Happy Feet Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The friendly and caring staff team create a family atmosphere, which helps children to settle quickly. Children feel safe and secure and thrive in this nursery. They are confident, self-assured and show high levels of independence. For example, younger children keep themselves busy, independently choosing their learning and asking adults for support when they need it. Older children talk confidently and use a good range of vocabulary in their everyday speech. Children learn a wide range of skills, which prepares them well for school.

Children of all ages develop a love of reading and enjoy a wide range of books. They select books independently, and listen to staff as they enthusiastically read stories. Children join in with familiar words and phrases, and they enjoy action songs and rhymes.

Children's behaviour is good and staff act as good role models. They encourage good manners, and children learn how to cooperate with each other and share resources. Children are kind and considerate. Older children in the nursery room are careful as they support their peers, who are learning to balance and coordinate. They help each other, for example when they take their friend's lunch box to the table and find them a chair to sit together.

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

• Staff join in with children as they play. They ask good quality questions and engage in conversations with the children. However, on occasions, staff do not fully consider the number of children who would like to take part in activities. For example, during the inspection, children initially show enthusiasm to participate in sand play. However, they had to wait a long time and were unclear when it would be their turn. This results in some children becoming distracted and losing interest.
• Overall, staff support children's learning well. They make ongoing assessments of children's achievements and understand what they need to learn next. Staff plan activities which are relevant to children's ages and stages of development and their interests. This helps motivate the children in their learning. However, on occasions, staff do not plan and manage group activities fully effectively. For example, some children become distracted by their friends playing with other resources nearby and do not engage as well as they could.
• Parents state they are extremely happy with the service they receive. They are impressed by the progress their children make in their development. They value the daily feedback they receive about their child's day and achievements. Parents report they use the information provided to keep up to date about their children's development and to support children's learning at home.
• Staff place a clear priority on supporting children's communication and language development, including those who speak English as an additional language. Staff skilfully reinforce new words and concepts during their interactions. The daily routine includes plenty of opportunities for children to talk, listen, sing and enjoy stories. Children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities are supported well to be fully included in the nursery routines and activities .
• Outdoor learning spaces and plentiful resources allow children to play and explore with curious minds. For example, children use the available natural materials to build hotels for the snails they have found. They are excited about putting food out for the birds and then watching and identifying different bird species through binoculars.
• Staff understand the importance of promoting children's physical development. They provide opportunities outdoors for children to plan and make an obstacle course from planks and tyres. Children develop their physical skills as they learn to balance and negotiate the course.
• The manager and staff team use reflection effectively to identify areas for improvement. The manager carries out regular observations of staff and observes their teaching practice. Staff receive regular training to support their ongoing development. Since the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic began, there has been an emphasis on staff well-being. Staff explain the manager has been very approachable, supportive and perceptive about their well-being.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• support staff to strengthen the management of group play, to ensure that all children can actively join in and have a go
• develop staff's planning of group times to fully engage all children who take part and meet their learning needs.