Little Pips Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children arrive at nursery excited for their day. Calm, nurturing and familiar staff welcome them. Knowledgeable staff effectively communicate with parents and help them to feel happy and confident that their child is well supported while in their care. Children enter the nursery environment confidently and quickly engage with others. For example, older children happily talk to staff and friends about their superhero outfits they have chosen to wear as part of dress-up day. Children build meaningful relationships with others.

The management team and staff plan and deliver an ambitious curriculum. They use their knowledge of the children to build on what they already know and what they need to learn to ensure they are ready for their next stage of development. Staff use children's interests to create exciting activities for them. Older babies develop their physical skills when they engage in ice play. They use tools to 'smash' the ice and retrieve superhero figures. Toddlers take turns to blow bubbles. Staff praise their achievements, and toddlers beam with pride when they succeed. Older children create dens with loose parts in the garden. Staff facilitate learning and encourage children to think how they can make their den better.

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

• Staff monitor children's development closely. They use this information to create and deliver a curriculum that puts children at the centre. Staff use their creative teaching styles to engage children in meaningful learning experiences. They create topics centred around the children's interests. For example, children are currently learning about superheroes. This is weaved throughout all areas of learning to engage children. All children make very good progress.
• Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are very well supported. Staff have extensive knowledge of children's complex needs and know how best to support them. For example, staff use objects of reference and picture cards to support children's understanding of routine activities. They work closely with parents and other professionals to ensure children receive the best possible experiences at nursery and help to close gaps in their development.
• Staff support and develop children's communication and language skills very well. Staff caring for babies and toddlers provide them with a narrative alongside their play. They talk to them about what is next in their routine. They model language well. Staff give older children time to answer questions and participate in conversations. When children take part in an activity linked to a book they are reading, children eagerly share what the title is and what the author does. Children confidently use new vocabulary and share what they have already learned.
• Partnerships with parents are excellent. Parents speak of the high-quality care their children receive and how all the staff 'cannot do enough' to support their child and family unit. The management team arranges monthly webinars for parents. They invite external professionals to lead these and provide a wide range of information for parents. These include sessions on supporting their children with toileting, speech and language and school readiness. Parents are very well supported.
• Children begin to learn to be independent. Babies use spoons and feed themselves at mealtimes, and staff support them where needed. Toddlers learn to drink from open cups. However, at mealtimes, toddlers are not always provided with the appropriate equipment to enable them to feed themselves successfully. Children revert back to using their hands. Additionally, staff do not always give older children the opportunity to pour their own drinks. Children do not get to practise and develop their independence skills consistently as they move through the nursery.
• Children access their local community. Staff take babies on daily walks around the local area. Children have recently visited the local fire station as part of their 'People who help us' topic. They learn about the role of a firefighter and the equipment they use. Children learn effectively about the world around them.
• The management team highly values their team. They nurture staff well-being and are extremely supportive of any home life circumstances. Staff benefit from regular staff meetings and training to help them fulfil their roles successfully. They all have the opportunity to attend regular social events as a whole group to promote teamwork. Staff morale is high and has a positive impact on children.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• help toddlers and older children to develop and practise their independence skills more consistently, especially at mealtimes.