Kiddiecare Nurseries

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children happily arrive and quickly engage in activities that staff thoughtfully arrange for children to explore. Children confidently leave their parents on arrival and go with staff into the nursery. The key-person system works well and ensures that children feel safe and secure, ready to begin their learning. Staff are positive role models, who are calm and reassuring towards children. They encourage children to keep trying. For example, when children learn to use scissors, staff support them with handling the equipment correctly. When children struggle, staff use encouraging words to help children to persevere until they succeed. Children happily share their achievements with staff.

Children love to play and use their senses to explore. They learn about winter and the cold weather, such as by exploring ice cubes in a large tray. Children use small hammers to break down the ice to discover animals inside. As the ice melts, staff add food colouring to the water to create further interest for children. Children use pipettes to fill containers with pink water and exclaim, 'I love this', as the containers fill up.

The manager has high expectations for her staff to deliver an ambitious curriculum for every child. Children have access to good-quality teaching and make good progress. Staff plan for children individually, including those children who speak English as an additional language (EAL), children who are disadvantaged and children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, so they can reach their full potential. As a result of staff's effective planning, children behave well and have a good attitude to their learning.

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

• The manager and her leadership team have worked tirelessly since the last inspection to make the necessary changes to improve. All staff have a sound knowledge of the signs and symptoms to safeguard children. They know to whom to report if they have concerns about a child or if an allegation is made against a member of staff. The curriculum has been strengthened to ensure that staff teach all children what they need to know and learn. Staff observe and assess children so that their individual needs and interests are at the forefront of their teaching.
• The manager has an open-door policy and is present in the nursery to oversee staff's teaching practice. She ensures that regular supervision with staff addresses their training needs, strengths and well-being. Staff appreciate the support they receive. The manager and staff have received additional training to enhance their knowledge of good teaching.
• Children build their communication and language skills well. Staff talk with children during their play. They model language and use props to support children's understanding. Staff use regular reading times and song times to help children to build on their vocabulary through routines, which they know and follow well. Children enjoy a mix of having a story read to them and freely choosing a book to snuggle up with on cushions to relax after their meal. They handle books with care. Children, including those who speak EAL, learn to be effective communicators.
• Children learn to play cooperatively with one another. Staff are positive role models who speak to children with respect. As a result, children demonstrate kindness towards their friends. They take turns when they build a tower with blocks and bricks. Children negotiate the type of tower they will build and which blocks to use. During role play in the pretend kitchen, they play alongside one another as they prepare their pretend meals using pots, pans and real vegetables. They create their own play using their imaginations.
• Children learn independence skills from a young age. They learn how to put on their coats before they go out to play. Children serve themselves at lunchtime from sharing bowls. Staff give them choices in their play. This helps to build children's confidence and prepares them for school.
• Parents speak highly of the nursery and appreciate the regular updates they receive about their child's development. They say staff are kind and nurturing towards their children.
• Children build their physical skills through various learning opportunities. Babies explore play dough, which they roll and squeeze, building their fine motor skills. Older children enthusiastically engage in their exercise routine in the covered area outside. They do star jumps, make large arm movements and stretch to build their balance and coordination. However, staff provide fewer opportunities for children to run or climb to strengthen their gross motor skills further.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• strengthen the curriculum for physical development to ensure that children have a wide range of opportunities for physical activity.