Hilton Street Childcare

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children settle quickly on arrival. They confidently leave their parents at the door and join in the array of activities provided. Babies enjoy making marks in coloured sand and exploring natural objects. Toddlers engage in imaginative play as they use transport toys. They squeal in delight during a bug hunt in the garden where they catch a spider and a beetle. Pre-school children enjoy using play dough that they squeeze and roll into shapes. This helps children to develop the essential skills they need in readiness for writing as they strengthen the muscles in their hands.

Children continuously demonstrate that they feel happy and secure. They have positive attitudes to learning and concentrate well on their chosen activities. The environment is warm and nurturing and children develop strong attachments to the friendly staff team. Staff recognise the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on some children and have focused recent teaching on helping children to share, take turns and tolerate others in their play. As a result, children behave well for their age. The clear and consistent strategies used by staff are beginning to have a positive impact. Children show an awareness of routine and what is expected of them.

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

• Staff gather pertinent information about children's existing skills and abilities. They successfully use this knowledge to ensure that the curriculum reflects children's interests and builds coherently on what children already know and can do. Children are regularly observed by staff who carefully monitor their progress. Parents are able to offer their own contributions during 'focus week' which helps to inform children's next steps in learning. All children are making good progress and developing essential skills for the next stage in their learning.
• Staff talk to children as they play and introduce new vocabulary on a daily basis. Staff are eager to help children to learn and develop their ideas. However, at times, staff ask children lots of questions in quick succession and do not always give children time to think and respond. Furthermore, in their eagerness to help, staff occasionally solve problems for children and quickly offer solutions rather than encouraging children to develop their critical-thinking skills.
• Children are learning the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle. They enjoy healthy and nutritious meals and snacks and engage in outdoor energetic play. Children are beginning to understand the importance of handwashing, particularly before eating and after using the bathroom. However, staff do not always consistently apply the nursery's stringent hygiene procedures around handwashing, to aid children's understanding further.
• Staff are sensitive to children's individual needs and support their emotional well-being effectively. Staff implement frequent opportunities for children to explore their feelings and emotions. This helps children to regulate their behaviour and develop empathy for others. Yoga sessions and mindfulness activities strengthen children's awareness further.
• Children have excellent opportunities to learn about the wider world around them. They participate in fundraising activities, where they learn about those who are less fortunate than themselves. Children visit places of local interest, including parks, garden centres and residential care homes. Staff use these opportunities to teach children about difference and diversity and their place within society. Furthermore, children learn about roles and responsibilities and people who help them through visits from the local fire and police departments.
• Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and children who speak English as an additional language receive good levels of support. Staff work extremely closely with parents and other professionals to ensure a shared approach to children's learning. Any additional support that children require is secured in a swift and timely manner.
• Staff speak highly of the support they receive from management and clearly enjoy their work. They are committed professionals whose passion and support to enable children to have the best possible start are clearly evident. The dedicated and knowledgeable leaders ensure that staff's well-being is fully considered. There are plentiful training opportunities and regular reflections of practice to help inform and drive improvements.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• support staff to develop and consistently use skilful questioning techniques
• strengthen staff's ability to promote children's critical-thinking and problem-solving skills
• ensure that all staff implement the nursery's stringent hygiene procedures in relation to handwashing.