Kiddy Academy Wavertree

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children enter this warm and friendly nursery happy and excited to begin their day. They hang their coats up and confidently wave goodbye to their parents. Staff are attentive to children's needs. For example, when young children become upset, staff provide reassuring cuddles. This supports children to feel safe and secure. Children demonstrate a positive attitude to learning. For example, they persevere when learning how to cut using scissors. Staff show patience as they support children to develop new skills. Staff are positive role models to children. They demonstrate kindness and remind children to say 'thank you' when appropriate. As a result, children display good manners and form friendships with peers.

The nursery's curriculum is embedded throughout the nursery. Staff assess all children's capabilities and use additional resources to support their learning. All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, make progress in their learning. Leaders have used additional funding, such as early years pupil premium, to enrich children's education and experiences. For example, children have visited the farm to feed the animals. These opportunities give children first-hand experiences with nature. The nursery also provides extra-curricular opportunities, such as physical education lessons. This supports children's physical development.

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

• The nursery has designed a bespoke curriculum that covers all areas of learning and development. The curriculum is well sequenced to ensure children learn skills in a particular order before moving on to their next stage of learning. However, leaders and staff do not teach children to keep themselves safe when using digital technology and the internet. This does not fully support children to develop an understanding of hazards that the internet may pose.
• Partnership working is a strength of the nursery. Staff share information with other professionals and attend meetings to support children's next steps. Staff also work in partnership with other settings that children attend. They receive and share information regularly about children's care and development. This two-way flow of communication helps to provide a consistent approach for children's learning.
• Overall, staff promote children's independence well. Children are becoming confident in skills such as putting on their own coats. Older children are encouraged to manage their toileting needs, with staff on hand to support. However, there are some minor inconsistencies between staff when encouraging children to learn about personal hygiene. For example, not all staff encourage children to wash their hands after wiping their noses. This does not help to support children's understanding of how to stop the spread of germs.
• Communication and language are at the heart of the nursery's curriculum. Staff read stories and sing familiar songs and rhymes with children. Older children develop their imagination and speaking skills as they create their own stories using 'story stones' for prompts. The nursery has trained all staff to provide early interventions to any children who need additional support. This means they have seen a large decline in children who need further referrals to other professionals.
• Staff ensure that the nursery rules are embedded. They regularly remind children of the rules, such as no running indoors. Children's positive behaviour and achievements are celebrated well. For example, when children help to tidy up, staff put their names on the 'proud cloud' and praise the children. Children demonstrate a good understanding of the expectations and behave well.
• Leaders are dedicated to the staff team. They are keen to upskill all staff and provide a programme of ongoing training. Staff report good levels of support from leaders. They feel valued and appreciated in their role. As a result, there is a positive and happy environment for children to learn and develop.
• Parents are happy with the care and education their children receive. They describe the nursery as 'home from home'. Staff share information, such as children's next steps, with parents. This enables parents to continue their children's learning at home.
• Children's mathematical development is supported well. Staff incorporate mathematics into play and planned activities. For example, when children are exploring bugs in the garden, staff talk to them about the size of worms. This helps children to develop age-appropriate mathematical skills.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• provide opportunities in the curriculum to extend children's awareness of online safety
• support staff to follow handwashing routines consistently to fully support children's healthy lifestyles.