Footsteps to Nunsmoor

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children clearly enjoy spending time at this welcoming setting. Staff greet them with warm smiles and reassurance as they arrive and children quickly settle into the daily routine. Children develop strong relationships with staff, who know them very well as individuals. They benefit from a curriculum that provides them with enriching experiences. Children, including those who speak English as an additional language, are supported to make good progress in their communication and language skills. For example, staff use pictures and visual prompts to help children to understand the routines of the day.

Children are developing a love of literacy. Reading stories is embedded as part of the daily routine. Children demonstrate how they can handle books with care, as they self-select reading as an activity of choice. Children immerse themselves in their play and sustain their interest in activities for long periods. For example, children concentrate as they use tools, such as a pestle and mortar, to grind fresh coriander and squeeze juice from citrus fruit. They use their small-muscle skills further as they explore play dough. Children use the scissors to snip the dough, they push and roll it and use cutters to make shapes. Children's behaviour is good. They are beginning to understand that they must share and take turns with their friends.

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

• The manager provides an ambitious programme of learning. Staff gather information from parents when the children start, finding out what they already know and can do. All staff are clear about the age-appropriate skills and knowledge they want children to learn. They use observations and assessments of children's progress to plan experiences for the next steps in their learning.
• Children are becoming confident communicators. Staff introduce new words as they interact with children during play. They describe the jelly powder and water mixture children have made as 'squelchy' and 'slimy'. Later, children begin to use these words independently in their play. Staff repeat words back to children, to help them to develop the correct pronunciation of words.
• Children's independence is supported well, overall. For example, children pour their drinks during snack time. However, practice is not consistent as staff tend to carry out tasks that children could do for themselves. For instance, they do not always give children the time they need to put on their own coats and boots before they go outside.
• Overall, staff implement the programme for mathematics appropriately. For example, staff use mathematical language, such as 'full' and 'empty'. However, staff do not always support children to extend their mathematical knowledge. For instance, children are not encouraged to practise their counting skills as they play.
• All staff are aware of children's individual care needs, such as dietary requirements. They provide children with healthy snacks and use this time for purposeful learning where they introduce new vocabulary, such as 'juicy' and 'crunchy'. Staff discuss what a dentist is as children play with toy teeth and toothbrushes. This supports them to gain an understanding of what a healthy hygiene routine is.
• Staff support children with special educational needs and or/disabilities well. They identify children who may need additional help or early intervention and agree support plans swiftly. They work in close partnership with outside agencies to ensure there is a collaborative approach to children's learning. Equally, staff support children who receive additional funding. They provide activities, such as rhyme time and animal antics, where children sing, play instruments and learn more about the world around them.
• Parents are very positive about the care the setting provides. They receive a detailed handover every day, so they know what activities their children have taken part in. Staff find out about the approaches parents are taking to tasks, such as toilet training at home. They follow the same methods so there is a consistent approach for children.
• The managers are very reflective and thorough in their approach to changes. They gather and act on feedback, for example, they have recently increased the security of the outside play area. Staff report that they feel supported by the management team and that their well-being is looked after. The manager offers regular support and supervision to all staff and sets targets to help them build on their good practice.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• strengthen the implementation of mathematics to support children to use numbers and counting during their play
• enhance children's independence and readiness for school by implementing a consistent approach, and by giving them more time to try before adult intervention.