Dawn Till Dusk Childcare

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children thoroughly enjoy their time at the nursery. They arrive happy and eager to start their day. Staff are very nurturing and show lots of care towards all children. This helps children to build lasting bonds with all staff. Children regularly seek out staff when they are in need of help or reassurance. This demonstrates how safe and secure children feel at the setting.

Staff know their key children extremely well. When younger children are just starting to walk and climb, staff are vigilant to allow them the experience to move in different ways, while also keeping themselves safe. Children seek out staff to play with. For example, children in the home area show staff how to make tea, and they laugh happily together. Children enjoy mark making. Staff specifically select resources, such as large rolls of paper, crayons and pencils, to support younger children at this stage of their development.

Children are beginning to understand boundaries and to learn the importance of sharing and cooperating with one another. Staff use praise in recognition of the children's efforts. They talk to them about their feelings, emotions and actions. This helps children to learn what is expected of them.

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

• The manager is passionate about her role and ambitious. She strives to provide the very best start for children. She has a strong overview of the curriculum, and this is embedded in practice. Staff speak highly about the support and coaching they receive from the manager. They have regular meetings to reflect on their strengths and how they could improve their practice. In addition, the manager provides staff with additional training that helps to develop their knowledge and confidence.
• Staff skilfully use observations and assessments to swiftly identify any gaps in children's learning and development. Staff implement plans closely linked to identified targets and provide one-to-one support when necessary. They work closely with parents and other professionals to access additional support so that children make the best progress from their individual starting points.
• Children's language and communication skills are supported well. Staff respond to babies' babble and encourage them to repeat simple words and sounds. Older children benefit from conversations with staff. Staff ask questions and introduce new words to increase children's vocabulary. Children throughout the nursery enjoy looking at books and listening to stories. Staff enhance children's experiences and love of books. For example, children visit the mobile library and share their favourite book from home as part of World Book Day.
• Children learn to count in everyday situations. Staff skilfully introduce simple mathematical language. For example, as children build towers, staff talk about how high they are and whether they could be made taller.
• Although staff encourage children to choose and lead their play, they occasionally step in too quickly with solutions to problems children encounter. This does not allow children sufficient time to persevere at tasks and work things out for themselves.
• All children benefit from regular fresh air and exercise and have access to a variety of activities that help to develop their physical skills. For example, some children focus on practising their coordination to scoop sand with digger trucks, while others use spoons to fill containers with soil. Younger children reach up high with their brushes to make marks on the easel. They manoeuvre the bikes around the garden path.
• Children's health and well-being are supported well. Dietary needs are known and catered for. Children successfully chop fruit for their snack and pour their own drinks. They access their own water bottles and wash their hands before lunch. This helps them to gain independence in their self-care. Children rest and sleep according to their needs and individual routines. Staff regularly check children while they sleep to ensure that they remain safe.
• Partnership working with parents is strong. Parents are overwhelmingly positive about the staff and the support they receive. They value the information that staff share with them about the progress their children are making and how they can continue their children's learning at home. Parents feel that the manager and staff do a 'fantastic job'.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• support children more effectively as they develop their perseverance and learn to work things out for themselves.