Little Grove childcare

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provider and staff spend as long as needed with families to help children settle and to gain a thorough knowledge of their individual needs. They seek extensive information on babies' routines and how to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. As a result, from their first day of being without their parents, all children are happy and emotionally secure.

Staff plan an ambitious curriculum for all children, helping them to develop a positive attitude to learning and become independent. For example, babies make choices, exploring resources that fascinate them. Young children find their own belongings, and staff provide just the right amount of support for children to manage their coat and shoes. Older children set the table, serve meals, pour drinks and manage their personal needs, preparing them well for school.

Recent changes to the provision ensure all children, including babies, have secure, free access to the outdoors. This enables them to learn where they prefer to and be physically active. For example, babies pull themselves up to an activity tray, strengthening their legs for walking. Young children get in and out of ride-in cars and propel themselves around, developing control and coordination. Older children have extra opportunities, such as going swimming, which builds muscle development and their confidence in water, providing an important skill for life.

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

• Leaders have a focused vision for ensuring the highest quality provision for all children and their families. Newly implemented procedures have a highly positive impact on children's experiences. Through regular observation, evaluation and mentoring by the leadership team, staff are becoming empowered to use their knowledge. They already provide consistently good-quality teaching, although they do not always make full use of children's play, to further support their mathematical development.
• Staff confirm they receive dedicated support, training and opportunities to gain higher qualifications. The highly qualified and experienced provider is often in the rooms, being an excellent role model for staff to develop their own practice. Staff work well as a team, ensuring children receive good supervision, care and support for their learning and development.
• Children become confident communicators. Staff consistently implement the curriculum for children's communication and language skills well. For example, they role model the effective use of language, adding vocabulary to extend children's knowledge. They give context to the meaning of words and use singing, stories and repetition so children remember more.
• Children develop a good awareness of the importance of a safe and healthy lifestyle. For example, they learn about oral hygiene through fun activities. They access tissues to wipe their nose, drink water to stay hydrated and enjoy nutritional meals. Staff sensitively support young children in making safe decisions, such as how far to climb, building their confidence to challenge themselves further.
• Staff show children respect and listen and respond well to them. They are gentle and caring, so children develop positive relationships with adults and each other. Regular praise and encouragement from staff help children to feel good about their achievements and want to persevere with new skills.
• Children receive good support to manage their behaviour and feelings. Staff role model with babies and help young children to find alternative resources and older children to consider how to resolve any conflict. However, on occasions, staff do not organise lunchtime effectively, and older children sit waiting too long at the tables. Staff notice that children become restless and engage them in singing, but not all children stay focused.
• The provider meets regularly with senior staff and the whole team to discuss, evaluate and develop their planning. The effective use of observation and assessment means the staff quickly identify where children are not doing as well as they might and take appropriate action to help them to catch up. The provider successfully targets funding to have the greatest impact on children's development.
• This highly inclusive setting keeps parents central to all decisions and ensures parents know how to support their children at home. Parents confirm that the provider goes beyond expectations to support families, particularly those who may face added challenges, to ensure children have the best outcomes.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• review the organisation of mealtimes for older children to further support positive behaviour
• focus staff development on providing stronger support for children's understanding and use of numbers as they play.