Ladybird Nursery Thornsett

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The setting is clean and welcoming. The manager and staff warmly greet the children on their arrival. Children are happy and content at the setting. Settling-in procedures are effective, and children develop secure attachments with their key person. This contributes to children's emotional development. Children have positive relationships with staff. Children demonstrate that they feel safe and secure. They talk to staff about their interests and experiences throughout the day. Staff know the children well and use this information to plan an effective curriculum.

Children are excited to explore the setting. They are motivated learners and enjoy playing with the range of activities provided. Children are confident and show high levels of self-esteem. Children talk to the inspector and share what they like about the setting. They have free-flow access to the garden, and resources are accessible. They put on their coats and shoes to go outdoors. Children negotiate obstacles as they ride on tricycles and bicycles. This helps develop their spatial awareness and large muscles.

Staff have high expectations for all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who speak English as an additional language. Children behave well and show respect to each other. All children make good progress from their starting points and are well-prepared for the next stage of their education.

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

• The manager has a good overview of the setting and monitors the impact of the curriculum on children's progress successfully. She provides effective support and training to help staff develop their professional skills and embed new practices. There is a good team spirit at the setting, and staff feel well supported and valued.
• Children's health and well-being are supported well. For example, babies have space indoors and outdoors to crawl, pull themselves up and practise walking. Older children understand the importance of a healthy lifestyle and a good diet. They understand the difference between healthy and unhealthy food and the effect it has on their body. For example, children talk to staff about how 'too much chocolate can make you sick'. They learn about good dental hygiene and brush their teeth after meals. Children enjoy a range of nutritious home-cooked meals and snacks.
• Staff meet children's care needs well. Nappy changing arrangements are hygienic, and staff wear protective clothing. Staff are respectful of children and ask their permission before carrying out personal care practices. Staff respond to babies' babbles and provide reassurance. This is one of the ways in which staff build strong bonds with babies and support their sense of belonging.
• Staff promote children's communication and language development well. During circle time, babies sit down with staff and sing nursery rhymes related to objects in a box. Babies join in with the actions and movements of the nursery rhymes. During messy play, older children identify sea creatures such as a 'whale', 'shark' and 'dolphin'. However, at times, staff ask closed questions when talking to children, which sometimes limits opportunities to further extend children's language skills and level of understanding.
• Children are provided with a range of opportunities to build on their experiences. They learn about different cultures and languages in the setting through discussions and celebrations. In addition, children visit the local library, parks, shops and a care home for the elderly. This contributes to children's understanding of other people's lives and communities.
• Staff follow a daily routine, and children are aware of the change in activities. Children are told when transitions are happening in the routine. However, transition times are not always organised as well as possible. This leads to children becoming restless and waiting for long periods to continue with their learning.
• Partnership with parents is effective. Staff use oral feedback and an online childcare system to share children's progress and learning. Parents report that communication is effective and that they know what their children learn at the setting. This helps parents extend their children's learning at home. Parents praise staff's caring and nurturing approach, which positively impacts their children.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• use more effective strategies when talking to children to extend their language skills and level of understanding
• refine the organisation of transition times, to further support children's engagement in their learning.