Dinky Dizzys

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Staff greet children with a smile on arrival. They have a secure understanding of how young children learn. Staff create a welcoming and stimulating environment, and children show delight as they explore and investigate. For example, they enjoy building castles in sand and have fun creating pictures of themselves with craft materials. Children are proud of their achievements and are eager to show visitors the artwork they have created. Children develop an early awareness of mathematical concepts. For example, they learn to identify shapes and count. Children develop strong relationships with their key person, and they settle quickly on arrival. Children remain continually busy and occupied through a fun programme of play.

Staff plan a good variety of activities to support children's physical skills. For example, children use paint rollers and water to make marks on outdoor walls and fences. Staff deliver movement sessions, contributing to children's excellent balance and core physical strength. Children spend a long time exploring various role-play resources in the home corner. They enjoy using their imagination effectively to bring their ideas to life. For example, children enjoy selling fruit and vegetables to staff. The rich range of engaging activities supports children's good all-round progress.

Children are keen to help with responsibilities. For example, they enjoy tidying up while singing a song. Children feed themselves at lunchtime with confidence. They are well supported to become independent and responsible. Children proudly take turns to look after the nursery 'Baxter' bear and talk about the adventures they have enjoyed. Children behave well because they know what is expected of them. Staff act as positive role models. Children attending this nursery are happy, safe and supported to flourish.

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

• Since the last inspection, the management and staff team have worked extremely hard to make improvements. They have undertaken a wide range of training since the last inspection. Staff have implemented their newfound learning effectively to enhance and extend the quality of teaching.
• Robust and supportive arrangements are in place for the supervision and management of staff. This helps them to feel valued and passionate about working in this nursery. Staff are proactive, positive and keen to do their very best for children and their families. They have received guidance from the local authority advisers, which has had a positive impact on practice.
• Staff maintain good partnerships with parents. They communicate daily with parents and share ideas to extend children's learning at home. Parents talk very highly of the nursery. For example, parents feel the staff are friendly and nurturing. They comment that their children are making good progress and have grown in confidence.
• Staff observe and assess children's progress, helping them to plan activities that build on what children already know and can do. For example, staff plan activities to support children's hand-eye coordination, such as a 'snipping' activity, where children learn to use scissors safely. However, at times, staff do not consider when there are too many children at an activity or how they can differentiate planned activities to fully engage children in learning.
• Staff provide opportunities for children to develop social skills and form positive relationships with others. They support them to develop good communication and language skills. For example, staff ask questions about their play, and children respond appropriately.
• Staff support children's language and literacy skills well, such as using core story books to help embed vocabulary. These books are also shared with parents, allowing them to continue supporting their child's learning at home.
• Children are well behaved. They show good levels of cooperation with each other and know the routines well. For example, they help tidy away the toys. Children are polite and well-mannered. Staff are consistent and fair in their interactions, and boundaries are well understood by everyone.
• Overall, staff promote children's good health effectively. Children benefit from lots of fresh air and physical exercise. They understand the importance of washing their hands before they eat. However, staff do not actively reinforce policies on healthy eating when parents provide food and drinks from home for their children. As a result, children do not fully understand the concept of healthy lifestyles.
• Engagement with external professionals is effective. For example, management seek advice from specialists and target support for children who have gaps in their learning. Any additional funding the nursery receives is used to support the individual needs of the children.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• organise planned activities more effectively to fully engage children in learning
• provide clearer information for parents about healthy options for children's food and drink to promote children's understanding of healthy lifestyles.