Smart Kids Day Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are happy to attend. Those who need support to separate from their parents receive appropriate support from attentive and caring staff. Babies very quickly settle into new routines. They make strong attachments to their key persons, who build warm relationships with them from the start. Children practise important skills, such as how to express and manage their emotions.

Some staff share traditional songs from their own cultures with children. Toddlers show high levels of enjoyment during weekly music sessions. They move their bodies rhythmically to songs from around the world. Staff provide babies with frequent sensory opportunities. Babies babble and make sounds as they play. They develop their curiosity as they explore different smells and textures. Staff plan activities that help children to develop their early literacy. Children enjoy stories and make marks on wipe boards and paper with increasing control.

Children become independent and confident learners who are proud of their achievements. Staff help them to practise and develop the skills that they need for successful future learning.

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

• The recently appointed manager monitors the service effectively. She implements changes that contribute well to children's good development. For example, 'talking tents' help children who are less confident to increase their interactions with others.
• The manager builds on the strengths within her team. She provides staff with regular supervision and supports them to develop their professional practice. For example, the manager organises training to further enhance staff's understanding of how to involve parents in children's learning at home. Her focus on parental engagement in learning contributes well to positive outcomes for children.
• The manager shares her curriculum aims with staff, who plan learning experiences that take account of children's interests. They further extend children's learning by using core books that children become more familiar with over time. This shared understanding of the curriculum approach helps staff to provide a good quality of education.
• Staff provide well-sequenced learning opportunities for children. Younger children strengthen their small hand muscles as they use scoops to grab fish from water or squeeze pipettes to water plants. Older children build dexterity as they help to cut fruits for snack. This helps to prepare them for later writing.
• Enthusiastic staff read to toddlers while dressed up as book characters. Children who are more active learners benefit from 'Wake up, shake up' physical activity sessions before more focused learning begins. Very occasionally, some staff do not adapt their teaching sufficiently well to engage children, including those who are less confident. There are sometimes few alternatives offered when children lose interest.
• Children behave well. Staff encourage them to speak about and manage their emotions. Children take turns, share resources and are eager to help others. Staff demonstrate respectful interactions with children. This supports children to acquire positive social skills.
• Staff complete home visits before children start attending. This helps children to develop positive attachments with them from the start. Although key persons know children well, they do not yet consistently plan activities that reflect children's languages and backgrounds. Nonetheless, children have opportunities to learn about some important cultural and religious events, such as Diwali and the Lunar New Year.
• Staff speak with children about the benefits of fruit as they eat snack. They help children to understand and manage risks as they play outdoors. Children use and dispose of tissues at the 'snuffle station'. They show that they understand how to look after their own physical needs.
• Senior leaders are responsive to the needs of parents. They work sensitively with parents, share nursery policies and provide health information and advice. Parents are now encouraged to come into the nursery and attend social events. Parents said that they are happy with the service. They value the regular information that they receive about their child's experiences.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• strengthen existing training and support for staff so that they better understand how to adapt teaching to consistently engage children in learning
• broaden opportunities for children to recognise and value their home languages and backgrounds and to understand what makes them unique.