Little Explorers Mansfield LTD

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Leaders have successfully created a home-from-home approach at this friendly and caring nursery. Staff are extremely knowledgeable about the children they care for. They develop strong relationships with parents, which helps support children's development. Parents share children's activities and interests at home, which contributes to children's learning. For example, a child who helped to change a tyre on the family car then developed an interest in vehicles. Staff then supported the child by providing a range of toy cars to play with and introducing new vocabulary such as 'roundabout'.

Leaders make sure that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are supported very effectively. Staff have high expectations for what all children can achieve. They develop individual next steps in learning tailored to each child's stage of development. This helps staff and leaders to monitor the progress children make.

Children are developing all the skills they need to move on to the next stage in their education. Staff support children to be kind and courteous to their friends. Children from a young age develop positive attitudes to learning. Babies show great affection for staff and reach out for cuddles and reassurance during their play. Parents are highly appreciative of the care that staff show for their children.

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

• Leaders and staff plan and design a curriculum which helps children to make progress in all areas of learning. During the inspection, staff explained to children the importance of VE day in an age-appropriate way. This helps children to make links with what they already know about soldiers and aspects of history. Children are developing a curiosity about the world around them and broadening their knowledge through the experiences the curriculum offers them.
• Staff focus on developing children's communication and language skills effectively. They model language and introduce new words for children to learn and use in their play. Outside, older children sit and chat to each other about their pretend food delivery service using toy vehicles. Children are becoming confident communicators.
• The key-person system is highly effective. Staff take time to get to know children and their families well. Staff understand the individual characteristics of the children they care for. For children with SEND in particular, this insight helps staff to plan a curriculum tailored to each child's needs. Staff support children and their families to work with other professionals. Strong relationships between staff, children and their families help children to thrive at the nursery.
• Staff support children to become increasingly independent. Babies are encouraged to feed themselves. Staff model new language to babies as they show them how to 'scoop' their jacket potato at lunchtime. Older children manage their own toileting needs and put on their coats before going outside. Children develop an increasing maturity as they are encouraged to think and plan for themselves during their play.
• Children are developing good listening and attention skills. They respond positively when staff ask them to help tidy up in the toddler room. Children enjoy the added responsibility that this brings them. They listen attentively to staff requests and follow instructions well. Staff support children to manage their behaviour effectively.
• All staff feel very well supported by leaders. Staff comment that there is an 'open door policy' at the nursery, which means they can always speak to leaders if they need to. Leaders manage staff workload well and help staff with the routines of the day to allow them to have appropriate breaks. Leaders and staff work together as a team highly effectively.
• Leaders continue to reflect on their practice and make changes where needed. They recognise that planning and delivering group activities for children could be strengthened. During the inspection, some children were not as focused as others during story sessions. This limited opportunities for them to benefit from the planned learning. Leaders understand the nursery's strengths and weaknesses accurately. They use this information to drive further improvement.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• strengthen the impact of group activities by ensuring the planning and delivery of sessions accurately meets the needs of the children.