First Friends PDN

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children arrive happily at the nursery and confidently leave their parents and carers. They warmly greet staff and their friends and quickly join in with activities. Older children show that they feel settled and secure as they move freely between indoor and outdoor areas. They engage enthusiastically in conversation with adults and each other. Staff know children well and foster strong relationships with them. They plan stimulating activities that engage children's interests, build on their skills and help all children to make good progress. Staff recognise children's unique characteristics and understand how best to support them. For example, children with additional needs benefit from daily small-group activities. These help to build on children's social skills and language development and encourage their listening, attention and confidence.

Staff are good role models. They gently guide children and give clear and consistent explanations to help them to resolve minor issues. For example, when children find it difficult to share play equipment, staff use sand timers to help children understand when it will be their turn. This gives children reassurance and helps them to regulate their emotions. Children show respect and kindness to others, offering warm hugs when their friends arrive and giving comfort when they see someone is upset. Children flourish in this caring and nurturing environment.

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

• The management team and staff have worked hard since the last inspection to address the actions raised. Staff undertake a wide range of additional training and receive good support from leaders to further develop their practice and skills. Effective monitoring systems are in place to ensure staff use consistent strategies to support children's behaviour and to maintain high standards of teaching throughout the nursery. This helps all children to reach their full potential.
• Staff regularly assess children's progress. They quickly identify any children who would benefit from additional support to develop the skills they require for the next stage in their learning. For example, staff sensitively guide children to develop self-care skills and independence. Older children quickly master how to fasten buttons and put on outdoor clothing.
• The partnership with parents and carers is strong. Parents comment that staff provide high levels of support for children and prepare them well for their transition into school. They feel reassured that children are cared for in a safe environment by practitioners who understand children's individual needs. Parents praise the 'exemplary' communication between nursery and home. Parents know what children are learning and how they can support this at home.
• Children show their understanding of a range of mathematical concepts, such as size, shape and pattern. For example, when making cakes with play dough, children identify which ones are big and small and use their hands to knead and roll the dough into familiar shapes. However, staff do not always utilise daily routines and activities to extend children's problem-solving skills.
• Staff give high regard to developing children's language and communication skills. They show interest in children's thoughts and ideas and help to extend children's vocabulary through initiating conversation and singing songs and rhymes. Staff foster children's love of books and reading from an early age. Children actively engage during group story times and frequently approach adults to share a book together. Children benefit from a language-rich environment.
• Children behave well and show their understanding of why they need to follow certain rules. For example, they remember that they must not run indoors, as they might fall over and hurt themselves. Staff consistently reinforce gentle reminders during play to build on children's turn-taking and negotiation skills. This helps to create a harmonious atmosphere where children thrive.
• Children delight in spending time outdoors. They have ample opportunities to practise and extend their physical skills as they engage in a wide range of stimulating activities. Staff skilfully support babies to develop their muscle strength and stamina by playing games with them on the floor. Older children develop their spatial awareness as they ride wheeled toys. They have great fun digging in soil and shout with joy as they jump in muddy puddles.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• support staff to further develop their understanding of how to extend children's mathematical learning through practical activities and daily routines.