Ladybirds Nursery School

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children excitedly leave their parents and happily enter the nursery. Children have developed secure and trusting relationships with staff and other children. Staff have created a calm and nurturing environment, where children feel relaxed and content, allowing them to feel safe and secure. Children are extremely happy, confident and independent when exploring their environment, choosing where and what they want to play with. Staff implement the curriculum well, which supports all children to develop their skills. All children make good progress in their learning.

Children's behaviour is good and they understand the nursery 'golden rules'. Children learn to share, take turns and talk about how they feel. Staff form positive relationships with children and offer lots of praise to boost children's self-esteem. This has a positive impact on children's confidence, behaviour and attitudes towards learning.

Children have access to a secure outdoor play area. They learn about the world around them as they hunt for snails and slugs. They concentrate intently looking around the garden and explain to each other where they might be hiding. Staff use good questioning skills and interactions to help children learn about living things.

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

• Staff know the children well and plan for their individual next steps, enabling them to continually strengthen their knowledge. Staff know what skills children have already learned, and what they would like to teach them next. They obtain key information about the children through discussions with parents. Staff complete regular observations and assessments on the children. They use this information to help understand and better meet individual children's needs.
• Staff help children to develop their language and communication skills. Staff talk to children throughout the day and make good use of activities, songs and stories. For example, staff create excitement reading 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar' story. Children readily recall the story, some words and anticipate the next page. This helps children to develop a love of books and literacy.
• Children develop imaginations and creativity by exploring sensory materials. For example, children enjoy making 'ice creams' from shaving foam and cornflakes. Staff extend and challenge children's understanding of mathematical concepts by introducing simple addition and subtraction through these creative activities.
• Children benefit from a good mix of self-chosen play and adult-led activities. Overall, they are motivated learners. However, on occasion, children lose focus when some planned activities continue for too long. In addition, they are sometimes unable to join in as there are not enough resources set out for all of those who want to take part. At these times, some children do not benefit fully from the intended learning.
• Staff provide good support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and children who speak English as an additional language. They understand the variety of ways in which children learn and can identify when a different process needs to be implemented. The special educational needs coordinator works very closely with the children, the parents and other professionals to put in place personalised strategies and achievable targets for children to work towards. They monitor each child's progress extremely closely and make prompt referrals to external agencies and professionals, allowing children to gain any extra support they need.
• The manager and staff have built successful partnerships with parents. Parents speak highly of the nursery and staff, describing the 'family' feel, and commenting that staff get to know their children well. Staff communicate regularly with parents and keep them well informed of their children's development.
• The owner/manager is enthusiastic about their nursery and development of staff. Staff speak positively about how leaders support them personally and professionally. Staff effectively use the views of other professionals to help enhance their skills and continue to make improvements to the setting.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• strengthen the planning and implementation of adult-led activities to enhance all children's opportunities to learn.