Kidz Village Nursery & Pre-School

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are greeted with enthusiasm by all the staff when they arrive at this welcoming nursery. They are eager to go and find their friends. Staff prepare a stimulating learning environment for the children. It is arranged effectively to help children to make independent choices about their play. An indoor beach enables children to identify sea creatures, dress up in holiday clothes and build sandcastles. Throughout their play, staff support children's learning as they help them to develop new skills and introduce new vocabulary. Children concentrate as they build towers with wooden blocks, then practise their counting skills. They persevere as staff show them how to roll up and cut play dough.

Children form strong bonds with staff. They receive a great deal of praise and encouragement throughout the day. This helps build their self-esteem and supports their good behaviour. Staff support less confident children to take part in group activities. During song time, they help the quieter children to decide what musical instruments to play and to choose their favourite songs. Outside, children learn how to take turns on the slide and to share their toys. When riding on bicycles and cars, they remember to watch out for the youngest children to make sure they are safe.

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

• A great deal of work has been done since the last inspection to develop the nursery. Managers have involved the whole staff team in the decision-making process. As a result, staff feel valued. They have also been able to access different training opportunities and to benefit from effective supervision and mentoring sessions. This has had a positive impact on the quality of education provided.
• Managers have continued to develop the curriculum, welcoming support from the local authority. Staff have a clear understanding of what they want children to learn at each stage of their development. They plan activities to help children to become inquisitive and confident learners. They explain what they want children to learn, based on their knowledge of each child's next steps. They build on children's interests and use questions extremely effectively to help them to make progress as they play.
• The development of children's communication and language is a major priority. Staff understand how to sequence learning to help children to become confident communicators. They use strategies from specialists to support children who are not making as much progress with their speech as they should. Staff speak to children very clearly, so they can hear the correct pronunciation of words. Sometimes, staff do not consider the volume of their voices, and they can be too loud. This does not always help to create a calm atmosphere, especially when children are tired or unsettled.
• There are many opportunities for children to develop their independence. They learn to put on their coats and shoes. Those who are starting to use the toilet are given good support. At mealtimes, children help to set the table, to pour their own drinks and to clear away. Effective arrangements are in place to help children to be ready to move up to the next room in nursery, or to move on to school.
• Children behave very well. They are learning to follow instructions, such as lining up to go and wash their hands. When children occasionally need to be reminded about what is expected of them, staff carefully explain the reason for this. This helps children to begin to understand rules and boundaries.
• The nursery provides healthy meals and snacks. Those with special dietary needs are catered for well. Children are encouraged to try new foods and beam with delight when they are praised for doing so. They also benefit from plenty of fresh air and exercise. However, times when children move between indoor play and mealtimes, or go outside, are not always well managed. At times, children are deeply engaged in an activity when they are told to tidy up. This sometimes disrupts their learning.
• Parents welcome the information they receive about their children's care and learning on a daily basis. They report that staff are highly approachable and offer helpful advice. Where children have special educational needs and/or disabilities, parents value the nursery's willingness to work with other professionals to meet their children's needs.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• support staff to be mindful of how they model communication and language to children, with particular regard to the volume of their voices
• consider how daily routines can be developed to minimise disruption to children's learning.