Giggles Day Nursery- Hounslow

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

There is a hum of excitement as children enter the nursery to find their friends and activities to take part in. Children settle into 'busy learning' after participating in a group activity to promote speech and language development through songs and rhymes. Children join in. They sing enthusiastically after staff use signs, gestures and facial expressions, along with speech, to introduce the features of the main characters in the next song or rhyme. Children watch and copy the actions to describe a small mouse running up a clock. Staff support younger children to look at books, turning pages and singing songs linked to what they can see.

The curriculum is planned to have high expectations for all children. Behaviour is good. Children appear happy and form strong attachments to staff. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are quickly identified. As soon as children settle in, staff use observations and developmental tools to assess children's starting points and to plan next steps in their learning. Parents share how developmental milestones for children were made 'easy' to achieve as the 'kind' staff guide parents by identifying when children are ready to develop new skills, such as toilet training.

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

• Staff and managers work together to deliver challenging, engaging activities for all children. Staff tailor activities to reflect children's interests and promote all seven areas of learning well, overall. Children who speak English as an additional language have staff who share home languages, or thread key words provided by parents into simple speech to develop their communication. However, occasionally, some staff do not incorporate numbers and counting into their interactions with children, to further extend their mathematics skills.
• Behaviour is good, overall. Changes between activities are well planned and children stop to listen to clear instructions from staff. Children join in, tapping their shoulder and saying '1,2,3, well done to me' as a reward for a task well done. Staff are good role models for children, demonstrating kind, respectful communication and interactions which children follow. However, some staff do not model or fully explain to children what they need to do to share resources, to further develop their understanding.
• The effective 'traffic light' system highlights individual children's dietary requirements. For instance, coloured place mats simply and effectively indicate any specific needs. Green mats are for children who have no restrictions, amber mats indicate requirements and red mats emphasises food allergies. Menus are devised to promote healthy eating. Meals are prepared on the premises each day. Parents provide fruit to share for snack times and have the option to provide a packed lunch for their child.
• Staff use their creativity to plan the environment to promote curiosity for every child. For example, they convert the home corner to a doctor's surgery or a shop to maintain children's interests. Staff know children well and include clear next steps for all children's learning. Staff are located where children are, allowing children time and space to explore, while still being close by to support and comment when needed.
• Staff working with younger children plan exciting and interesting activities. For instance, children have light resources in a pop-up tent. They watch with fascination at how brightly the colours flash and reflect when used in the tent. Staff build on what children already know and can do. During story time, staff use clear expressive voices. This engages children well in their learning and makes the activity interactive. Staff plan opportunities to develop children's early language and communication. They comment on what children are doing, introduce new words and ask simple, effective questions.
• Parents give high praise for this nursery and the 'caring' staff. Parents value the management team saying that the level of support they receive is excellent. Parents feel confident their children are receiving 'the very best care, are happy and safe' in nursery.
• Leaders and managers work hard to ensure that children, parents and staff feel supported. For example, parents share how clear communication with managers eased their concerns as children settle in. Staff share how regular team meetings and ongoing professional development through training and supervision has developed their confidence and practice. Leaders and managers foster a sense of nursery community where everyone is welcome and appreciated.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• ensure that opportunities are included to develop and extend children's mathematical skills
• develop children's understanding of turn-taking and sharing to further support positive behaviour.