Little Angels

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children happily explore the environment and they become deeply engaged in their play. They choose from a range of well-planned learning opportunities which are based on their interests. Children demonstrate a positive attitude to their learning and they take pride in their achievements. They are well supported by dedicated, capable staff who know the children very well and meet their individual needs effectively. Children benefit from targeted support when staff identify areas for development. The setting is ambitious for all children and has a highly inclusive approach. The manager is keen for children to develop knowledge and to learn what makes each individual unique. All children make very good progress from their starting points.

Children are well behaved and responsive to the adults who care for them with kindness and respect. Staff skilfully teach them to share with their friends as they play together. Staff and children have warm and trusting relationships, which helps children to feel safe and secure. Children develop independence and they learn to take good care of themselves. For instance, older children put on their own shoes before going outside and young children feed themselves using forks with good dexterity.

The setting has very strong links with the local primary school and staff promote school readiness. This helps to prepare children with the necessary skills and knowledge for later learning. Parents are extremely happy with the progress their children make at the setting and report how the manager and her staff 'go above and beyond' to support their children.

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

• The setting values the children's ideas and opinions. They have recently introduced a role-play construction site outside, following the children's request. Children thoroughly enjoy 'working' as they plan and build using tools and bricks. They demonstrate good mathematical understanding as they count, measure and estimate. Children explain which of the tools are 'dangerous' and the safety measures they take to keep themselves safe. For example, they wear safety glasses when operating the toy cement mixer.
• Children are physically active in their play and they are supported to take appropriate risks. For example, young children delight in riding wheeled toys down a long slope in the garden. Older children wear reflective jackets on trips out of the setting and demonstrate a good understanding of how they make them more visible.
• Children's communication skills are very well supported by staff, who role model language extremely well. They have wonderful conversations with children as they play, asking questions and giving children time to think and respond. They introduce new vocabulary, such as 'stomp' and 'spikes', when reading books with young children. Older children explain the meaning of words such as 'bacteria', showing good levels of understanding. Staff read stories to children in an engaging way. However, at times, some children miss story time as they are instructed to wash their hands for lunch before the story is finished.
• The setting has established excellent partnerships with parents. They share important information about children's development with parents and regularly invite them to share their views. Parents think very highly of the setting and describe how much they value the impact it has on their children. The setting encourages parent participation, inviting them to share their experiences with the children. For instance, a parent who is a dentist came in to talk to the children about oral hygiene.
• Staff are well trained and the manager makes regular observations to give staff constructive feedback, helping to maintain a high level of teaching. Generally, staff are well deployed to support children in their learning. However, at times, children are not engaged in learning as they wait for snack for longer than necessary, for instance.
• The manager of the setting is passionate about the provision. She is highly knowledgeable and she cares deeply about the children and her staff team. She has a strong commitment to teach children to be considerate citizens. Children are learning to care for each other, to understand diversity and to look after the environment.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• ensure story time is uninterrupted to enable all children to benefit
• consider the organisation of group activities so that children are not waiting for longer than necessary.