Swallows Day Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children arrive at the setting with enthusiasm and transition smoothly to the staff's care. Strong relationships between staff and parents are evident as they engage in meaningful conversations during the children's arrival, ensuring a seamless transition between home and nursery. Children seek reassurance from staff when needed. Staff enhance children's emotional well-being through gentle and kind interactions, fostering an environment of trust and care.

Staff have high expectations for all children. They are fantastic role models and teach children to follow rules and procedures with sensitivity. Children engage in play effectively; alone or with peers, demonstrating good behaviour and manners. For example, older children raise their hands to speak during group activities and wait patiently for their turn. Children use polite phrases like please and thank you. Staff communicate calmly, which keeps the noise level low, encouraging concentration and development.

The quality of education is good. Children make progress in various areas of their development during their time at nursery. Staff engage the children's individual needs and interests, building on their existing knowledge and skills through a variety of planned activities. For instance, younger children participate in making different moulds out of sand. Staff enhance their learning by encouraging them to count up to three before turning it over. They learn to listen and take turns, engaging in play and learning.

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

• The curriculum is designed to support children's development, with leaders and staff adapting to meet their individual needs. They have created a well-structured nursery to follow the curriculum. Activities are based on children's interests and specific topics. Staff focus on termly themes and plan corresponding activities and experiences. For example, while exploring the topic of 'bugs', children are shown real caterpillars and engage with the story of 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar'. Children demonstrate engagement and enthusiasm. Staff monitor children's development and have a thorough understanding of what the children already know and what they need to learn next.
• Children benefit from engaging in outdoor play. Toddlers demonstrate enjoyment when participating in outdoor activities, when they practise their physical abilities by climbing on large equipment and using ride-on toys. Staff utilise the space for group sessions, during which they explore musical instruments in various ways to enhance children's listening skills. Additionally, staff educate children about nature and animals. They teach the children to care for animals, such as chickens, guinea pigs, rabbits and a tortoise.
• Staff offer a range of activities, both adult-led and child-focused, aimed at engaging and stimulating children's curiosity. For instance, children participate in a story using props to enhance their experience. However, during some adult-led activities, children may occasionally wait for extended periods before it is their turn. Consequently, children become distracted and lose focus, and their engagement and learning do not develop as much as possible.
• Children benefit from a language-rich environment. Staff sing, read and talk with children throughout the day. Babies giggle and smile as staff sing familiar nursery rhymes to them during play. Staff actively engage in conversations, ask questions and give time for children to respond. Toddlers are encouraged to add words together. This supports all children as they learn to become confident communicators.
• Babies receive effective support. Staff arrange the environment to meet their various needs, such as exploring a sensory room. They model and repeat new words and phrases, engaging babies through meaningful interactions. When babies are tired, staff promptly help them settle in a cosy sleep room, supporting their emotional security.
• Leaders oversee staff and participate in tasks to maintain the functioning of the setting. Staff report positively about the management team, noting that they feel valued and happy in their roles. Staff have regular supervision sessions and are provided with various training opportunities to support their ongoing professional development. This aims to ensure that children receive quality care and education.
• Parent partnerships are strong, with parents praising leaders and staff for their support and openness. Staff share children's developmental progress, and parents value the daily updates on their child's activities and learning.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• develop group times to ensure children's continued engagement and learning
• provide further opportunities for children to develop and practise their independence skills.