Rainbow Hill House Childcare Ltd

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children play in a vibrant and well-resourced environment, with plenty of activities to engage and excite them. They have secure bonds with the caring staff, who support and encourage their ideas and interests. Therefore, children feel secure and become enthusiastic learners. For example, older children are keen to help peel and slice the fruit for their snacks. They are curious to find out if they can squeeze juice from the fruit and have the self-assurance to try this idea out. Children say, 'this is hard', but they show good levels of perseverance and keep trying until they have enough juice to drink.

Staff know the children well and want them to achieve as much as they can. They monitor children's progress closely and provide targeted support where needed. This supports children, including children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities, make good progress from their starting points. Children develop their physical skills through lots of active and hands-on play. They acquire a wide range of useful skills, such as using scissors safely and making controlled marks with pencils. Children play outdoors daily and have access to a large indoor soft-play area. They develop strength and coordination as they run, climb and balance.

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

• The manager and senior staff team have a good overview of the provision. They speak confidently about the nursery's strengths and have a clear vision for future developments. Recent changes to practice are effective and enhance children's experiences and outcomes. For instance, staff are more proactive in seeking parents' views on their children's development. This has strengthened staff's assessments of children and promotes a shared approach to supporting their learning.
• Staff feel valued and say that they are well supported both professionally and personally. They are confident in their practice and understand where they can develop their professional skills further. Staff speak enthusiastically about the positive impact of training, and how this benefits the children. For example, they describe how a clay project has helped to enhance children's self-confidence, creativity and language development.
• Staff display a variety of good teaching skills. For example, they introduce new words to children as they play, to help them broaden their vocabularies. Staff read and sing with children regularly and support their conversations and discussions. They are aware of children who speak English as an additional language and incorporate key words and phrases in their home languages, to aid communication. This helps all children to become confident speakers.
• Children have excellent opportunities to learn about the world around them. For instance, they enjoy walks in their local area as well as trips further afield, such as to museums. The setting has many links within the local community. This includes a centre for the elderly, which children visit regularly to enjoy songs and activities with the residents. This helps children to develop a secure understanding of the different people and communities in our society.
• There is a good focus on promoting children's independence. For example, babies and toddlers are encouraged to manage personal care, such as feeding themselves, as soon as they are able. As they progress through the nursery, children learn to tidy up after themselves, wash their hands and wipe their noses. Older children prepare and serve their own snacks and meals. This helps children to develop high self-esteem and feel confident about what they can do.
• Staff are positive role models. They provide consistent reminders, to help children understand the boundaries and develop important social skills, such as being kind and using good manners. However, staff could do more to support children to understand the possible consequences of their actions, to help them moderate their behaviour independently.
• Parents are keen to share their views on the nursery and describe it as a 'special and unique' place. They comment on their children's 'wonderful bonds' with their key persons and state that their children are happy, settled and thriving. Parents appreciate the effective communication with staff and recognise how this supports their children's learning and development.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• further develop staff's knowledge of how to help children understand the consequences of their actions and begin to moderate their behaviour independently.