Chipmunks Nursery Osc Ltd

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children arrive happy at this vibrant and busy setting. They are warmly welcomed by staff and quickly engage in play. The strong key-person system ensures that children form close bonds with staff. This supports children's emotional well-being. The well-sequenced curriculum is rich and stimulating. Staff build on what children already know and can do to develop a range of exciting experiences that ignite children's interest and curiosity. For example, babies use their senses and develop their hand-eye coordination as they explore sensory materials such as feathers and cotton wool. Toddlers learn about the world around them and how things grow as they explore the environment on a nature walk. Pre-school children investigate how water cascades down tubes and pipes. They work together with their friends to keep the water flowing. Children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) receive strong support through adapted teaching methods and targeted learning plans. All children make good progress from their starting points.

Staff provide opportunities throughout the day for children to develop their independence. For example, babies have the freedom to explore, showing their growing confidence. Staff support toddlers in washing their hands before eating. The cook serves pre-school children their meal, which they carefully carry back to their tables. This helps to support children to be ready for the next stage in their learning.

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

• Leaders and managers demonstrate a strong passion for delivering high-quality care and education to children. They implement a robust supervision and professional development programme to ensure staff are well trained and confident to support the children in their care. Leaders actively support staff in maintaining their mental well-being, and staff feel well supported in their roles.
• Children engage purposefully in a wide range of activities that promote their development across all areas of learning effectively. Babies strengthen their core muscles as they balance on ride-along toys and cruise along furniture. Toddlers enhance their small-motor skills and coordination as they pick up tiny sparkles and carefully glue them onto paper. Staff support older children to take appropriate risks safely, and children laugh excitedly as they use metal trays to 'ski' down small outdoor slopes.
• Staff support the development of children's speech and language effectively in a range of ways. They narrate children's play, introduce new vocabulary and encourage discussions as children recall events and activities. Staff use open-ended questions to stimulate further conversation. However, at times, staff do not always provide children with enough time to think and process their thoughts before continuing conversations. For example, children want to make a face from paper shapes. Staff ask the children what shapes they might need, but then quickly give the answer before the children have had time to think and respond.
• Children of all ages begin to develop a love for books and stories. Staff read stories with enthusiasm, capturing children's attention as they eagerly anticipate how the story progresses. Older children recall key events and excitedly shout out memorable phrases from the story. Staff ensure that there are cosy spaces for children to sit quietly and look at books. This supports children in developing a love for literacy.
• Behaviour is generally good. Staff implement rules and boundaries, such as using their 'walking feet' indoors and using 'kind hands'. Children understand the rules and routines, giving them a sense of security. However, behaviour management is not always consistent, and children are not always guided in practising appropriate rules and behaviours.
• Partnerships with parents are strong. Staff share information through daily discussions, an online system and regular newsletters. Parents are very happy with the quality of care and education their children receive. They speak highly of the caring staff team. Parents comment on the support from staff for children with SEND, including liaising with outside agencies.
• Staff encourage children to lead healthy lifestyles. Children benefit from regular fresh air and exercise. Children of all ages have daily opportunities to play outside and develop good physical skills. Staff support children to have a good understanding of oral hygiene. They brush their teeth at the setting every day and know why it is important to do so.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• strengthen staff's ability to give older children enough time to process their thoughts and respond to questions they pose to enable them to share their own thoughts and ideas
• support staff to embed expectations for children's behaviour consistently, to ensure that children fully understand what is expected from them.