Howe Dell Day Care

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children enjoy their time at this welcoming day care. They form good relationships with the kind and caring staff. Children confidently ask staff for help when they need it. Babies snuggle into staff's laps for reassurance and comfort. This shows children feel safe and secure. Children develop positive friendships with their peers. This enables children to develop their social skills, which will support their future development and learning. For example, children often engage in role-play games. They build rockets together and count down from 10. They giggle with delight as they shout 'blast-off!'. This shows children are happy, and as a result, their behaviour is good.

Children have plenty of opportunities to build and develop their physical skills. For example, staff introduce a climbing frame indoors to challenge babies' physical development. Outside, older children learn to climb, balance and jump from challenging equipment. The large outdoor play areas provide children with a wealth of opportunities. For example, children spend time in the school allotment, where they help to grow vegetables. They learn about nature as they go for walks through the woods. Staff encourage children to listen to the sounds around them, such as birds in the trees. This helps children to learn about the world in which they live.

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

• Leaders and managers are passionate about what they do. They are proactive in working with other agencies to support all children to make good progress. For example, they seek advice and additional support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Additional funding is also used to support children who receive early years pupil premium.
• Staff report that they feel well supported and benefit from regular supervision meetings with leaders and managers. They appreciate the support they receive towards their ongoing training and professional development.
• Leaders and managers design a curriculum that sequences children's learning. Staff identify children's next steps of learning and plan activities for them. For example, staff expose children to books and stories through related activities, such as explorative sensory trays. However, leaders and managers recognise that further support for some staff is required to help raise the quality of teaching to a consistently high level.
• Staff promote children's independence well. Children are confident and are willing to 'have a go' with encouragement from staff. For example, young children learn to skilfully flip their coats over their heads to put them on themselves. Older children pour their own drinks at snack time. They independently wipe their own noses and know to put the tissue in the bin and wash their hands afterwards. Babies learn to use cutlery to independently feed themselves.
• Staff encourage children to gain awareness of materials and texture. Younger children enjoy exploring sand and shaving foam. Older children make pancakes with malleable dough and glitter. Staff support children's awareness of diversity and the wider world. They plan learning activities around celebrations and festivals, such as Chinese New Year.
• Children become confident communicators at this day care. Staff make good use of singing and nursery rhymes to widen children's vocabulary. For example, children warm up their voices before they sing. During group time, children show their 'weekend books' to their peers. Staff ask questions to extend children's recall of their past experiences.
• Staff take full advantage of the close connections the day care have with the school in which they are based. For example, children spend time visiting the classrooms and outdoor areas. The headteacher is passionate in her role to oversee the day care, and works closely with the managers. As a result, children are well prepared to move on to school.
• Strong parental partnerships are in place. Parents are highly complimentary about the care their children receive. Staff use a variety of methods to keep parents informed about their child's care and learning. These include daily conversations, parents' meetings and electronic communications. They appreciate the genuine care and guidance staff provide. Parents say they feel involved in their children's learning and can see the positive progress their children make.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• support staff to develop the quality of teaching even more so they are able to enhance the curriculum provided and extend children's learning further.