Hopscotch Day Nurseries Lee On The Solent

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children enjoy coming to the setting to see staff and play with their friends. Staff are welcoming and work hard to develop relationships that make children feel safe and secure. For example, they spend time getting to know children's likes, dislikes and their favourite things to do. This means staff know the children extremely well and are able to support them, ready for their next stage of learning.

Children's behaviour is positive throughout the setting, and staff praise them when they practise the 'golden rules'. For instance, staff give children a 'high five' if they use 'gentle hands' or 'listening ears'. This helps children to develop positive relationships with others, which supports all areas of their future learning.

The setting involves everyone when it reviews its routines, curriculum and menus. Staff, parents and children are regularly asked for their feedback. For example, children are asked to choose their favourite meal from the menu, and parents are asked what skills they would like the setting to focus on teaching before their children move on to school. This promotes an effective partnership and makes everyone feel valued and listened to.

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

• The curriculum is ambitious for all children in the setting. Staff access the local community effectively to provide exciting learning experiences. For example, children in the pre-school walk to the local beach to learn about caring for the environment. Staff teach children how to measure the tide using sticks, and children collect stones and shells to talk about patterns and colour. This provides a unique opportunity for children to learn in a calm space, using natural resources.
• Staff support babies to sing along in a small group. For example, babies become excited when staff begin to sing 'Five little monkeys' and invite them to look inside the bag for a puppet or prop. This supports children's communication and language development.
• Staff engage positively with children and provide a range of fun and exciting activities that promote learning across the curriculum. For example, children in the toddler room are taught to cut different types of fruit using safety knives. Staff plan this experience to provide opportunities for children to practise their fine motor skills, talk about the different types of fruit and explore their likes and dislikes.
• Leaders have worked hard to develop positive relationships within the local community. Children enjoy staff taking them on 'kindness walks' where they visit local shops and deliver handmade gifts, including decorated Christmas baubles. This provides them with a sense of belonging and supports them with a really good understanding of the wider world.
• Staff provide opportunities for children to develop mathematical skills, including counting and sorting, both indoors and outside. For example, the water tray and play dough are used to introduce mathematical concepts such as volume, size and measure. However, not all staff consistently use opportunities to extend children's learning in this area of the curriculum.
• Staff and children sit and eat together at snack and mealtimes. Staff are excellent role models, and conversations are relaxed. The menu provided is healthy, and robust processes are in place to support children with allergies or special requirements. Children also enjoy talking to the kitchen staff. This means children enjoy mealtimes and are developing positive eating habits.
• Parents are extremely happy with the care their children receive. They share how they are kept up to date with their child's progress and what they will learn next. Parents access the free coat and shoe swap in the reception area when needed. This makes families feel valued and encourages them to approach staff with any support needs they may have.
• Staff feel well supported by leaders. They regularly attend training to improve their knowledge and understanding of all aspects of the curriculum. For example, staff complete training on baby yoga, beach school for the toddler and pre-school children, and also managing allergies. Staff make good use of the knowledge gained through training and apply this to their practice.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• enhance opportunities for children to develop their understanding of mathematics.