Little Scallywags Day Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are excited and happy when they arrive at nursery. They separate from their parents with ease and confidently join their friends to play. Children are warmly greeted by staff and have a sense of safety. Younger children have secure bonds with staff. They seek out adults for cuddles and reassurance. Staff have high expectations for children's behaviour and manners. They are positive role models. Staff encourage children to use good manners to say, 'please and thank you'. Staff help children to develop their own self-help skills during daily routines. Children independently wash their hands and attend to their own toileting needs with ease. Younger children help themselves to their own drinking beakers. Children behave well and are prepared well for school.

Staff provide children with an enriching curriculum that fully enhances their interests and development. Older children develop good social skills. They enthusiastically respond to discussions about the weather and days of the week. Younger children engage enthusiastically in singing a variety of songs and rhymes and move their bodies to the music. Children clap their hands with delight when they finish singing their favourite songs. Staff support children to enhance their listening and turn-taking skills during group sessions.

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

• Leadership and management are effective. They have a clear understanding of the strengths and areas for development in the nursery environment. The manager has established a child-led and individualised curriculum for all children. Leaders have an effective key-person system in place to maintain consistency and support for all children.
• Children's starting points are obtained effectively at the start. Staff complete purposeful home visits to gather important information about what children know and can do. This helps children to settle quickly into nursery. Staff use observations and assessments to identify what children need to learn next.
• Children show high levels of curiosity and eagerness to explore the variety of activities on offer. They benefit from a curriculum that suits their individual needs. Staff implement play experiences effectively to help children develop. During adult-led activities, staff talk to children and introduce new words, such as 'hiding' and 'treasure', and ask them a range of open questions. However, staff do not always pause to allow children the time they need to think, respond and repeat words they hear.
• Children develop a love of reading and demonstrate a passion for books and become familiar with key stories. Older children eagerly engage in retelling a popular story during focused phonics sessions. Younger children show delight and interest when listening to a story about visiting the zoo and the animals they may see. They point and lift the flaps of books with confidence. These opportunities extend children's communication, language and interest in early literacy effectively.
• Children are happy, confident and develop effective hygiene practices through regular handwashing. The nursery promotes healthy lifestyles. Children enjoy a range of freshly cooked meals and healthy nutritious snacks each day. Staff encourage children to develop their independence by helping them to pour their own water. Children have access to fresh air, exercise and play, which enhances their gross motor physical skills.
• Staff help children to learn about a range of festivals and diversity throughout the year. They meet the needs of children in the community effectively, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Staff closely target areas for support and use screening tools to help children make progress. They work closely with other professionals to ensure children with SEND get the support and help they need.
• Parent partnerships are good. Staff are highly regarded by parents. They comment that they are well informed about their children's learning through the nursery communication systems. However, some parents of children with SEND do not fully understand key plans in place for their children to reach their full potential.
• Leaders place high regard on maintaining staff's professional development. They ensure mandatory training is updated and targeted to enhance staff practice, such as recent SEND training. Staff benefit from regular meetings, supervision and observations to help them maintain good practice. Children's safety is well maintained through effective deployment and regular checks to minimise hazards.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• increase opportunities to help children develop their vocabulary by giving them enough time to process and repeat what they hear
• enhance partnerships with parents to improve the two-way flow of information to ensure children with SEND make the best possible progress.