Ladybirds Day Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are warmly welcomed into the setting. They settle quickly and are eager to begin their learning. Staff develop close relationships with children and children thoroughly enjoy spending time with them. Staff value children and listen attentively. They communicate with children respectfully. Children are thoroughly engaged with their learning. There is strong teamwork within the setting and staff focus on helping the younger children with their social skills. Staff support children to share. They teach children how to use the sand timer so that they can learn when it is another child's turn. Children are well behaved, polite, and friendly. They help each other without always being prompted and enjoy participating in group activities.

Staff have a firm understanding of what they want children to learn at the setting. They offer an ambitious learning programme so that children make good progress. The manager meets children and families as they arrive and she shares information between parents and staff. This helps to ensure that children's needs can be met. Staff quickly identify when children may be delayed with their development and provide specific support to help them to catch up. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are fully included within the setting. They make good progress against their starting points and their achievements are celebrated with their parents.

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

• Staff support children's communication and language well. They introduce and model new words. Children get absorbed in stories that staff read to them and there is lots of singing throughout the day. The setting promotes reading at home by sending home appropriate and engaging storybooks and games. Children, including those who speak English as an additional language, make good progress with their language development.
• Staff provide resources that require dexterity and concentration to help children to develop their physical skills. Children roll, pinch and squeeze dough and make hedgehogs with clay. Outside, children enjoy moving larger crates and planks of wood to create houses and obstacle courses. Staff keep children safe and help them to assess risks in the outside area themselves. This helps children to learn how to keep themselves safe.
• Staff provide varied activities to enhance children's knowledge of the world around them. Children learn about Australia. They learn about the animals that live there and develop their knowledge of boomerangs and clothes that are worn. Staff support children to count in their everyday interactions with them. Children also play with different-shaped dough cutters, and they sort and match items.
• Children from all backgrounds benefit from the wide range of learning opportunities available. They get to experience learning that they may not otherwise have access to. For example, staff arrange for children to explore exotic animals and watch chicks hatch. Children also learn about famous artists by creating their own Picasso-inspired artworks.
• The routine in the setting helps children to feel emotionally safe. They know what is going to happen next and this leads to a calm atmosphere. Staff use the routine to promote independence. Children are encouraged to dress themselves and wash their own hands. However, the routine in the toddler room is not always managed effectively, which can overwhelm children. Lunchtime is a calm and social opportunity, which helps children to develop personal hygiene skills.
• There are good partnerships with parents. Parents comment on how much their children enjoy their time in the setting. Staff share information with parents about their child's achievement that day and work with parents to support toilet training. Children's lives and community are reflected in books and photos that are placed around the setting. This helps children to respect the diversity of people around them.
• Leaders support staff to develop their knowledge and skills. Staff feel very well supported in the setting. Leaders have adapted the supervision process to ensure that new staff members get the support they need. Leaders also regularly attend training and events to update their own knowledge. They reflect on the quality of the setting, continually seeking to improve the quality of care and education that they provide.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• develop the routines in the toddler room to support children to be fully engaged.