ongoing training and supervision to continue their professional development and to target training and support more precisely. Staff report being well supported by the management team. They reflect positively on the training and guidance that they receive.
• Staff use their knowledge of the children and their needs to plan a broad curriculum that offers children experiences and opportunities to make better progress in their learning. Staff plan activities to engage children in developing new skills. For instance, older children enjoy using the obstacle course, set up by staff in the garden, to challenge themselves to balance, hop and jump. Children start off cautiously, but very quickly demonstrate confidence in their new skills as they proudly show staff how they can balance without help.
• Overall, staff support children's language and communication skills well. Staff engage older children in conversations. They act as good role models, helping children to learn to develop their conversation skills. Younger children enjoy taking part in singing and joining in with action songs and staff support them with developing their vocabulary. However, some children who speak English as an additional language need more focused support with their developing language and communication skills.
• Staff place a high focus on supporting children's interests in stories and books. They recognise the benefit of revisiting stories that children enjoy, and this helps with children's engagement in storytelling. Older children become confident at taking part in telling stories. They listen attentively and demonstrate a good understanding of what the stories are about and what comes next. Younger children enjoy looking at picture books and naming the familiar animals that they recognise. Staff extend this interest well, encouraging children to remember what sounds the animals make and describe what the animal looks like. Throughout the nursery, children are developing a love of literacy.
• Staff provide good support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Staff work closely with children's parents, follow guidance from other professionals and create targeted plans to help children to progress with their learning. The manager ensures that additional funding is used effectively to help children to be able to engage in learning and access the curriculum in a safe and suitable way according to their needs.
• Staff set clear routines and boundaries so that children learn what is expected of them. Children are kind and considerate of their peers. They learn to take turns with equipment. However, due to their ages, some children struggle to manage their feelings and emotions, and staff are not consistent in helping them to learn to manage their feelings in an appropriate way.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• continue to develop the support in place for children who speak English as an additional language to extend their communication and language skills further
• provide more support for children to learn how to manage their feelings, and express their emotions in an appropriate way.