Bouncing Bears Day Care

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children settle quickly on arrival. They confidently leave their parents at the door and join in the nursery routines. Staff support them well and encourage them to become engaged in activities indoors and outdoors. Children spend lots of time in the garden area where staff plan a range of activities to build on what children know and can do. They have lots of opportunities to develop their large muscles. For example, children run around negotiating the space, ride on wheeled toys, climb up a small frame and slide down, and balance along tyres. Children sit to dig in the garden and explore the mud kitchen. Their imaginations are ignited as they fill containers with soil and water, and pretend they are making potions for the 'witch'. Children develop their muscle control and coordination as they are supported to draw and make marks with chalk and water on the walls and windows.

Children behave well. They respond positively when adults remind them to share toys, or encourage them to use good manners. Staff have high expectations for children. Children's independence and self-care skills are promoted well. For example, children manage their personal hygiene needs appropriately for their age. They develop a good understanding of living healthy lifestyles. Children engage in regular discussions with staff around healthy food choices. They talk about the importance of having lots of drinks during hot weather and why they should have sun cream and wear their hats when it is hot outdoors.

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

• Children behave well and are confident to have a go at activities and explore. They respond well to staff and enjoy the time they spend in their company. Babies have a good sense of feeling safe as they crawl around outdoors, smile and have fun. Staff are attentive to their care needs and know when they are ready for a sleep or need to have their nappies changed. However, occasionally, staff do not always give enough attention to children who prefer solitary play in order to help build on their prior experiences and knowledge.
• Overall, children benefit from an interesting and well-balanced curriculum. The manager and staff confidently articulate what they want children to learn during their time at the nursery. They ensure children's communication and language skills are well promoted. Children listen to stories and enjoy looking at books on their own. They regularly hear words and repetitive phrases, for example, through rhymes and singing songs. However, staff do not consistently support children to develop their mathematical skills to further support their ongoing learning.
• Partnerships with parents are good. Staff take time to get to know children and their parents and build strong and trusting relationships. They find out about children's interests, needs and prior learning to use for the planning of activities. Parents comment on how happy their children are attending the setting. They state that staff communicate well with them. Parents particularly like the parent online programme, which provides them with information about the activities and gives them suggestions to support children's learning at home.
• The manager and staff work well together as an enthusiastic and dedicated team. They are committed to providing an inclusive environment where all children and their families are welcomed. Staff work effectively with other professionals to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. This means that all children receive the help they need to enable them to close gaps in their learning and make good progress.
• Staff are happy and feel well supported in their roles. They say the nursery team are like family. They have regular staff meetings, supervisions, observations of their practice, and are provided with opportunities to complete regular online training. Key staff who are responsible for children with additional needs are supported and given specialised training and guidance from other professionals. This has made a positive impact on children's welfare and progress.
• The leadership and management of this nursery strives to continually improve. Self-evaluation and ongoing action plans are in place to drive continual improvement. Parents are consulted with in every aspect. Recent improvements to the environment have been made following their research into the effects that bright colours can have on children. This has resulted in children being calmer.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• strengthen staff's understanding of how to support children who prefer solitary play to build on and extend their learning
• review staff practice to help them improve the curriculum for mathematics to enhance children's knowledge in this area even further.