Jelly Tots Nursery (goole) Ltd

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children receive a warm welcome from staff when they arrive at the nursery. They enthusiastically join their friends, eager to start playing in the bright and stimulating playrooms. Resources are arranged so that children can make independent choices about their play, both inside and in the outdoor areas. Children make good progress from their starting points. This is because staff know the children extremely well. As a result, activities are carefully planned to help each child to achieve their next steps in learning. Children's interests are reflected in the range of resources and play opportunities provided. For example, children who are starting to speak in short sentences are highly engaged, using resources to retell a familiar story. They giggle as they try to blow down the bricks like the 'big, bad wolf'. Skilful questioning from staff supports children to repeat phrases from the story.

Children behave extremely well. They are polite and helpful. Children are encouraged to share and to take turns as they play alongside their friends. They also welcome staff to join them in their play. There is a lovely buzz of activity throughout the nursery. The strong attachments between the children and their key person support children's emotional well-being. Staff speak to children with kindness and respect.

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

• The whole staff team has worked extremely hard since the last inspection to develop the curriculum they provide. As a result, they have clearly identified what they want children to learn at the different stages of their development. This is used to shape the resources and opportunities provided in each of the rooms. There is a consistent approach to supporting children's learning throughout the nursery. Babies, who are starting to pull themselves up, can safely develop their muscles on the soft-play equipment. Older children, interested in vehicles, make progress in their mathematics as they recognise numerals and match these to the correct number of cars.
• Considerable emphasis is placed on supporting children to become confident communicators. Staff speak to children clearly. They repeat what children are trying to say so that they can hear the correct pronunciation. Older children remember some of the vocabulary they have been introduced to in previous activities. For example, they describe the life cycle of butterflies and use the word 'cocoon'.
• Children new to the nursery are supported exceptionally well. Detailed information is collected from their parents during settling-in sessions. This is used by staff to plan activities to interest children during their first few days. For example, babies are given musical instruments to explore because this is something parents say they like to do at home. Staff carefully observe the children as they discover the learning environment. This helps them to identify and plan further activities based on children's needs and interests.
• Mealtimes are very sociable. Older children sit at tables with the staff. They serve themselves with nutritious food, helped by staff to use tongs and serving spoons, when needed. Children pour their own milk or water. In the baby room children who can do so successfully feed themselves. They beam with pride as staff praise them for doing so well. Sometimes children must sit and wait too long at mealtimes. Although they wait very patiently, opportunities to maximise their learning are not always consistently developed.
• Children benefit from regular visits in the local community. Younger children travel safely in specially designed 'buses' pushed by staff. Managers are keen to ensure that children are given opportunities they may not always get at home. There are 'welcome greetings' in the nursery entrance in a range of community languages. However, in the playrooms, there are few opportunities for children to see their home languages and cultures represented.
• Partnerships with parents are an important part of the nursery's ethos. Parents are invited to regular meetings with their child's key person. Leaders and managers place a great deal of emphasis on promoting the emotional well-being of the staff team. Staff say they feel extremely valued and appreciate the support they receive. They have access to a wide range of different training opportunities. The nursery has also welcomed the support received from the local authority.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• develop the organisation of snacks and mealtimes so that children are fully engaged throughout
• provide more opportunities for children to celebrate and share with others their home languages and cultural experiences.