Emeralds Little Gems Daycare - Crook

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children arrive happily and receive a warm, friendly greeting from the caring staff. Parents are not able to come into the nursery due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic so leave their children with a member of staff at the main entrance. Children quickly become engaged in their play and learning. They receive very good support from staff as they settle at their chosen activity. Staff have a warm, caring relationship with children. Children are motivated and eager to learn, and consistently show high levels of interest in their chosen activities.

Staff have high expectations for children's behaviour and treatment of each other. Children follow the golden rules. Staff talk to children in a gentle manner and remind them to use kind hands with their friends. There are lots of discussions about sharing the resources. Staff make good use of visual aids to help communicate changes in the routine. They use a bell and give a five minute warning to allow children time to finish their activities when it is time to tidy up. A high priority is placed on well-being. In pre-school, children are encouraged to express themselves and talk about feelings.

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

• Staff have high expectations of what children can achieve. Children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, progress well. Staff understand the needs of their individual key children. They assess children's developmental needs with the help of parents as they settle in at nursery. Staff continually review and assess children's development. From this they plan the next steps for children. Children enjoy activities based on what they know and can do. Staff fully understand how to follow children's interests.
• There is a very strong partnership with parents at this nursery. Staff communicate with parents regarding their children's progress and next steps through an online system. Learning packs were sent home for children to complete with their families when they did not attend during the COVID-19 pandemic. Parents say they cannot praise staff enough for the support that they have received. They say that staff have helped their children to return to the nursery. Additional funding has been used to support children who lost confidence. For instance, funding went towards extra staff to support children in a smaller group.
• Staff skilfully support children to form words and sentences. Staff speak clearly to children and use sign language and pictures to aid communication. Good arrangements are in place to support children who are learning English as an additional language. Staff find out about children's home language and use this to support children's language development. As children get older, staff provide many opportunities for them to join in conversations. However, in pre-school, some staff overly direct some activities and do not consistently encourage children to think and work things out for themselves.
• Staff who work with babies are experienced and knowledgeable about their roles. They are skilled at helping babies learn through inspiring activities. Children under the age of two years enjoy singing familiar rhymes at group time. They select a character from the prop bag that relates to the rhyme. They attempt to join in with the actions when staff sing. However, there are occasions when the youngest children are not fully included, such as holding something from the prop bag like the older children.
• Children are quick to learn mathematical skills. This is because staff weave mathematical learning throughout most activities and daily routines. Children are keen to use tape measures to measure distances in pre-school. Younger children sing number rhymes that involve adding or taking one away.
• The dedicated and passionate manager shows a good commitment to the professional development of her team. She carries out regular staff meetings and supervision meetings with staff. These play an integral part in the development of the setting. This helps to promote children's progression.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• build on how staff implement activities to allow children time to explore and work things out for themselves rather than being directed
• review the use of whole group activities in the baby room so that they include all children.