Dimples Stainton Day Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Staff offer a calm, nurturing and caring environment for children. Babies thrive in the nursery and staff know how to meet their care needs swiftly. Toddlers enjoy a wide range of stimulating activities, which are based on their interests. They show confidence in accessing resources and develop good levels of independence. Staff who work with older children help them develop the skills they need to start school. Children begin to develop good levels of concentration and show interest in familiar stories. Staff are good role models for children. They teach them how to be kind, respectful and helpful. Children's behaviour is positive and they demonstrate good social skills.

The manager and staff team are passionate about their work with children and families. During the pandemic, staff created videos to read to children and kept in touch with parents to offer support. Children benefit from a gradual settling-in process and staff gather detailed information about them. This helps them to feel safe and secure. Staff teach children how to stay safe and develop their awareness of risk. For instance, they explain why they need to check the outdoor area before children use this space.

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

• The curriculum is exciting and interesting for children. Staff use their knowledge of children's current stages of development to help them build secure foundations for future learning. For example, babies delight as they explore jelly in small bags. Staff model key words to them and then later extend this to sensory play in the tray outdoors.
• Experiences for toddlers are exemplary. Children develop exceptional levels of concentration and independence. They use the toilet independently and take an active part in their own self-care. Staff help children to develop excellent communication and language skills. Children thoroughly enjoy singing in the group, they demonstrate listening and attention skills that are higher than typically expected for their age.
• Staff have high expectations for all children who attend and work alongside other professionals to promote continuity for children. For instance, they create detailed learning plans for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. However, on occasion, staff do not use the agreed strategies to consistently support older children.
• Staff encourage children to develop a love of books from an early age. Babies carefully turn pages as staff read to them. Older children thoroughly enjoy story time with staff. They repeat familiar phrases from the story and respond to staff's open questions to share their ideas. Staff praise them for their efforts and children show pride in their achievements.
• Children's good health is promoted. They benefit from healthy, freshly cooked meals and have access to fresh water throughout the day. Staff teach them about the importance of washing hands and there are plenty of opportunities for fresh air outdoors. Staff provide quiet spaces for babies and young children to sleep. This has a positive impact on children's emotional well-being and they show they feel happy and settled.
• Staff say they feel valued by the management team. They have access to a wide range of training and are encouraged to share ideas and suggestions. The manager promotes staff's well-being. She has an open-door policy and provides support in each room of the nursery on a daily basis.
• The manager and staff team work hard to drive forward continual improvements. For instance, they are currently developing the outdoor area to help staff provide a broad curriculum outdoors as well as indoors. The team regularly evaluate their practice and have introduced new ways to plan experiences, so they are more child-centred.
• Partnerships are highly effective. Staff regularly share detailed information with parents about their children's development and care. This helps to promote continuity and consistency for children. Parents are very complimentary about the staff team and the care their children receive. They comment on how much they value the support given during difficult times and the inclusivity of the nursery.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• build on existing strategies to further enhance support for older children with special educational needs and/or disabilities
• enhance staff's teaching in the outdoor environment to maximise children's learning across all seven areas.