Shine (EAST NORFOLK)

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Most of the children who attend have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). They thoroughly enjoy their time in the setting. Due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, parents do not come in. However, children readily leave their parents at the door. They enthusiastically greet staff and say 'hello' to other staff as they walk through to the main playrooms. Children develop good emotional security and readily accept support from staff. For example, when a child trips and becomes upset, staff respond positively to check that they are alright. The child throws themself into the arms of the member of staff and enjoys a reassuring hug.

Children are keen to join in with the interesting range of activities provided. They benefit from meaningful teaching. This is tailored to their individual needs and supports them to be ready for the next stage of their learning, such as moving on to school. Children develop their communication skills and are encouraged to learn each other's names, take turns and work together. They enjoy a game where they each hold the edge of a large piece of stretchy fabric. Children participate enthusiastically, waiting for their turn to hide under it. They laugh with delight as the children and staff lift the fabric at the end of the rhyme that accompanies this game.

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

• Since the last inspection, the manager has vastly improved how record-keeping is organised. She is now able to provide strong evidence that staff undergo robust checks to ensure that they are suitable to work with children.
• Staff have high ambitions for what children can achieve. They know about children's particular needs and how they can best support children to achieve to the best of their ability. Staff work closely with other professionals involved with the children to meet their physical and learning needs.
• Children benefit from the priority staff give to supporting their developing speech and language skills. Staff encourage children to repeat words back, where they are able to do so. Staff use signing effectively to support children's developing communication and use pictorial timetables so that children know what happens next at any point in the day. Staff have completed 'intensive interaction' training to help them support children to develop their communication and interaction skills.
• Staff provide a stimulating learning environment for all children indoors. Older children really enjoy the musical instruments and strum the guitars while staff sing songs. Children independently go off and attempt to copy what they have seen staff doing, vocalising and making sounds to the music.
• Children are helped to understand their behaviour and the impact of their actions on others. For example, when a child takes a toy from another, staff gently encourage them to give it back. When the toy has been finished with, the member of staff asks the first child if the other one could have a turn. Children receive lots of praise for being kind to each other.
• Younger children enjoy outdoor play that covers all areas of learning. However, the garden for older children is not so well resourced. Older children who learn best from playing outside do not have opportunities to develop their early literacy or mathematical skills outdoors.
• Some children enjoy small, whole-group activities that are led by staff. However, other children struggle to sit quietly and distract those who are interested. Staff who are supporting the activity do not always react well enough to support these children.
• The manager reflects on the service provided and has clear plans to promote the highest-quality care and learning experience for all children. There is an effective programme of supervision that supports staff practice and well-being. Staff work as part of an enthusiastic and nurturing team where children are happy and settled.
• Feedback from parents is extremely positive. They value the highly nurturing atmosphere that is fostered by the manager and staff. Parents report that staff are 'kind and caring' and 'go over and above' to meet their children's needs. Parents really appreciated the activity packs, weekly phone calls, visits and food hampers delivered by staff during the COVID-19 lockdown.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• make better use of the outdoors for older children to promote all areas of learning
• help staff understand how to support children during whole-group, adult-led activities.