Giggles N Squiggles West Lynn

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children arrive happy and excited to attend the setting. They are well supported by staff and when needed, staff provide support and comfort for children who are a little less confident. Children demonstrate a good standard of independence, washing their own hands and preparing their own snacks. They are confident to make choices about their play and demonstrate high-levels of self-esteem as they show off their creative pictures.

Staff are enthusiastic about their teaching and excitedly introduce the learning opportunities on offer. This is reflected in children's positive attitudes to learning and willingness to join in and try new things. Children confidently follow instructions from staff and help tidy up. Where needed, staff provide gentle reminders.

Generally, children demonstrate good behaviours. When there is a disagreement, staff recognise this quickly and intervene. They provide distraction and remind children clearly of the rules in place at the setting. Staff's consistency and frequent reminders help children to understand what is expected of them. Additionally, children support their peers by reminding them of the rules and giving them a 'high five' when they share and wait their turn during games.

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

• Parent partnerships are good. Staff share relevant information daily and keep parents up to date about children's learning and development. Parents comment that they feel well informed about children's care. Additionally, staff share helpful tips and guidance for parents to support home learning opportunities. However, staff do not always gather information about children's learning before they start, to plan and provide meaningful learning opportunities from the very beginning.
• The outdoor area is focused on physical development. Children access the mud kitchen and sand pit where they dig and build and use a variety of tools and equipment. Staff provide chalks for large mark-making activities, along with a variety of equipment, such as hoops, balls and stepping stones, to support gross motor movements and core strength. However, staff do not always extend children's knowledge and skills at every opportunity during free play to help children make the best possible progress.
• Staff provide regular group activities that extend children's fine motor and literacy skills. Children thoroughly enjoy 'giggle while you squiggle' as they sing along to music and draw in a large group. Staff lead children's learning, encouraging them to explore and learn different movements.
• Children's speech and language development is prioritised by staff. They provide various activities for children to join, such as reading, singing and using Makaton signs, to support children's communication skills. Children thoroughly enjoy engaging in conversations and share experiences from home.
• The arts and crafts area is well planned and provides children with a range of materials and tools to further develop their creativity and imagination. Children are encouraged to be imaginative as they create pictures and develop good fine motor skills when using a range of tools. Additionally, staff encourage children to write their own names on their drawings, practising letter recognition and name writing in preparation for school. Children are proud of their achievements and enjoy sharing their creations with staff and peers.
• Staff provide various opportunities for children to develop their mathematical knowledge and understanding of basic concepts. Children enjoy participating in adult-led activities that allow them to explore weight and measure. They use scales to compare the weights of different objects and staff introduce mathematical language, such as 'heavier' and 'lighter', to widen children's vocabulary.
• Staff know children well and plan challenging yet achievable targets for children to help them make good progress. They work closely with other professionals to gain support and guidance for children and families. This helps children to make good progress.
• There is a robust recruitment procedure in place and the management team provides an in-depth induction programme. Additionally, staff supervision is carried out regularly and staff are given opportunities to reflect on their practice. Training is provided. However, the management team does not always identify areas of improvement well enough and tailor training to extend staffs' skills in the relevant areas.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• gather information from parents regarding children's learning and development, before they start
• target training opportunities to more specifically identify areas for improvement and extend staffs' training skills to the highest standard.