Shooting Stars Nurseries Wolverhampton

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are happy, content and feel safe in this welcoming nursery. They arrive happily and separate well from their parents and carers. Children form close bonds with the kind and caring staff. Babies approach staff for reassurance and cuddles when new visitors are present, and staff respond with affection. This helps to promote children's emotional well-being. Older children confidently approach visitors to chat to. Children are eager to play and explore. Babies enjoy exploring the sounds musical toys make when they press the different buttons. Toddler children develop their imaginations as they play in the home corner, pretending to make food and drinks for staff. Pre-school children develop a love for books. They enjoy listening to well-read stories and talk about how the 'blurb' on the back of the book gives them information about what the story is about.

Children of all ages develop their mark-making skills. Babies excitedly use chunky chalks to make marks on the chalkboard and pre-school children confidently write their own name on their artwork. Staff help children to broaden their awareness of mathematical language. They introduce words such as 'more than' and 'less than' and encourage children to compare, count and estimate. Children play happily together, learning to take turns.

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

• Staff know children well, including their current interests and learning needs. They use their observations and assessments of children to help inform them of what children need to learn next. This ensures a suitable and challenging curriculum is provided for all children to help them make good progress in their learning and development. Children are developing the skills they need to help support them in their future learning.
• Staff support children's communication and language skills well. They encourage older children to join in with conversations and discussions. Staff working with babies provide a narrative for children's play and repeat words encouraging children to copy. Babies confidently attempt to say new words and show delight with the praise and encouragement they receive.
• Children who speak English as an additional language are supported very well. Staff speak other languages in addition to English and use these skills to help support children and families. Staff use pictures as prompts and speak clearly to children. This helps children to understand and develop their English skills.
• Children are served healthy and nutritious meals prepared by the on-site chef. Children's dietary needs are well catered for; staff are aware of their individual needs and the chef prepares meals to accommodate these. Children are sensitively encouraged to try new foods. Staff remind children of the importance of drinking water throughout the day, particularly on hot days. Children know they must do this to stay hydrated and healthy.
• Children show high levels of independence in their play as they choose from the wide range of activities and experiences on offer. Pre-school children enjoy joining in with group story times and games. However, some group activities for toddler children are not as well organised to fully support children's concentration and involvement.
• Children generally behave well. Staff encourage children to share and take turns. Staff intervene to tackle any unwanted behaviour. However, not all staff explain to children why the behaviour is not welcome in the nursery.
• Parents spoken to on the day of inspection express their complete satisfaction with the nursery. Parents say they appreciate the regular updates about their children's time at the setting via an online app and through daily discussions. Parents are pleased with the progress their children are making and say that their children are happy attending.
• The staff team is supported well by leaders and managers. Staff receive individual supervision sessions to discuss their work and the children they care for. They have regular opportunities to attend further training to help build on their already good skills and knowledge. Staff express how confident they are to approach leaders and managers. They say that the manager values their contributions and is supportive of their overall well-being.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• review the planning of some group activities for toddler children so that all children are able to remain involved and engaged
• support staff to manage children's behaviour consistently and effectively to help children to understand the reasons why some behaviours are not acceptable.