Cheeky Monkees Day Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children form good relationships with staff who care for them. They are nurtured and respond to cuddles and reassurance if upset. This helps to promote children's emotional well-being. Children are creative learners. They spend time combining ingredients together, such as flour, herbs and scented oils. Children create their own pretend potions and dough. They talk to others about the different scents they can smell. Children demonstrate good communication skills. They immerse themselves in stories read by staff. Older children use puppets and props to re-tell stories to others.

Older children learn to solve problems as they play, including recognising that they need more flour when their dough becomes too sticky. Older children demonstrate high levels of confidence and independence. They learn to communicate and work with one another on chosen tasks. For example, older children work together to create large wooden structures. They talk confidently about their understanding of bridges and landmarks from around the world. Children use mathematical language as they play. They learn to compare different sized cardboard tubes and planks of wood. In addition, they learn to count and weigh ingredients during investigative activities. Children learn sequencing and think about what comes next. This helps to extend their mathematical development.

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

• Leaders and staff have made significant changes to the setting since the previous inspection. This includes a change of environment and implementation of a new curriculum. Children benefit from a more natural environment that is tailored to their age and stage of development. They can access a wide range of materials, ingredients and resources that spark their interest and create a curiosity to learn. Leaders comment that they have seen a significant positive difference in how children manage their own feelings and behaviours.
• Parents comment that they are happy with the care that staff provide and they have access to information about their child. Despite barriers presented by the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, staff keep in touch with parents. They share ideas, activities and assessments of children's learning through an online learning system. This helps parents to continue their child's learning at home.
• Children are well prepared for their next stage in learning. Older children are confident to join in with large-group discussions. They are able to recognise letters of their name. However, staff do not pronounce individual letter sounds correctly. This means that children do not hear the precise sounds needed to help them develop early reading skills.
• Leaders place a large emphasis on promoting staff's well-being. Staff comment that they feel supported and valued. They have regular meetings with leaders and contribute to group discussions. Staff comment that they feel that there is much less emphasis on administrative tasks, including paperwork. This helps them to focus on their practice with children. The qualified staff team demonstrates an enthusiasm and drive to provide quality care for children.
• Children ride around the garden on bikes and large wheeled toys. They confidently tell visitors that they love to race around the garden 'really fast! Like Sonic the hedgehog!' Staff provide large planks of wood, wooden reels and crates for children to stack and build. Children learn to climb and balance. This helps to develop children's physical skills.
• Leaders describe the challenges they have faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. They explain that they have worked hard to access specific help for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Leaders and staff share information with other professionals and schools where children attend. This helps to support a continued approach to children's learning.
• Staff build on children's previous learning. Babies and young children make marks in foam and flour. Staff smile and talk to children about what they can see. Older children show visitors how they can recognise and form letters corresponding to their name. This helps to promote children's early writing skills.
• Leaders have good recruitment and induction procedures in place. They complete suitability checks to ensure those working with children remain suitable. Due to a recent change in the leadership team, a new manager has been recruited. She requires more time to fully adapt to her role without the support of the senior leaders, who do not always work at the setting.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• review how staff teach older children to develop their early reading skills and ensure the correct pronunciation and sounds of letters are used
• refine the already good induction procedures to help managers identify emerging gaps in practice.