Playdays Nursery And Preschool

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children enjoy a warm welcome from the friendly and caring staff team. This helps them to feel at ease and settle in quickly. Staff get down to children's level to play with them. They are responsive to children as they interact closely checking in with them at regular intervals. They speak warmly and positively to children. This makes children confident to approach staff for reassurance.

Staff plan activities that support children in making progress. Children enjoy exploring with paint and play dough to be creative. Staff plan interesting ways to include and engage children as they introduce early mathematical concepts, such as comparing different patterns, sizes and shapes.

Children's family photos, individual paintings and collaborative artwork are on display. The manager emphasises the importance of this in celebrating individual children and their families and building on their sense of pride.

Transitions throughout the day are well planned. Staff remind children and include them in what is happening next. This means that children are fully included and engaged, so that their interest is maintained. When playing in the sand staff teach children the names of the hidden animals which they happily share with each other. They understand staff's expectations of them. This makes it much easier for them to maintain good behaviour and show care towards each other.

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

• Systems for planning and assessment of children's learning have improved since the last inspection. Together with room leaders the manager supports staff to use their observations of children effectively to identify what the next steps are for children. In addition, staff work with local authority advisers and other professionals to seek advice and guidance to best support their practice. Recent training guides staff in using open-ended questions to challenge children further in their learning. Managers are aware that this is in the early stages, and that further support is planned for all staff in the new term to embed this further.
• Long term staff say they are happy to come to work. They work well as a team, care about each other and speak respectfully of each other. They say that managers make it a priority to support the well-being of staff.
• Staff teach children to develop their independence skills consistently throughout the day. During mealtimes, children learn to hold serving spoons and place food onto their plates. Older children put on their shoes in readiness for outdoor play, while younger children attempt to fasten the straps on their trainers.
• Children have plenty of opportunities for physical activity throughout the day. This includes balancing on the circuit of tyres and riding bicycles and cars outside. Staff make sure that children are safe, and effectively assess and minimise any risks indoors and outside. They encourage children to understand how to keep themselves safe and help them to identify potential risks for themselves.
• The nursery's special educational needs coordinator works closely with key persons and local authority advisors, to ensure that they secure early help for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Funding is used well to provide additional equipment and resources to enhance the learning experience for children.
• Staff cater for children's specific dietary needs, including known allergies. Parents who provide packed lunches are advised about providing healthy foods. The manager has recently reviewed the menu to raise the standard of health and nutrition, and is aware that further work is required to continue to improve the selection of healthy foods on offer to children.
• Parents speak highly positively about the nursery. They welcome the regular written updates and daily communication with managers and staff. They particularly appreciate the flexibility the nursery offers, and that managers work hard to meet the childcare needs of each individual family.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• continue to provide staff with detailed feedback about their interactions with children, to strengthen and raise practice to even higher levels
• help children to develop an increased awareness of healthy eating and consider further ways to review the food provided for children, so that this is consistently healthy and nutritious.