Kids Planet Victoria Hospital

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Staff create a nursery where children are happy and eager to attend. The transition into nursery from home is seamless. Staff gather information about the child, which helps to build positive partnerships with parents. Staff plan settling-in sessions to focus on the well-being of both children and parents. This allows babies to settle quickly; they are content and happy. Staff spend time creating strong attachments, and babies feel safe and secure.

Leaders create an ambitious curriculum that meets the needs of children. Staff support children to use their senses as they explore pumpkins. Staff talk to children about the different textures as they scoop out the contents together. Children decide they would like to paint their pumpkin. Staff understand how to follow the children's lead. Children build confidence as they develop their own ideas through self-expression.

Staff have high expectations for children's behaviour. Children listen to them and follow instructions. In addition, children have a strong sense of self and will ask staff for help when needed. Children know that staff value them and respond to their needs. For example, children seek support as they struggle to wash their hands. Staff quickly respond and help them to get some soap. This helps children feel listened to and reduces children's frustrations. Behaviour is very good.

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

• The new manager is well supported by a strong leadership team. Leaders have developed a consistent staff team. They invest in staff and provide them with training, support and coaching. For example, recent training has helped staff to understand the different ways that children learn as they play. Staff are motivated, enthusiastic and well supported by leaders. Staff feel valued within their roles.
• The special educational needs coordinator (SENCo) is highly motivated and enthusiastic. She supports staff to use assessment well to identify any emerging concerns. Close partnership working with parents and professionals has been established. This helps to ensure that all children, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), are well supported.
• Staff know their key children well. They use a recent visit to the zoo and dinosaur trail to build on children's interests. For instance, they introduce dinosaurs into the sand tray. This encourages younger children to use their imagination. They roar loudly as they find a dinosaur hidden in the sand. Staff also use the storybook 'Dear Zoo' to further engage children, who learn to take turns as they wait to lift a flap. This well-sequenced curriculum helps to ignite children's curiosity and supports their ongoing development.
• Staff use the nursery routine well to support children to develop their independence. Older children enjoy serving themselves lunch. They develop important skills as they use a knife and fork to cut up their food. They carefully pour their drinks out from the jug. Children learn important life skills for the future.
• Staff provide lots of opportunity for children to follow their own ideas. Children show enjoyment as they carefully decorate sticks to make a wand. They talk about the glue and sparkles and are praised when they use new words. Children concentrate as they carefully use the glue and show delight when they have finished. Children develop a positive attitude to learning.
• Staff know children's next steps in their learning. They support children well within planned activities, which helps children to learn new, exciting skills. However, at times, during free play, staff do not embrace some chances to embed children's learning further and reinforce their existing knowledge. Regardless, all children make good progress in their learning.
• Parents speak highly of the manager and staff. Children settle quickly into nursery and enjoy coming. Parents state that they receive regular updates on their child's progress and appreciate the personal handover at the end of the day. Parents feel the recent changes at the nursery have been very smooth and express that significant improvements have been made. Parent partnership is strong.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• help staff to recognise opportunities to further support children's individual learning goals during free play.