Docklands Day Nursery Warwick Grove

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children attending this setting are motivated and eager learners. They are keen to join in with the interesting and varied activities offered to them. The manager and staff have high expectations of children and what they can achieve. Staff skilfully plan activities that engage children. For example, children are keen to participate during song time and concentrate well. They excitedly choose pictures cards that correspond to a nursery rhyme to show which song they want to sing next. Children enjoy being involved in making choices and are confident to express what they want. They learn to take turns and listen to others' suggestions. Children make good progress and develop they necessary skills for their future learning and for school.

Children are well cared for and safe. Staff are deployed effectively to meet the needs of all children. They are warm and welcoming and form secure bonds with children. Children are visibly happily. Staff spend time getting to know their key children and support their individual care and learning needs well. They adapt their teaching well to support children at different stages in their learning. Children behave well. Staff successfully support children to understand what is right and wrong. They remind children of the rules to help children know what is expected of them. Children learn to be friendly and kind towards others and develop good social skills.

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

• Leaders and staff have a shared vision for what they want children to learn. They make developing children's independence, language skills and social skills a clear priority, to help prepare children for the next stage in their development.
• Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities or children who have any delays in their learning are supported well. Leaders and staff recognise any possible gaps in children's development and successfully plan activities to support their learning. Leaders and staff establish effective partnership working with other professionals. They seek advice from other agencies about additional ways in which they can support children who may need additional help.
• Staff teach children to be independent during their daily routines. For instance, they encourage children to tidy up after they finish playing and help them to pour their own drink. Children follow instructions well, are helpful and develop a sense of responsibility.
• Children develop an interest in stories and books. Staff frequently read with children and talk about the story with them. Younger children learn to look at the pictures and name what they see. Older children listen intently to stories and develop their listening skills well.
• Parents talk positively about the communication they receive from staff. Staff regularly share information with parents to help them know how their child is progressing in their development. They inform parents about what children are learning in the setting to help them support children's development at home.
• Children are physically active and develop their physical skills well. For instance, they use equipment outside to climb and balance on. Children move with control and confidence. They learn how to use and hold objects, such as crayons to draw with, and develop good fine motor skills. They eat balanced and nutritious meals and learn about healthy lifestyles.
• Staff support children's communication skills well. Staff regularly sing songs and model language during activities. This helps children to develop their vocabulary and understand what words mean. Older children are confident communicators and can explain themselves clearly. However, there is scope for staff to increase the opportunities children have to use their home languages in their play and learning, to further aid their good language development.
• The manager monitors staff's performance well, for example through regular observations of their practice and supervisions. She identifies any areas in the setting that need improvement and makes clear action plans to help develop the quality of education for children. Staff have good opportunities to develop their teaching skills and practice, for example through attending training sessions. Staff have recently improved their knowledge of how to further support children's oral hygiene, to help deepen children's understanding of how to be healthy.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• develop opportunities for children to use and develop their home language in the setting.