Giggles N Squiggles West Winch

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children at the setting are happy and parents comment how much children enjoy attending. Overall, children's engagement is good. Staff provide exciting learning opportunities focusing on children's interests and what they need to learn next. They deploy themselves across the setting well, engaging in children's play and extending their learning.

Children demonstrate good behaviours and social skills. They listen to instructions, are kind to their friends, and wait patiently for their turn during group games. Children demonstrate good teamwork as they help each other build a train track. Outdoors, children explore the mud kitchen and demonstrate excellent sharing. They invite others to join them and happily welcome them to join their group as they continue to play and explore.

Children learn from a young age how to be kind and use good manners. Staff model language for children to hear as well as sharing and turn-taking skills. Children demonstrate a high standard of independence during mealtimes, washing their hands, pouring drinks and cutting their own food. Throughout the day, children are encouraged to carry out activities themselves, such as getting dress and using the toilet. Younger children are also encouraged to explore and make choices about their play and learning.

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

• The management team has implemented a curriculum that focuses on developing children's independence and confidence in preparation for school. Staff prioritise relationships with children and get to know families well. This helps children to feel safe and secure in their environment, building on their confidence from the very beginning.
• The curriculum for physical development is well sequenced. Staff plan and provide opportunities for children to strengthen and practise both their fine and gross motor skills. Young children benefit from low-level furniture, encouraging and supporting their early walking. Older children enjoy large mark-making opportunities. They use spray bottles to strengthen their hand muscles and be creative. Children climb ladders and bikes, which helps to strengthen their core strength and balance.
• The provision provided for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is good. Children receive a good standard of care and education and staff work with children on a one-to-one basis to help them progress well. Additionally, staff work closely with other professionals to provide consistent support for children and families. However, some staff are not always confident when planning and handling situations for children with SEND.
• Children who speak English as an additional language make excellent progress with their understanding and speaking of the English language. Staff provide numerous learning opportunities for children to extend their language skills and this supports children to speak clearly from a young age.
• Staff have clear expectations for children's behaviour. Children demonstrate their understanding of routines throughout the day, as they wait patiently in a line to wash their hands before mealtimes and use 'walking feet' indoors. However, staff do not always teach and deepen children's knowledge of emotions to help them understand how they or others are feeling.
• Staff share photos and observations of children using an online app to help keep parents up to date. Additionally, they add children's next steps in learning and ideas about how parents can continue this learning at home.
• There is a robust recruitment procedure in place and the management team ensures new staff receive full induction training when they first start at the setting. Furthermore, staff supervisions are held regularly to discuss staff's practice and highlight any areas for improvement. This helps to provide a good standard of care and education for children.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• support staff to develop their confidence and knowledge when supporting children with SEND
• teach children about emotions and help them to recognise feelings and the consequences of their own actions.