Little Hands Pre-School Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

All children receive a good quality of education. Key persons establish positive relationships with the whole family and get to know the children well. Staff plan appropriate next steps in learning that build on what children already know and can do. They use their interactions to support children to achieve. They are effective in engaging with other professionals when needed, making referrals to external services and signposting parents to support from other professionals. Strategies are in place to support children and families who speak English as an additional language. This helps to ensure that all children receive the support that they need so they can make the best possible progress in relation to their individual starting points.

Staff are positive in their interactions with children. They are polite and respectful to them and are good role models. Children play well with each other and have formed friendships. They are kind, considerate, and polite to one another. Staff have implemented positive behaviour strategies. They encourage children to share and take turns, offering support and suggestions when required. Children seek out the staff if they require support with their social interactions. Staff praise children consistently when they behave positively.

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

• Leaders and staff have worked hard since the last inspection to implement the required changes. Staff have been supported through training and staff meetings to meet the actions raised at the last inspection. As a result, they have increased their knowledge of all aspects of safeguarding, which has helped in keeping children safe from harm. Leaders are now aware of their responsibilities regarding the data protection requirements.
• Positive changes have been made to the way staff promote children's communication and language skills. Children are given opportunities to develop these skills through stories and singing. Staff provide a narrative as children play and introduce new words, such as 'blossom' ,and explain their meaning. Staff provide information and use explanations to develop children's understanding of different concepts. They ask some questions to extend children's learning. However, these questions do not always encourage children to verbalise their own thoughts and understanding.
• Children are well supported in learning to be independent. At snack time, children are provided with child-sized jugs so they can pour their own drinks successfully. Additionally, they are taught to wash up their own bowls and cups, wipe their own noses, and wash their hands. Children are encouraged to ask for help if they need support with these tasks. They are praised for both their efforts and achievements. This helps children learn important skills for the future.
• Staff provide activities that develop children's physical skills. They develop their large motor skills by playing ball games and parachute games. Their fine motor skills are promoted during activities such as play dough. Daily activities are used to teach children how to keep themselves healthy. For example, oral hygiene is explored through play. Healthy eating is discussed with the children at lunchtime.
• There is a strong partnership with parents. Parents speak positively about the setting. Staff are aware of the needs of the individual families. This allows them to support children and families appropriately. Parents are kept fully up to date regarding their child's development and are kept informed about how best to support their children's learning at home. They are given information about children's development, for example, the impact on older children's speech development when using dummies. This helps to establish a consistent approach to supporting children's learning.
• Staff are well supported by the leaders and each other both personally and professionally. They value the support they receive. Effective supervision and coaching methods are in place to help staff make continual improvements to their practice. Staff strengths and interests are considered when they are given additional roles within the setting. Effective methods of communication are in place across the staff team, this helps the sessions run smoothly. Leaders direct staff practice as required throughout the day. Staff morale is high and teamwork is effective. This means that children are cared for by happy and motivated staff.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• support staff to strengthen their questioning techniques to promote children's thinking and communication skills.