Kangaroo Pouch Day Nursery At Hateley Heath

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

All children enjoy daily outdoor play and fresh air at this inviting nursery. Drinking water is readily available, and staff prompt young children to stay hydrated. Staff create cosy and calm areas for rest and sleeping. They regularly monitor sleeping children, and bedding is individually washed. Staff know the children well, and there are clear bonds between them. As a result, children are happy, settled and enjoy their time in nursery.

Staff are kind and warm towards children. They gently implement rules and boundaries. Staff give children lots of choice and respect their opinions. Children are learning to share and take turns. Staff support children to resolve minor conflicts. They are gaining skills of negotiation and working with others. Children show kindness towards each other. This supports them to build important relationships with other children.

Staff make good use of songs and stories to support children's communication and language. Staff working with young babies speak slowly and clearly. They use actions as they sing. Staff encourage children to repeat any new words. Staff support children who speak English as an additional language with some basic sign language. They also use pictures to help them choose different nursery rhymes and understand what is happening next. As a result, children make steady progress with their language from their various starting points.

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

• Leaders design a broad and varied curriculum that builds on children's skills and knowledge as they transition through each room. Staff plan exciting trips in the community, like to the local zoo. This provides rich experiences for all children to enjoy and helps them to learn about the world around them. Staff carefully consider any risks they might face during outings, which helps to keep children safe.
• Leaders monitor staff practice effectively and provide constructive feedback. They regularly model teaching and provide training to any staff that need it. The overall quality of education is good. Staff often plan activities based on children's interests. However, sometimes staff do not use information gathered from observation and assessment to sharply focus activities around what children need to learn next. This means there are times when children are not working towards closing the gaps they have in their knowledge. Despite this, children demonstrate a positive attitude towards learning. They are eager to participate and excitedly anticipate the routines of the day.
• Leaders are responsive to the needs of their staff, and they recognise the demands of their workload. Staff say that they feel well supported in their roles.
• They comment that leaders are approachable, and they feel their well-being is a priority. Staff are comfortable to raise any concerns and follow safeguarding procedures. This breeds a happy team that works well together.
• Areas are bright, safe and inviting. Work around the nursery is clearly that of the children. Staff gather valuable information from parents before children start. They use this information to get to know the children's likes and interests. Staff regularly assess children's progress. They share information with parents via an online platform. However, details about what children are working towards next is not always known to parents. This means parents cannot focus the support they provide at home.
• Mealtimes are sociable. Children from different age groups join together to eat. Staff encourage all children to be independent. They learn to self-serve their meals from the youngest age. Children successfully scoop and pour with different utensils. Staff closely supervise when children are eating. All dietary requirements are catered for, and allergy management strategies are secure. As a result, children demonstrate good table manners and are being well prepared for their next stage in learning.
• There is an effective key-person system that ensures all children are provided with stability, which helps them to build positive relationships and gain confidence. Staff are good role models and prompt manners. They are responsive to children and offer cuddles and reassurance if they need it. Consequently, there are noticeable warm and affectionate relationships between staff and children.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• use information gathered from observations and assessments to focus planning and teaching more sharply on what children need to know next
• build on ways to share information with parents about what their child is working towards.