S4YC @ Hooton Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Leaders and staff have a clear vision. They want all children to thrive. Every child is valued, and staff build positive and respectful relationships with families. Staff have caring attitudes; they know children incredibly well. Children demonstrate that they feel secure. This is because their needs are consistently met by nurturing staff. Staff plan experiences that children are interested in. For example, babies who have visited the farm develop their knowledge of animals further as they play in hay and find hidden animal toys. Babies giggle as staff introduce new vocabulary and talk about the noises that animals make. Older children enjoy learning about dinosaurs. Staff introduce mathematical concepts into children's play. They help children to compare the sizes of dinosaur bones and record the information on a chart. Children are eager to learn because staff provide interesting activities and resources. Children are prepared for the next stage of their education.

Staff have consistently high expectations of all children. Children know the rules and follow them. As a result, children behave exceptionally well. Staff have established clear rules that are understood by all children. For example, children tidy up when prompted, explaining that this is to ensure they do not fall. This helps children to develop an understanding of keeping themselves safe. Children are helpful and supportive to their friends. They encourage others to try new experiences. Children are motivated and ready to learn.

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

• Leaders and managers plan and deliver a curriculum that is focused on each child's developmental needs. Staff use their knowledge of child development and ongoing assessment effectively to ensure that all children gain new skills. Children make progress and consistently build on their learning. Staff change activities to suit children's individual needs. As a result, all children enjoy the experiences on offer.
• Staff prioritise helping children to develop their communication and language skills. Babies make excellent progress. This is because staff talk to children as they play and take every opportunity to introduce exciting new words. For example, at snack time, they name fruit, and babies eagerly try to copy the new words. However, there are times when staff working with older children use incorrect vocabulary and pronunciation. As a result, older children use words incorrectly in their conversations.
• Staff implement effective care practices to ensure that children's physical needs are met. However, there are times when daily routines inhibit children's learning. For example, older children show disappointment as staff end a story abruptly and instruct children to wash their hands for lunch. At other times, toddlers cannot participate in song time, as they have not finished eating their snack.
• This means children have their learning interrupted and, at times, cannot fully benefit from the opportunities on offer.
• Leaders and staff have established respectful relationships with parents, children and local schools. This helps children to feel secure and valued. Parents report they are happy with the care their children receive in the nursery. However, parents do not consistently receive specific information on how they can support and extend children's learning at home. As a result, parents do not always know how to help their children build on what they already know and can do.
• Staff provide opportunities for children to develop their coordination. Outside, older children balance on equipment, and younger children ride on tricycles. This helps to enhance their physical strength and stamina. Children enjoy digging in sand and pouring water. They strengthen their hand muscles and develop their hand-to-eye coordination as they play. These skills will benefit children when they start school.
• Children learn about cultural events and festivals, such as Easter and Chinese New Year. Children develop respectful attitudes because they learn about people who help them in the local community. Staff arrange for visitors to talk to the children about local events, oral heath and the community. These experiences help to develop children's understanding of diversity and the world around them.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• support staff to always use correct vocabulary when speaking to children
• review daily routines to ensure that children's learning is not unnecessarily interrupted
• strengthen partnership with parents and provide all parents with specific information on how to best support learning at home.