Smartys Toddler Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children and parents receive a warm welcome when they arrive at this friendly nursery. Children quickly settle into the routine of the day and become engrossed in their play. Babies and toddlers are keen to explore the environment and enjoy making choices about what they would like to do. Children develop good relationships with staff and feel safe and secure in this nurturing nursery. This is because staff take their time getting to know the children and have good attachments with them.

Children enjoy being outside in the fresh air. They are developing their physical skills through their enjoyment of using outdoor equipment. For example, they skilfully move along the balancing beams and manoeuvre bikes around the track. They choose a variety of activities, such as digging and water play, filling and emptying containers with water. Children are keen to look at the woodlouse they find. They have a lovely conversation about the creature and carefully return it to its habitat. This shows children's interest in the world around them. Children are busy, display high levels of curiosity and remain consistently engaged. For instance, once they finish an activity, they eagerly move on to the next one to explore and learn.

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

• The manager has high expectations for the children in her care. Her curriculum covers all areas of learning and is well sequenced. Staff are fully aware of the intent for the curriculum, and this is well implemented. Staff collect information from parents about what their children can do when they first join, to fully understand children's starting points in learning. Staff use their observations effectively to identify children's next steps in learning. When children need extra help, staff arrange effective activities and support to meet their needs.
• Kind, caring and experienced staff get to know children well. They support children's varied needs effectively. For instance, they encourage younger babies to pull themselves up to access resources and older babies to take steps independently. Staff support children's developing self-care skills effectively and encourage good hygiene routines. They teach children about healthy food choices and oral health. Babies and toddlers benefit from going on regular walks around the local area.
• Children make good progress in their communication and language skills. Staff provide a narrative for children as they play, modelling sounds and words, and playing peekaboo with babies. Staff regularly encourage children to sing, use rhymes and look at books. Two-year-olds recall actions and some words to their favourite songs. All children are confident to express their wants and needs. However, occasionally, staff do not find out older children's ideas when introducing an activity to further extend children's language skills and optimise their learning.
• Staff are good role models and use their knowledge of behaviour management well. They use a gentle approach to help children learn how to behave. They teach children the importance of sharing and turn taking. In addition, staff offer regular praise during activities to boost children's self-esteem.
• Parents say that staff are approachable and friendly. They confirm that their children have developed their skills and knowledge since attending the nursery and state that they are pleased with their children's progress. Parents have the opportunity to share news and information about children's achievements and current interests online and at parent consultations. This helps staff to plan for what children need to learn next, using their interests to engage and motivate them. Parents receive information about current topics and events at the nursery. This helps them join in with opportunities for learning at home.
• The manager and staff team are reflective and they work hard to continually improve the setting. Staff make sure that the environment offers a mixture of support and challenge for all children. Regular supervision, opportunities for training and discussions help staff to feel valued and supported in their work.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• review the planning of some activities, to help children to express their ideas and develop a wider and more varied vocabulary.