Manor House Day Care (Lochaber)

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are happy and well settled. The setting caters exclusively for children aged between two- and three-years old. Children benefit from a wide range of age-appropriate toys and equipment. Leaders build a firm foundation for children's future learning by ensuring there is a suitable focus on the prime areas of learning. Children develop close relationships with practitioners, who know them well. Daily care routines are carried out with humour. Children giggle and hide as practitioners prepare them for nap time.

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

• Children receive fresh air and exercise daily as they play in the secure outdoor area. This supports the development of their core strength and coordination. However, practitioners do not plan activities to help children to explore plants and wildlife. Therefore, opportunities to increase their knowledge of the natural world are limited.
• Practitioners understand the provider's educational programme. Overall, they implement this skilfully in their interactions with children during free-play and care routines. Practitioners know children well. They use their observations and assessments of children to plan relevant learning opportunities to support children's development. Some practitioners occasionally lose sight of what they are intending children to learn when implementing planned, adult-led activities. They focus on the process rather than children's learning needs. Consequently, children do not benefit consistently from these activities.
• Practitioners support children's language well. They repeat and remodel what children say so that they can hear the correct pronunciation. Practitioners make good use of routines, such as mealtimes, where they engage children in conversation and introduce new words. For example, they discuss why frozen yogurt makes them shiver. As a result, children demonstrate a growing vocabulary.
• Practitioners create a happy, positive atmosphere. They support children to manage their feelings well. Practitioners are skilled at knowing when to stand back and allow children to solve their own disagreements. Children are calm and well behaved.
• Practitioners are skilled story tellers. They use props and intonation to excite and engage children in the story. Children display a love of books and reading. They frequently visit the setting's book area and ask practitioners to read their favourite books.
• The provider has a good awareness of the community and the needs of local families. The special educational needs and disabilities coordinator is knowledgeable and well trained to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and their families. Parents speak highly of the setting and say that they feel well supported by practitioners.
• Practitioners actively support children's health and well-being. Practitioners monitor how much water children drink and encourage them to drink more frequently. They explain to children that 'water helps your brain develop'. Children begin to understand how to stay healthy. They can independently find their own water bottles and help themselves to drinks.
• Practitioners speak enthusiastically about the children in their care. They enjoy their jobs and say that they feel very well supported to gain additional qualifications to further their careers.
• Children receive plenty of adult attention. Practitioners ensure that all children are included and have opportunities to contribute to group activities. They allow children time to answer questions and praise their input. This supports children's good self-esteem and promotes high levels of concentration and engagement.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• provide opportunities for children to experience and learn about the natural world
• support practitioners to understand how to deliver the provider's curriculum intent consistently across all parts of the provision.