Happylands Private Day Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children flourish in this warm and nurturing nursery. They form secure relationships with the kind, caring staff and quickly settle into their play. Children benefit from a well-planned, broad and stimulating curriculum. They enjoy deep and meaningful learning experiences which staff carefully plan, taking into consideration their individual personalities, likes and dislikes, alongside their learning and development needs. Children make very good progress.

Staff support children's literacy skills very well. Children throughout the nursery develop a love of books. Babies delight in looking at picture books about sea creatures. They recognise the different-sized crabs and identify the bigger crab as the mummy and the smaller crab as the baby. Older children participate in group story time. They confidently discuss the names and roles of the author and illustrator. Children make links as they talk to the group about other stories written by the same individuals. They know storylines well and excitedly join in as they sing and repeat phrases about the 'smartest giant in town'. Children extend their own learning and express their ideas as they tell staff they would like to create a 'city of giants'. Staff acknowledge their request and provide children with a wide range of craft materials to create their own giant which they proudly display in the book corner.

Children display exemplary behaviour. They develop excellent skills to help them to manage their feelings. For example, when children wish to play with a toy another child is already playing with, they go to find a sand timer and patiently wait for their turn.

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

• The manager and staff securely embed an ambitious curriculum. They have high expectations for children's learning and work extremely closely with parents to ensure children make the highest levels of progress possible. That said, there is scope to further enhance older children's experiences of technology, to fully support their awareness of the digital world they live in.
• Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities make high levels of progress from their starting points. Staff promptly create individual support plans for children with achievable goals. They ensure referrals to external professionals are made in a timely manner.
• Staff seek information about any additional languages children speak at home. They gather some key words in their home language to support children's communication skills. However, staff are yet to fully recognise the importance of providing these children opportunities to hear and use their home language during their time at nursery.
• Children have an excellent understanding of healthy lifestyles. They sit at the table with their peers and engage in meaningful conversations about the positive effect of food on their body. For example, older children announce that food gives them energy.
• Children engage in a wide range of exciting activities to support their understanding of the importance of good oral health. They display good control as they practise brushing a pretend set of teeth. Staff demonstrate how to effectively clean the model teeth and tell children they must remember to clean the backs of the teeth as well as the front.
• Leaders ensure staffs' well-being is given a high priority. The dedicated manager regularly observes practice throughout the nursery to ensure staff are supported to improve their already good knowledge and skills. She promotes open communication with staff and encourages them to talk her through anything they may be worried or concerned about, personally or professionally. A member of staff has undertaken training to be a mental health champion. This has a positive effect on the staff team and children.
• Children have extensive opportunities to learn about different communities and the wider world. Staff use a global map to teach children about different countries and how cultures have similarities and differences. They encourage children to share photographs and talk about their families. Staff read stories to children to support their understanding of how each child's family is unique.
• Parents cannot speak highly enough of the nursery. They comment on the 'family feel' and warmth of the nursery environment. Parents commend the manager and staff for their professionalism and commitment to children's learning and development. They feel thoroughly informed about children's progress and value the range of support offered, to help them build on this and extend their learning at home.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• provide children with even more experiences to fully support their awareness of technology and the digital world in which they live
• enhance staffs' understanding of how to support children who speak English as an additional language to further support their communication and language skills.