Little Toes Day Nursery North Muskham

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children arrive happy and are warmly greeted by staff who know them well. Staff take the time to ask parents about each child's interests, home environment and developmental stage when they first join. This information is used by staff to help ensure a smooth settling-in process for children.

Children benefit from a calm and focused atmosphere, where they grow in confidence and harmoniously engage in play with their friends. The nursery's ethos is to motivate and inspire children to become explorers. Staff put the children at the centre of their curriculum, focusing on their individual learning needs. Children have lots of opportunities to self-select activities. They are supported by staff who deploy themselves well across the nursery. Children are engaged in small groups, where staff guide their play and learning. This ensures the children are well-supported and occupied in what they are doing. Consequently, children make good progress towards their onward education.

Children follow daily routines and quickly become independent as staff promote important life skills. For example, children wash their hands and serve themselves lunch. Staff plan the forest school sessions well to support their intentions for children's learning. Pre-school children relish in nature as they learn to make toast safely on an open fire. Staff teach children not to cross the forest school boundary without permission to ensure their safety. This supports children's resilience and self-esteem.

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

• Staff thoughtfully plan activities for children to engage in physical activity before sitting down for group time. This helps the children to settle and be ready to learn. Staff sing songs to babies as they shake musical instruments. Older children enjoy using musical instruments and readily follow the instructions to play loudly, quietly, slowly, quickly and stop. These activities support children's listening and attention skills as they develop an understanding of rhythm and rhyme.
• Children enjoy accessing books inside and outdoors. Staff introduce focus stories, which they read regularly to help children revisit learning and develop their recall skills. They plan activities, such as yoga sessions, to support the telling of specific stories. For example, staff encourage children to move their bodies in a variety of ways to represent the animals in a story. Children develop good concentration skills and perseverance as they join in and remain focused.
• Overall, staff interact well with children and help them build on their skills as they progress through the different rooms. For example, younger children learn to use cutlery, and older children pour themselves drinks at mealtimes. However, on occasion, staff do not adapt their teaching precisely enough for the age and abilities of children present to encourage children to think further and deepen their knowledge.
• Leaders and staff support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) extremely well. They identify gaps in learning and the next steps through assessments and discussions with parents. Staff make timely referrals and are committed to collaborating with parents and other professionals to ensure that children receive targeted support. This helps children with SEND to receive the support they need at the earliest opportunity.
• Partnerships with parents are a key strength of this nursery. Leaders and staff support parents and communicate with them extremely well. For example, staff share information in a variety of ways, including daily conversations and weekly photo updates. Parents also receive regular information about children's development through an online system. This keeps them well informed regarding their child's learning and next steps, which are incorporated into the upcoming weekly theme.
• Staff place a strong emphasis on children's healthy lifestyles and promote their well-being. For example, younger children rest and sleep outdoors, weather permitting. Staff settle them on sleep mats and in cots under the trees in the summer. This practice enables children to connect to nature and supports their overall health and sense of well-being. The meals provided are healthy. Children enjoy nutritious lunches with barely any waste. Staff encourage children to clean their teeth daily. As a result, staff are encouraging children to develop healthy habits for later life.
• Leaders offer strong support to staff, both personally and professionally, and staff state they greatly appreciate this. Staff have access to regular training, which supports them in their roles and responsibilities. Leaders complete regular supervision and team meetings with staff. As a result, staff morale is high.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• strengthen staff skills in adapting teaching to continually build on what children know, understand and can do to maximise their learning.