New Stepping Stones Playgroup

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are happy and engaged in all aspects of the learning that staff offer them at this nurturing nursery. The experienced staff team plans activities with clear learning intentions, helping children to make good progress from their starting points in learning. Staff know children and their families well. They implement a highly effective key-person system to ensure that children feel safe and secure.

Staff have clear routines in place, which children respond well to. On arrival, children self-register, and they attend well to group times and circle times. They enjoy sitting with staff and their friends during mealtimes. Staff encourage a calm atmosphere, which helps children to behave well. Children recall the 'golden rules' of showing their 'kind hands, kind hearts and kind thoughts'. This helps to remind children of the high expectations for their behaviour at nursery.

Staff give careful consideration to the layout of the nursery, which supports children's individual learning and development targets. They provide a well-resourced studio to give children opportunities to develop their large-muscle skills. Children enjoy yoga and dance sessions. They climb up, over and through apparatus. Children complete obstacle courses by running, jumping and balancing. This promotes the importance of children developing their physical skills and being healthy and active.

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

• Children enjoy being creative in the outdoor kitchen. They use herbs and water and cut oranges to make their 'orange soup'. Staff support children's language well by providing a narrative for them as they create their mixtures. Staff further support and encourage children to use the different-sized ladles, jugs and spoons to ensure they have the right balance of ingredients. This positive input from staff encourages children to keep their play going for longer.
• Staff help children to develop their understanding of where their food comes from. For instance, children enjoy growing herbs and potatoes in their garden. They share a range of fruit at snack times. Staff talk to children about their likes and dislikes and the importance of a balanced diet as part of a healthy lifestyle.
• Children behave well. They listen to each other during circle times and use their 'kind words' to offer each other praise. Children follow instructions for using tongs to help themselves to cheese and fruit at snack time. They tidy away their bowls and cups after eating. Children enjoy making their own decisions as to what they will need to wear for outdoor play in different weather.
• Children enjoy the vast range of activities on offer, and staff generally support them well. However, at times, staff do not consistently adapt planned activities to allow children to lead their own learning. This does not support and challenge children to develop their problem-solving skills.
• There is a range of activities on offer to support children to develop their skills and understanding of number. For example, staff support children's concrete understanding of number by using interlocking cubes. They support them as they count each cube and in adding on one more. They play games to support children with the recognition of numbers between one and 10.
• Children enjoy listening to stories in their cosy reading area. Staff use effective questioning to engage them in stories and further clarify their understanding. They introduce children to new vocabulary. For example, staff explain the meaning of the word 'dainty' in a story about a ladybird.
• Parents are extremely happy with the nursery. Communication is effective, and they feel fully involved in their children's learning. Parents know their children's targets and feel that their children are fully supported in being ready for their next stages, including starting school.
• Leaders show passion for meeting all children's needs at this highly inclusive nursery. The experienced special educational needs coordinator runs intervention groups, liaises with a range of professionals and ensures that the environment allows opportunities for all children to fully access their learning.
• The manager promotes the importance of positive well-being, and staff enjoy being part of this forward-thinking team. Staff receive regular training opportunities and show a passion for lifelong learning.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• promote opportunities for children to lead their own learning, to further support them to develop their problem-solving skills.