Little Hands Nursery School - Bourn

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are happy and safe. They thrive in this warm and friendly setting. Children clearly enjoy attending, as they confidently separate from their parents and carers on arrival. Children are quick to settle in to the activities provided. They are motivated and eager to explore and learn. Children concentrate on their chosen activities and celebrate their achievements. For example, children concentrate intensely as they replicate a staff member's demonstration of rolling dough between their fingers and thumb to create toppings for their creations. They gush with pride when successful and are eager to share what they have created with visitors. Children develop their own ideas and ways of doing things. For instance, they use large flower heads and water for mark making in the garden. All children make good progress, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

Children behave well and are kind to others. Staff support children to know what is expected of them. For instance, they give notice to children during transition times throughout the day and provide sand timers as a visual assistance. Children understand routines and follow instructions well. Staff support children to interact with others and develop their confidence in social situations.

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

• The manager and staff give good consideration to the physical environment along with the presentation of, and access to, resources to motivate children to play and explore. For instance, children repeatedly transport chalk to the water tray, where they dip the chalk to create pastes for mark making. An outdoor library is situated next to the playhouse, to allow children a quiet space to share stories with their friends. Staff interact well with children and comment on their play. However, staff do not always strengthen and challenge children's understanding and knowledge. For example, when supporting children's understanding of concepts, such as sinking and floating.
• The manager understands the importance of building children's communication and language skills. Staff provide smaller focused group activities to support children's listening and attention skills. Staff talk to children during activities, sing rhymes and engage them in stories, using puppets. However, at times, during small group activities, staff allow some children to dominate and shout out answers to questions. This means that quieter children do not have the chance to share their thoughts and what they know.
• The staff give excellent consideration to supporting children's understanding of being healthy. Children enjoy healthy and nutritious meals and snacks. Staff sit with children and discuss the benefits of different food types at mealtimes. Children have plenty of opportunity to develop their large-muscle skills and engage in energetic outdoor play. Staff interact well with children. They are playful and engaging in their approach, which helps to ensure children are motivated in their learning
• Children's behaviour is good. Staff know children well and incorporate strategies to help support children to take turns. For instance, staff provide children with sand timers to help them take turns to drive their imaginary coach. When issues arise, staff calmly discuss feelings and support children to resolve issues for themselves.
• Staff feel very well supported in their roles. They benefit from purposeful supervision meetings and observations of their practice. The manager and staff team reflect on their provision to identify areas for improvement. They focus on constantly evolving the environment to increase children's learning experiences. This helps to ensure that children receive good-quality care and education. The manager ensures staff are offered training opportunities to help develop their practice.
• Partnership with parents is good. Staff provide regular updates on children's development including suggestions for support at home. Parents comment that staff are very supportive, caring and nurturing. Staff talk with parents about the move onto school or when children might need extra help to learn. They make sure that support and teaching helps all children, including those who have SEND, to make the best progress possible.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• support staff to make the most of teachable moments in order to extend children's learning
• improve small group activities so that all children have equal opportunities to join in and express their ideas.