Little Angels Fun Club and Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children thrive in this nurturing and welcoming nursery. They are supported to become confident and enthusiastic learners by the dedicated staff team. There is a wonderful atmosphere in all the rooms as children engage in a wide range of different activities and experiences. These are carefully planned and matched appropriately to children's ages and stages of development. Their curiosity is evident as they learn about a variety of different animals. The youngest children giggle with delight as they gently stroke the ducklings. Two-year-olds are fascinated as they find out about fish, with the help of the nursery chef. They also visit the local pet shop. In the pre-school room children carefully handle a gecko and a snake, while listening to interesting facts about them. Skilful teaching helps children to understand why their stick insects use camouflage to keep themselves safe from predators. The rich variety of opportunities provided supports children to become confident and inquisitive learners.

Children form strong bonds with the staff. There is a clear focus on supporting their personal, social and emotional development. This begins with personalised settling in arrangements where staff gather a wealth of information from parents. This enables children's needs to be met effectively right from the start. Staff always have time to provide a cuddle or words of reassurance to children. They boost their confidence by providing regular praise and encouragement. Children take great pride in being helpful, and they show kindness and consideration towards their friends. Children's behaviour is excellent. Clear and consistent systems are in place to support children who may need some help in regulating their behaviour. This includes different zones to reflect how children are feeling, learning ladders to reward children for positive behaviour and activities designed to help them to calm down ready to learn.

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

• Inspirational leaders and managers lead the large staff team with clear direction. They work with the staff to consider ways for the nursery to develop in the best interests of children. Staff report they feel valued and supported, with regular opportunities for training and development. Leaders have recently had to coordinate the transition of children and staff to the nursery, following the unavoidable closure of one of their other local sites. Every effort has been made to make this process as smooth as possible, and to communicate with parents about any inevitable changes.
• There is a shared curriculum vision throughout the nursery. This is based on a strong understanding of child development. Learning is sequenced effectively so that staff build on what individual children know and can do. Staff teach children new skills, such as holding pulling themselves up to standing or using scissors.
• They then provide opportunities for children to practise and consolidate their learning.
• Staff recognise the importance of supporting children's communication and language. A structured approach is in place so that children are introduced to different sounds and words in a consistent way. Books, rhymes and songs play an important part in developing children's speech and vocabulary. Books available are chosen to reflect children's interests. Children regularly spend time sharing a favourite story with staff or their friends.
• The learning environment in all the rooms, and in the outdoor areas is highly stimulating. Resources have been carefully selected so they provide children with structured opportunities to learn and develop. Staff guide children in their play, to ensure they experience a wide variety of different types of activity. For example, in the large 'Rockets' room, children remain in family groups so that staff who know the children well can support their learning and monitor their progress.
• Support for children with special educational needs and/ or disabilities (SEND) is superb. Staff are vigilant in identifying children who may need additional support. They readily seek guidance from senior staff to determine strategies they can use to help children to make progress. Clear procedures are in place to liaise with parents and involve other professionals, if required. Additional funding is used effectively to support individual children's needs.
• There is a strong focus on supporting older children to be ready to move on to school. Staff introduce daily routines to mirror what children might expect to encounter in school classrooms. This includes registration time and circle time.
• Children thoroughly enjoy the healthy food provided. Special dietary needs are catered for effectively. Mealtimes are highly sociable. Staff sit with children, and encourage babies to feed themselves, and older children to serve their own food. Careful thought has been put into the furniture available in the different rooms, and the cutlery children are given. This means that children gradually acquire new skills.
• Standards of care throughout the nursery are strong. Each child's key person is responsible for ensuring individual needs are met, such as nappy changing and toilet training. Staff are deployed effectively so that children are supervised effectively.
• Parental feedback recognises the strengths of the nursery, including the high levels of care and learning opportunities provided by the staff. Parents value the updates they receive via the nursery app, as well as detailed feedback when they pick their children up. Parents are also extremely grateful for the advice they receive, including from the nursery's family support worker.