Little Monkeys Nursery Windsor Park

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children arrive happy at nursery. They settle quickly into activities and, overall, show motivation to learn. Older children enthusiastically take part in exploring water with funnels. They repeatedly go back to it, saying, 'Look at the water fall through'. Babies smile at staff, who talk to them and babble back in response. All children access a large, well-maintained garden. Staff make sure that resources and activities reflect children's interests and are accessible and within children's reach. Children form secure attachments with staff, helping them feel safe, secure and happy.

Staff promote children's independence. For example, children are taught how to put on their coats and they help to set the table at mealtimes. Children's behaviour overall is good. They remember to say 'please' and 'thank you' and learn to share and take turns. Children are supported and comforted if they become upset during the day. Those with special educational needs and/or disabilities are supported effectively by their knowledgeable key person. Staff work in partnership with other professionals to share information about children's development in order to help them make good progress.

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

• Staff provide a variety of interesting activities for children to explore. Children allow staff to play alongside them, showing that they have good relationships. Babies develop their physical skills. For example, they learn to roll balls, helping their early coordination skills. Older children learn to handle tools by taking part in an art activity.
• The staff plan for children's interests well. They know children's care needs and provide lovely play experiences. However, staff are not always successful in helping children to build further on what they already know and can do from activities provided.
• Staff speak positively about their role. Managers promote staff's well-being through their open-door policy. New staff receive a thorough induction, helping to ensure that they are able to complete their role to their full potential.
• Children's good health is well supported. Staff have a good awareness of children's individual needs. They place a high emphasis on teaching children about appropriate hygiene routines, having a healthy diet and exercise indoors and outside. Children help themselves to tissues to wipe their noses and know to put them in the bin afterwards. However, staff do not consistently organise changes between activities and routines as effectively as they could. Children become less engaged to learn and are noisy during these short times.
• Partnerships with parents are strong. Parents speak highly of the setting and the support their children receive. Staff maintain a regular two-way exchange of information, sharing details with parents about their child's care and learning. The nursery invites parents' feedback and help to keep them informed of nursery events.
• Staff are encouraged to make use of the range of training available to them. The management team continuously reviews the staff's training needs. The staff recently attended training to help further support younger children's learning experiences. Staff are given incentives to help continuously improve their practice. This has helped to build a strong and consistent staff team, who are dedicated to their job.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• review the organisation of transitions between activities and routines, to help keep children focused and engaged
• strengthen the implementation of activities to help ensure that children get the most out of learning experiences.