S4YC @ Little Owls Preschool & Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The manager has devised a curriculum which supports children to progress from their starting points. Staff allow toddlers to develop their problem-solving skills as they explore how keys fit into locks. Pre-school children learn mathematical language, such as full and empty, as they build sandcastles with staff. All children are making good progress and developing positive attitudes towards learning.

Staff help children understand their emotions. They make excellent use of stories such as 'The Colour Monster' to help children express themselves. Staff encourage children to share how they feel and why. For instance, children explain that they feel sad 'when they run out of chocolate'. Staff provide children with clear expectations and role model how to be kind to each other. Consequently, children show care to their peers by helping them get their plate ready for snack time.

Staff are dedicated to providing a warm and loving environment for children. When children start at the nursery, staff form close working relationships with parents. This helps them gather detailed information to help children settle quickly. Staff know all the children extremely well. Children display they feel safe and secure as they explore the nursery happily.

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

• Staff support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) well. Detailed plans have been devised and are regularly monitored to ensure children's individual needs are being met. For example, children who have limited language are making positive progress from the daily targeted interventions staff implement. Children with SEND make good progress from their starting points.
• Staff's interactions with children help them to develop new vocabulary. As children explore different objects, they repeat words staff have role modelled, such as stretchy and squishy. During daily routines, staff frequently sing to children to help develop their understanding. However, on occasions, some staff do not always give children enough time to think and respond to questions they ask. This does not consistently enhance children's language skills.
• Staff skilfully develop children's curiosity and children eagerly participate in all experiences. Room leaders are skilled at supporting children to test out their own ideas. For example, with encouragement children independently investigate how best to fill the trough with soil to plant their seeds. Children persevere and display positive attitudes to learning.
• Leaders understand the importance of developing early literacy skills. Children have ample opportunities to develop their small-muscle movements. They squish play dough in their hands and make marks on paper. This helps prepare children for early writing skills.
• Staff use strategies to promote reading at home. Recently, they have introduced a 'lending library' for children to borrow books to read with their families. However, staff have not fully considered how to implement the curriculum for literacy within the nursery. For instance, staff mostly choose books to read with the children at random. This does not always help build on children's knowledge and develop a love of reading.
• Children are taught how to be respectful to others. Staff provide them with regular opportunities that support skills, such as turn taking. As a result, children show kindness to each other. For example, children happily take turns to fill the wheelbarrow with water to water the plants.
• Children benefit from daily opportunities to promote their physical health. They enjoy long periods of time outdoors and get regular access to fresh air. Staff encourage children to be physically active. Children develop their strength and coordination as they skilfully learn to throw and kick balls. This helps support children progressing in their physical development.
• The manager carefully considers how to use additional funding, such as early years pupil premium. She liaises with other professionals to gain advice on the most effective ways to meet children's individual needs. From this, she has invested in specific resources. This helps narrow any gaps in children's development and enhances their learning experiences.
• Partnerships with parents are strong. The manager takes a proactive approach to any feedback she receives. For example, she has introduced an app to improve communication between staff and parents. As a result, parents express that communication now helps them play a role in their child's learning.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• support staff with providing consistently high-quality interactions for children to further extend their language skills
• provide staff with support to implement the curriculum for literacy to build on children's knowledge and love of books.