The Ark Day Care Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Babies settle well at this caring nursery. Staff build strong bonds with them and take great care to ensure that their needs are fully met. For example, they find out about babies' feeding and sleep routines and maintain these to help them to settle well. Staff interact very warmly with babies. who respond with joy and delight. All children settle securely and are happy and confident. Staff value each child and have high expectations of them.

The curriculum is broad and interesting. This helps all children to make good progress. They gain valuable skills in preparation for school. Children learn how to express themselves creatively. For instance, they enjoy making patterns in puddles sprinkled with red powder paint in the garden. They draw and paint using different tools and materials. Children gain an understanding of difference. Staff invite parents into the nursery to talk about their cultural traditions. They read stories to children about special religious festivals, such as Hanukkah and Eid.

Children behave in safe ways. Staff teach children how to use tools, such as scissors, with care and caution. They teach children about road safety and children act carefully while walking outdoors. Children gain good social skills. For instance, they share resources as they take part in imaginative play and when using outdoor resources.

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

• Children develop good mathematical skills. For instance, staff teach children different shape names. Staff use words such as 'big' and 'small' to teach children about size. Staff support children's counting skills, for example, by singing number rhymes and songs.
• Children gain good independence skills. They demonstrate this as they learn how to put on their coats and shoes. At meal and snack times, they pour their own drinks. All children take part in tidying away toys and resources at the end of play sessions.
• Children gain an understanding about the world. Staff plant and grow herbs and vegetables with children and teach them where food comes from. They take children on walks around the garden to find minibeasts and discuss how they live and grow.
• Staff support children's communication, language and literacy skills effectively. They teach children new words, such as 'sticky' and 'cold' as they play with play dough. Staff read a variety of stories to children and encourage them to make comments. Staff teach children new words as they sing action rhymes and songs.
• Children behave well. Staff share group rules with children and they know what is expected of them. Staff are calm and fair, and explain why some behaviour is not acceptable.
• Children enjoy a wide range of physical challenges in the spacious outdoor area. They balance and steer wheeled toys, climb up ladders and run and jump. Babies have good opportunities to crawl, pull themselves up and move in various ways.
• The manager is supportive of staff and ensures that she meets regularly with them to support their work. She supports their well-being, for instance, by providing time off for staff to deal with any personal matters.
• The manager is keen to develop staff's skills and knowledge. Staff attend a broad range of courses, including a course on behaviour management, which led to greater awareness in this area.
• The manager reviews how well the nursery is performing on a regular basis. She identifies strengths and weaknesses and sets clear goals for improvement. For instance, the manager plans to enhance staff's understanding of how to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
• Staff work successfully with parents. One parent said, 'Staff are very supportive and work well with parents to ensure potty-training success.' Staff provide parents with regular updates on children's activities and progress. They work very effectively with the local authority to promote best outcomes for children.
• The manager promotes healthy lifestyles for children. She provides freshly prepared, nutritious meals and snacks, which meet children's special dietary needs. Staff ensure that children take part in daily physical activities in the outdoor area.
• Staff have begun to teach children about how to keep their teeth and gums healthy. For instance, they talk to children about the importance of cleaning their teeth. However, this has not been fully developed to support their understanding of how to look after their teeth and gums further.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• develop children's awareness of good oral hygiene further, to fully support their understanding of how to keep their teeth and gums healthy.