Peppermint Children's Centre

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The nursery is well established in the community. Staff know the families well. They provide an environment where parents feel they can come for support and advice. The manager has effective, well-implemented procedures. Children who are new to the setting have a welcome visit. They are introduced at a pace that is comfortable for them and their parents. Staff's nurturing attitude helps children to feel safe and secure. New children settle quickly.

Staff have gentle interactions with the children. They share a love of learning with them. Children see staff as a secure base. The relationships between staff and children are respectful, which creates a positive ethos that supports children's personal, social and emotional development. Children feel safe and secure in the nursery.

Staff know the children well. They provide a curriculum with strong focus on the prime areas of learning to help children build a secure base for their future learning. Many children need support with their communication and language skills. Staff engage in meaningful conversations with children as they play. For example, they join children in discussions about their families. Staff are ambitious for children and make sure that all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), make good progress. They provide a range of experiences, such as inviting the local police officers into the nursery to meet the children.

Staff implement consistent routines that help children to understand the rules and behavioural expectations. Children respond well to these routines. Staff use effective strategies to support children with SEND.

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

• Managers and staff have created a curriculum that is well sequenced and supports the children's current needs and abilities. Staff know the children well. They understand what to teach individual children. Staff are skilful at building on children's existing knowledge through their meaningful interactions and by providing experiences that encourage children to achieve. Children have access to learning in all areas and are developing new skills and knowledge to prepare them for future learning.
• The manager and staff value parents as partners in their children's development. Staff give parents clear daily feedback about their child's day and how they can support children's learning further at home. Parents express their gratitude for the wonderful support and experiences given to their children. However, some parents are unsure of the identity, and role of, their child's key person, to provide even greater levels of support for children.
• Children with SEND are well cared for and supported. The new special educational needs coordinator (SENCo) is proactive and skilled in seeking support and working with families. They ensure that professional support is swiftly put in place so that children get the help they need as soon as possible. The SENCo works closely with other agencies and provides effective support for staff, sharing information appropriately. Managers and staff have created an environment that is inclusive of all children. Staff plan activities that are adaptable and suitable to support all children's needs. Therefore, all children receive the support they need to make progress in line with their abilities.
• Staff talk to children and encourage their speaking and listening skills. They role model well, speaking clearly to children, repeating words, and making good eye contact and body language to support children's understanding. Staff use picture routines and learn key words in children's home language to support children who are learning to speak English as an additional language. However, staff are less consistent when using questions to encourage children to think and express their own ideas, to enhance the curriculum for communication and language further.
• Managers have worked tirelessly to make the necessary changes since the previous inspection. They now have a full staff team, which is committed and wants to provide the best care and support for children and their families. The team is committed to making continuous improvements to enhance the provision even further. Staff feel well supported. Their thoughts and opinions are valued. There is an environment of strong teamwork and respect. However, the monitoring of staff practice is not yet fully effective to enhance outcomes for children even more.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• strengthen relationships with parents so they are all aware of their children's key person
• support staff further to use questions more skilfully to encourage children's thinking skills and their ability to develop their own ideas
• continue to build on the monitoring of staff practice to ensure consistently good, or better, teaching.