Happy Little Hedgehogs Day Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children and their families receive a warm welcome from staff as they arrive at this very friendly and caring nursery. Children settle quickly and immediately begin to play and learn. For example, staff support toddlers to concentrate and develop their small-muscle skills as they play with dough. Older children make marks with paint and develop their literacy skills. They enjoy listening to stories and sing songs. These shared experiences support children to build caring and loving relationships with each other and the staff who look after them.

Overall, children develop the skills that they need to prepare them for the next stage in their education. For example, staff help babies to learn how to grasp objects, such as farm animals, as they sing songs. Older children practise writing their names. They bang a drum and learn about syllables. Children learn through an effective balance of adult-led and child-initiated activities. As a result, all children make good progress from their starting points in development.

Children behave well and are polite. Staff are good role models. They speak respectfully to one another and to children. Children use language such as 'please' and 'thank you' without prompting. Staff provide targeted support for children who speak English as an additional language. They work closely with parents.

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

• Staff know children well and implement a curriculum to meet children's individual learning needs overall. They regularly observe children and find out from their parents and carers what their interests are. This helps staff to provide interesting and exciting play activities that children enjoy taking part in. For example, younger children enjoy learning to count as they play with dinosaurs. This helps to develop their mathematical skills.
• Staff share information about children's learning with parents. They hold daily discussions and use an online app. Parents feel very confident leaving their children in the care of staff at this nursery. They feel that their children have developed quickly, and that children thrive. Parents speak highly of the management team and the nurturing, patient and kind staff.
• The management team works closely with the staff team. They have regular team meetings, and staff take part in annual appraisals. Staff say that they like working at the nursery and report good levels of support. However, the nursery leaders do not sharply focus their evaluations of staff's practice to identify areas for development to enhance the quality of the provision.
• Children immerse themselves in learning opportunities that interest and motivate them. For instance, children spend a long time making 'tea' with tea bags and flowers. They enthusiastically make soaps for Mother's Day. Children talk to staff and each other about what they are trying to create and show pride in their finished creations.
• The management team supports staff to improve their knowledge and skills to help enhance their teaching skills and the quality of education. For example, leaders encourage staff to attend training, such as specific baby training and food hygiene.
• Staff listen attentively to children's thoughts and ideas. They give children opportunities to express themselves and make their own decisions. However, at times, staff do not fully support children's independence. For example, staff cut up fruit for children's snack, serve their lunch and get their water bottles for them. This does not give children consistent opportunities to learn and practise the skills they need, ready for school.
• Children take part in many opportunities to develop their physical skills. For example, they build walls in the outdoor play area, using construction materials. They scoop sand and have space to run and jump. Staff plan outings to local areas to help to promote children's sense of self within the local community. For example, they visit the nursery's allotment and play on grass areas.
• Staff help children to learn how to keep themselves safe. For example, they teach children how to climb the stairs safely. The management team analyses any accidents or injuries effectively and develops measures to help reduce the chance of recurrence.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• strengthen the process for evaluating staff's practice, to enhance the already good teaching practice, knowledge and skills
• encourage children's independence more consistently to enable them to learn and practise the skills they need ready for school.