Mini Willows Day Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children arrive happy and settle quickly into this vibrant, fun nursery. Staff greet them warmly and give them lots of hugs and smiles, which helps children build good relationships with them. Children play well alongside each other and learn to share toys. They are curious to explore the range of resources available to them. Older babies are interested in using their fingers to discover the texture of sand, while toddlers enjoy squishing dough, which develops their small finger muscles. Older children develop these skills even further as they learn to control a pencil to make marks.

Pre-school children investigate nature in the garden. They enjoy taking part in a bug hunt. Staff teach them to use a magnifying glass to notice the features of the various creatures they find. Children are very interested to know more and confidently ask questions such as 'Where is its mouth?' All children confidently join in with songs and rhymes.

The manager implements a well-sequenced curriculum that helps children build on what they can already do. Staff use children's interests to help them deeply engage in their learning. The manager is ambitious for children to develop the skills they will need for the next stage in their learning, such as using the toilet, recognising their name and making choices.

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

• The manager and staff team have taken positive steps to improve the quality of education. They worked closely together with the local early years team to address the actions set at the last inspection. Staff have completed training to improve their knowledge of safeguarding and the implementation of the curriculum. The manager evaluates staff practice well and has identified further training to extend staff knowledge even more.
• All children have an allocated key person, who knows them well. They gather information from parents when children start, to meet their personal care needs, such as sleep routines and preferred or favoured play activities. This helps children to settle into the new environment and build secure relationships with staff. Children feel safe and secure at the nursery.
• Staff engage with children in their play and use observations to identify children's developmental stage and interests. They use this information to plan learning opportunities that support children's development. This means all children make good progress.
• The care needs of the youngest children are met well. Staff follow their individual routines; they coo and smile with them during mealtimes. However, staff do not focus enough on supporting babies' overall development, such as providing opportunities for them to develop their physical skills.
• Staff teach children good personal skills to help them become independent and keep healthy. For example, they learn to meet their own hygiene needs, such as wiping their noses and washing their hands. Young children enjoy helping to sweep up spilt sand, and older children are encouraged to serve their own lunches. This helps them to acquire skills for life.
• Staff do not always provide children with positive models that teach them to be a good listener. At times, this impacts on how children learn to follow instructions and respect others. However, despite this, children generally behave well and learn to share and take turns.
• All children communicate confidently with staff, who support them well using verbal and non-verbal communication. Staff gather key words in children's home language to help them communicate their needs. They also plan sessions for storytelling, where they support children's language skills. They talk about the pictures in the book and introduce new words to extend children's vocabulary.
• Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are supported well. Staff help them to manage their behaviour and use picture cards to support their communication. There are suitable strategies in place that support information sharing between parents and other professionals, which means there is consistency in their care.
• Parents speak highly of the nursery, in particular the caring staff. They say they feel well supported, particularly in managing their children's behaviour. Parents love the family app, which keeps them up to date with their children's progress.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• provide even greater support for the youngest children, to fully support their learning and development
• strengthen strategies to support children to fully develop their listening skills.