Step by Step Day Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Staff support children to settle easily into this nursery and to form positive attachments with their key person. This helps children to develop the confidence they need to explore the learning environment and interact positively with their peers. Children seek staff out for comfort and settle quickly when they are upset. Children enjoy sitting with staff and their friends to join in with familiar stories and songs. Staff have a caring and patient approach. Children behave well and staff are good role models. Staff speak gently to children and demonstrate how to treat others respectfully. This helps children learn how to treat others and use polite language. Staff support children to learn how to share, take turns and develop their independence. Children make friends and often include others in their play.

Children enjoy opportunities to take part in a variety of learning opportunities in the nursery. They explore different materials and develop their imaginations through art activities. Staff encourage children to be creative and add their ideas to their work. While children play and create, staff ask them to talk about that they are doing. This helps children to develop their early speaking and storytelling skills. Staff discuss going to school with older children to prepare them for the transition to Reception class. This helps children to be ready for their eventual move to school.

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

• Staff are attentive to children's needs and support them to engage fully with the activities they choose. Children enjoy the praise and encouragement they receive from the adults who care for them. Children know the behaviour expected of them and treat others respectfully. This helps them apply themselves to their tasks and make good progress in their learning.
• Recent improvements and changes in the baby room mean that babies learn to move confidently. Staff have considered how the space is organised to enable babies to develop their physical skills as they explore their environment. Furniture is positioned thoughtfully so that babies can pull themselves to a standing position and build strength in their legs. Babies enjoy plenty of opportunities to extend their mobility on the climbing frame and the slide in the baby room.
• Children become independent in their self-care and develop good levels of confidence. They follow appropriate hygiene routines and wash their hands before and after eating. Older children are encouraged to use toileting facilities by themselves and learn to manage their own intimate care needs. However, staff do not make the most of opportunities to extend children's understanding of how to make a positive contribution to the daily routine, for example, by tidying up their toys and helping at mealtimes.
• Parents say that they are pleased with the care their children receive. They describe the staff as 'approachable' and 'friendly'. Parents comment positively on the progress their children make and the regular information they receive about their children's daily experiences. This means children experience consistency of care between home and nursery.
• Staff support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) to make good progress. When staff identify any delays in children's development, they devise appropriate support plans. Staff involve parents in deciding learning targets and making referrals to external agencies. The manager ensures staff can receive further training so that children receive the right support.
• Leaders have addressed the weaknesses identified at the previous inspection and have made improvements to the environment. They have reviewed their risk assessments and made necessary changes to ensure that hazards are removed. Staff have improved their knowledge and understanding to support them to fulfil their roles and responsibilities. Staff understand how to implement a curriculum that supports children's needs and next steps. Staff report that changes to staffing arrangements, including recruitment, mean that workloads are manageable.
• Staff plan indoor activities to support children's learning. Children can freely access experiences that engage them and help them develop their skills. However, although children are very keen to play outside, staff have not considered the outdoor area well enough to ensure the quality of education is consistent both indoors and outdoors.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• ensure children can access activities and experiences across all areas of learning wherever they choose to play
• make the most of everyday opportunities to support children to help and make an active contribution to the daily routine.