Hungry Caterpillar Day Nurseries - Chalfont St Peter

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children arrive eagerly at the nursery and are greeted warmly by enthusiastic staff, who offer encouragement and cuddles to any children who are unsettled. They form strong bonds with staff, which helps them to feel safe and secure. Children's behaviour is good. They show a good attitude to learning and a willingness to give things a go. Staff are good role models. They use manners and gentle reminders for children, such as using 'kind hands' and 'indoor voices'. Staff plan engaging activities for children based on what they know about them. Pre-school children enjoy making bread with their friends. Staff encourage them to manipulate the dough in different ways, such as by rolling and cutting it. Staff extend this activity by measuring ingredients, which helps children to make progress in their mathematical knowledge. Overall, staff encourage children to be independent. They offer them lots of praise as they try to do things for themselves, helping to build their sense of responsibility effectively. For example, children put on their coats for outdoor play and make choices in their play. Staff provide opportunities to enhance physical development well. Toddler-aged children are keen to show the skills they have learned. For example, children joined in with each other to hop, jump and move in different ways.

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

• The managers have a clear vision for providing high-quality care and learning for children. They have designed a curriculum that is broad and that has been well thought out. This is also based on their knowledge of what children already know and can do. However, children are not always consistently supported to learn what staff intend them to. Staff sometimes lose sight of the learning intentions of some activities and routine experiences.
• Staff support children's physical development well. Babies practise walking and moving about with equipment in the garden. Older children run around outside with staff encouraging their imaginations. They dig in the soil and navigate space on bikes. Children's overall well-being is considered effectively.
• The nursery is clean and well maintained, and good cleaning routines are in place to maintain a hygienic environment. Staff teach children the importance of handwashing routines to support healthy lifestyles. The nursery provides freshly prepared meals every day according to children's dietary needs.
• The efficient management team monitors the quality of the nursery effectively to identify and make continuous improvements. This includes providing a programme of training for the staff team. The nursery has most recently improved experiences for children to engage in their learning outside.
• Staff focus on supporting children with their communication and language skills. Overall, they interact with children well. Staff support babies to develop their early speaking skills and teach them to use sign language to help communicate their needs. They introduce pre-school children to new vocabulary as they extend and challenge them during their play. Staff support children's love of books, and children enjoy music and singing. Younger children enthusiastically do the actions, showing obvious enjoyment as they sing their chosen songs with staff.
• Parent partnerships are strong. There is ongoing communication with parents through the online app and in person. This helps to promote a consistent approach to meeting children's individual needs. Parents speak highly about the nursery and comment on the progress their children make, saying that they are 'making good progress' at the nursery.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• support staff to develop the already good-quality teaching, to help extend children's learning during the implementation of the curriculum.