Little Sunlights

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Leaders have made good improvements to the nursery since the last inspection. Children arrive happily and separate from their parents with ease. They feel safe and secure as they explore the nursery environment. Caring staff form strong relationships with children and are attentive to their needs.

Skilled staff use every opportunity to extend children's learning. For example, during outdoor sand play, staff share a book about diggers as children play with the vehicles. They impart information about how the diggers work. In addition, when children discover a ladybird, staff talk about the ladybird's wings and how they can fly. This helps to develop children's knowledge and understanding of the world.

Staff support children's communication and language development well. For example, toddlers enjoy playing with the baby dolls in the water. Staff use this opportunity to introduce new language, such as 'splash', as the toddlers wash the dolls. Older children listen to stories with interest in the cosy corners and tents. Staff encourage children to take part, using puppets. This helps children to become confident communicators. All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), make good progress in their learning.

Staff have high expectations for children's behaviour. They implement 'golden rules' such as 'walking feet' and 'kind hands'. Staff help children to understand why these rules are in place and children behave well.

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

• There has been a change of leadership and staffing since the last inspection and a number of adjustments have been made. The nursery continues to be on a journey to fully embed the improvements. Staff report their well-being is good and the leadership team support them in their roles. Regular supervision sessions focus on professional development. Staff are keen to progress their knowledge and gain further qualifications. A recent in-service day enabled staff to learn about the changes to legislation. This training helps to ensure staff understand their roles and responsibilities.
• A new planning system has been introduced, which is still in its infancy. Staff are continuing to make changes to this to ensure it fully meets the needs of all children. It is yet to be fully embedded, but staff have been included in the design and talk confidently about how it is beginning to take shape.
• Staff build on what children know and can do. They gain information from parents when they start at the nursery using an 'All About Me' document. Staff provide activities to meet children's needs. Consequently, children demonstrate positive attitudes to learning. For example, children persevere in their play, joining the large bricks together until they have a long train. Children confidently share their creations with staff.
• Staff support children effectively to manage their own personal needs and adopt healthy habits. They remind children to wash their hands before meals and after using the toilet. Older children talk about how they need to wash their hands before a cooking activity to remove the germs. They confidently help themselves to fruit and pour their own drinks at snack time. This helps children to understand the importance of good hygiene and healthy lifestyles.
• Staff organise regular outings for the children. This includes trips to the local library and nearby shops. This helps children to learn about the world around them and develops their knowledge and understanding of the community in which they live.
• Staff work in partnership with local schools and other settings children attend. They communicate effectively with other pre-schools to discuss children's progress. Teachers visit the nursery in the summer term before children start school. This helps to create smooth transitions and supports children's emotional well-being.
• Staff build positive relationships with parents. They provide daily updates about how the children have been during the day. Staff communicate with parents verbally and via the online platform. Parents comment that the care and kindness staff show to the children is 'fantastic'. However, staff do not always share information with parents about children's next steps and how to support their children's learning at home.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• continue to develop and embed the new planning system across the nursery
• improve communications with parents to ensure they know their child's next steps and how to support them at home.