Loving Hands International Nursery School Ltd

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Staff create a welcoming and inclusive practice. They work closely with parents to ensure that they understand the ambitious curriculum they provide for their children. Staff are particularly strong in supporting children who speak English as an additional language. They use their linguistic abilities to communicate with children in different languages, such as Hindi and Urdu. Additionally, staff use visual aids to help children to develop their communication and language skills. At group times, they read books and poems. Children learn new words, such as 'cocoon' and 'hibernate', which extends their vocabulary.

Staff develop warm relationships with children. They ensure that even new children are confident to play and explore the nursery. This helps to support children's emotional well-being effectively. Staff teach children to behave well. They give children lots of attention and keep them busy. Children's happiness is evident, such as during role play, when they pretend to be kings and princesses in the garden. Other children engage in hide and seek games with staff and have lots of fun as they hide in big cardboard boxes. This playfulness is a testament to children feeling safe and secure. This is because staff are vigilant in their supervision of children. Children are motivated and have positive attitudes to their learning.

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

• The manager is passionate about providing and maintaining high-quality education and care. She coaches and supervises staff effectively. Staff agree that the manager helps them to develop their knowledge and skills. This has motivated them to acquire higher qualifications, such as supporting children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Additionally, some staff have learned how to establish a rapport with parents and children through home visits.
• The manager's commitment to fostering a strong partnership with parents is commendable. She uses various communication methods, including verbal feedback, newsletters and online channels, to keep parents informed and involved. Parents highly regard the manager and staff, describing them as kind, friendly and approachable. The partnership between parents and staff is a significant advantage of this nursery, which benefits children's overall development.
• Staff are well informed about the effect that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on children's education. They work together with other professionals, such as inclusion officers, to monitor and address any gaps in children's learning. Children make significant progress from their starting points in learning, particularly in their language and social development. This includes children with SEND and children who speak English as an additional language, all of whom receive highly effective support.
• Staff make good use of their community. For example, they organise visits to supermarkets, theatres and adventure parks to provide children with experiences beyond their own. These opportunities are especially beneficial for disadvantaged children, which help to broaden their learning experiences.
• Staff encourage children's independence skills, such as putting on and taking off their coats. They teach children to play well with each other. Overall, children respond positively to these and behave well. However, staff do not always provide clear explanations of their rules and boundaries, such as when they ask children to sit down while eating or drinking. This does not help children to fully understand staff's expectations.
• Staff promote children's good health. They plan activities to support children's physical skills, such as balancing and jumping. Staff follow effective hygiene routines to minimise the spread of germs and infectious illnesses. However, sometimes, staff do not make effective use of arising opportunities to develop children's understanding of healthy food choices.
• Staff teach children how to care for plants and insects in the garden. Children find it enjoyable to fill their watering cans with water and often ask staff for more. This shows children's enthusiasm for this activity. Staff add to children's enjoyment when they show them an ant, which children observe with curiosity. These experiences enhance children's understanding of growth and the natural world.
• The manager evaluates practice rigorously to identify strengths and areas for improvement. She is keen to introduce additional resources outdoors to promote children's curiosity, imaginations and creativity further.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• help children to understand the importance of following rules and expectations consistently
• support all staff on how to talk to children about healthy food choices.