Rugrats Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Staff provide a calm, relaxing and fun environment for children. They create a happy atmosphere, along with a culture of mutual respect. Parents and carers and children receive a warm welcome into the nursery by the friendly and approachable staff. Staff quickly develop strong relationships with children. They carry out home visits as part of the settling-in process and tailor arrangements to each individual child. This helps children to feel safe and confident in their surroundings.

Children arrive with big smiles, full of enthusiasm to begin their day. Staff have a clear focus in the curriculum on developing children's independence. Children choose their favourite toys from easily accessible resources and help to tidy them away. They independently take a plate and cup for their snack, sit at the table, serve themselves and manage their personal care.

Staff teach children to use tools, such as scissors and knives, safely. Staff help children to develop a love of books. Children cuddle up close to staff as they listen to a story. Children select books as they play. They know that print has meaning and follow the writing from left to right. Children talk to staff about the characters and objects in the books. All children make good progress from their starting points in development. They develop a positive attitude towards their learning.

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

• Staff plan activities that build on children's home experiences and interests. For example, staff know that some children have limited access to outdoor play at home. They provide daily opportunities for children to be physically active. For instance, children use obstacle courses, stepping logs to balance on and climbing equipment. This helps children to develop their large-muscle skills.
• Parents are extremely happy with the nursery. They describe the nursery as an extension of their families and express their huge appreciation for the care and nurture the nursery provides for their children. Parents feel fully involved in their children's learning. They say that the day-to-day communication and regular parents' meetings ensure that they are fully informed about their children's development. Parents value staff's professional advice, such about potty training and their children's behaviour.
• Children develop their mathematical skills well. Staff provide children with interactive activities to develop their understanding of mathematical concepts. For example, children access weighing scales to weigh vegetables. They compare quantities and learn how to use mathematical words to describe what they are doing. This helps to deepen their mathematical knowledge and understanding.
• Staff understand that some children need additional support with their learning.
• Leaders and staff plan opportunities to extend children's learning. They consider the needs of all children. Staff work together with other professionals to support children's learning where appropriate.
• Leaders design a curriculum that celebrates the diverse backgrounds of all children. Staff provide varied activities and resources to promote equality and diversity. They teach children to respect similarities and differences. This helps children to develop as polite, respectful and sociable individuals.
• Staff have high expectations for children's behaviour. Children follow rules and routines, show curiosity in learning and share with their friends. When children become upset, staff quickly notice and reassure them.
• Leaders are reflective of their practice. They have a robust approach to supporting staff. Leaders carry out regular supervision sessions to identify any support that staff may need. They organise continuous professional development opportunities for staff. Leaders link these closely with the needs of individual children. This helps staff's teaching skills to continue to improve over time.
• Children understand the importance of healthy eating. Staff encourage them to try different fruits and discuss their tastes and preferences. Children talk positively about the fruits on offer. They also learn where food comes from by caring for vegetables and herbs in the garden. Staff explain what plants need to grow and how seasons affect them.
• Overall, staff support children's language and communication skills well. Staff engage older children in conversations. They act as good role models, helping children to learn to develop their conversation skills. Children enjoy taking part in singing and joining in with action songs. Staff support them to develop their vocabulary. However, they do not support some children who speak English as an additional language consistently to extend their developing language and communication skills further.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• continue to develop the support in place for children who speak English as an additional language to extend their communication and language skills further.