Fellowship House Childrens Centre

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Staff have close, strong relationships with children in this caring nursery. They take time to get to know each child well and use this information to help children to settle happily. For example, staff find out about babies' home care routines and include this in their practice which helps babies to feel secure. Children settle well. Staff value each child highly and have high expectations of them. They manage children's behaviour successfully. For instance, staff share group rules with children and use a gentle and consistent approach. Children learn to take turns and to share well, for example, when they take turns during organised games. Children behave well.

The curriculum is broad and balanced and all children make good progress. Staff support children to gain good physical skills. For example, babies crawl through tunnels and climb up low platforms. Older children balance on planks and steer wheeled toys skilfully. Staff teach children good mathematical skills. For instance, children count fruit at snack time and sing counting songs. Staff teach children mathematical language to describe size, such as 'big' and 'small'. They help children to gain good understanding of the world. For example, staff teach children about different types of weather and the days of the week. They plant onions and potatoes with children and teach them how things grow.

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

• Children have good communication, language and literacy skills. Staff use everyday opportunities to help children learn new words. For example, they teach children new vocabulary, such as 'sweet', 'sour' and 'soft', as they taste different fruits. They sing nursery songs and rhymes and read stories to children to support this area further.
• Staff teach children about difference. For instance, they teach children about special religious festivals, such as Eid, Holi and Diwali. Children play with toys and browse through books that reflect different races and cultures.
• Children have good independence. They serve themselves at meal times and pour their own drinks. Children help to tidy away toys and resources when they have finished using them. Older children put on their coats and learn to put on their shoes. Staff provide assistance to younger children to develop these skills.
• Staff support children's creative development effectively. Children enjoy drawing pictures and explore paint effects on different surfaces. They visit a sensory room in the nursery where they observe different coloured lights and moving liquid in containers. Children use materials, such as play dough to make models.
• Staff work well with parents. They give parents regular updates on children's progress in effective ways. For instance, staff send secure electronic messages, talk to parents each day and hold regular parent meetings. Staff give parents ideas for activities to support children's learning at home. Musician parents visit the nursery to play instruments to the children and this supports children's musical understanding.
• The manager monitors and supports staff well. She supervises staff regularly to review their work and offers support where required. The manager observes staff and provides feedback to improve practice. She ensures that staff have opportunities to improve their skills and knowledge. For instance, staff attend a range of courses, including a course on oral hygiene which led to improvements in this area.
• The manager reviews how well the nursery operates and sets goals for improvements. For example, she plans to enhance imaginative play opportunities to promote best outcomes for children.
• Staff regard children's safety with high importance. For example, the nursery has closed circuit television throughout the nursery and this helps to protect children from harm. Staff carry out daily risk assessments throughout the nursery to keep children safe.
• Children have good awareness of different feelings. Staff discuss a range of emotions with children and use resources, including picture cards and stories to support their understanding further.
• Staff provide good routines for children to promote an understanding of healthy lifestyles. This includes teaching children good oral hygiene awareness. For example, staff have group discussions about this area and children practise regular toothbrushing in the nursery.
• Staff question children during daily group discussions about their experiences. However, sometimes, they do not give children time to think and respond, in order to extend their learning further.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• give children more time to think and respond to questions to support their thinking skills further.