Happy Days The Playbox

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are delighted to arrive at the setting and get started with their day. Staff welcome parents and children to the setting in a personal and individual manner, allowing children time to excitedly begin conversations with staff. Children are happy and busy throughout the day. They make independent decisions in their play and show confidence as they access the well-resourced learning environment.

Children are motivated to learn and spend much of their time exploring a range of exciting experiences that capture their attention. For example, a cooking activity offers older children chances to recognise numbers and how many 'tablespoons' and 'teaspoons' of flour, salt and water are needed to make dough. Children concentrate well and measure out ingredients competently.

Children thoroughly enjoy playing outdoors in the safe, enclosed garden area. This includes steps and slopes, challenging children to move and negotiate these features safely. Children gain increasing control of their physical movements and learn how to take measured risks.

The nursery stayed open during the COVID-19 pandemic. Staff worked hard to keep in touch with children who were not able to attend the nursery. They provided families with lots of ideas for activities to do at home, to support children's learning.

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

• The management team has a clear understanding of how to design an effective curriculum across all areas of learning. The curriculum has been carefully considered and developed to give all children the skills, knowledge and understanding that they need for their future learning. Staff know the children well and use their daily observations of what children enjoy and can do to guide their planning and teaching. However, on occasions, staff do not use learning opportunities as they arise, to extend children's learning even further, to help build on their existing knowledge.
• Staff understand the importance of children developing a love of reading. They provide a wide range of books that are easily accessible for children to look at when they wish to. Staff read stories to children with enthusiasm and on request as well as part of small-group times. They have established a lending library ,so that children can take books home to share with their parents.
• Staff provide good levels of support for children who speak English as an additional language. When children first begin to attend, staff gather information from parents to help support children's understanding of English in the setting. For instance, they collect a list of key words in the children's home language.
• Children enjoy a range of freshly cooked meals as part of a healthy and balanced diet. They like being with each other and talking to the staff as they eat their snacks and meals together. These positive and social experiences help children to feel a strong sense of belonging.
• Children develop their independence in preparation for the next stage of their education in a range of ways. For example, children fill up their cups with water from jugs and learn to use cutlery successfully. Good hygiene measures are in place, and staff encourage children to develop independence with their self-care needs, such as washing their hands and going to the toilet.
• Parents are complimentary about the friendly and nurturing staff. They talk highly of the personalised approach to settling children in, and how happy and excited their children are to attend. The management team are committed to building partnerships with parents and has reflected on how best to develop the communication.
• The management team empowers staff to continually develop their skills and knowledge. The whole staff team seeks out new ways to benefit children's learning constantly. The manager completes regular supervision sessions and staff observations, which she uses to set targets for staff to work towards.
• Staff well-being is highly valued and is a high priority for the manager. She checks regularly on how staff are feeling and to ensure that they feel well supported. Staff morale is high, creating a very positive atmosphere.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• support staff to identify opportunities as they arise, to extend children's learning and build on their existing knowledge.