The Kids Niche

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children behave well. They are polite to their friends when learning about the vets they make casts for their toy animals. They develop good social skills and are considerate. For example, they 'thank you' when their friends pass them a resource. Children use their imagination during play and pretend to be a doctor. They recall what they have been learning about and how to care for poorly patients. Children place bandages and plasters on their toy patients to help them feel better. They show motivation and concentrate as they decorate their home-made doctor's surgery. Children know that people go to a doctor's surgery when they feel unwell and know about the different treatments that doctors provide.

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

• The manager has a good understanding of the intent for the curriculum. She regularly monitors the quality of the provision. This is to ensure staff are providing activities for children that build on their knowledge. Children learn about the skills they will need to help them to transition to school. They learn about their emotions and how to overcome these.
• Staff use assessments well to support children with making progress in their development. They regularly review what the children can already do and what they need to learn next. For example, they use mealtimes well to help children to progress in their physical development. This includes using an unlidded cup instead of beaker and learning how to use a wider range of cutlery.
• The special educational needs coordinator (SENCo) works closely with children who may be falling behind with their learning. This is to ensure all children are making good progress. She works in partnership with parents and other professionals to ensure that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) get the support they need at the right time.
• Staff attend regular supervisions and build on their professional skills following peer observations and discussions on improvements they can make. Staff speak highly of the opportunities to attend training and share the positive impact of this. For example, staff have built better knowledge of how to identify possible signs with younger children who may have SEND. Staff say their well-being is well supported. The management team has fostered a positive culture and provide staff with a supportive working ethos.
• Parents speak highly of the support they receive for their children. Staff regularly meet with parents to discuss their child's development. Parents receive updates of their children's learning at the end of each session. Parents appreciate the newsletters that inform them of events in the nursery.
• Children learn to be independent in a range of activities. For instance, washing their hands or putting on their apron ready to paint. Staff follow effective procedures to support children's health.
• Children eagerly explore a range of interesting activities. Staff build on children's knowledge as they support them during adult-led activities. For example, children learn about the bones in a dog's body and make x-ray pictures of what they have learned. However, staff do not plan the learning environment as well as to fully challenge children during their independent play.
• Overall, children generally transition well between activities as staff plan good routines to support children to understand what happens next. Children's transitions between being in the garden and coming into the rooms are smooth. However, on occasions, staff are not successful when they support children between activities and daily routines, such as lunchtime. This means that children sometimes become slightly disengaged as they wait for the next activity or routine to begin.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• help staff to identify how to enhance the learning environment so this fully challenges children during their independent play
• review and enhance daily routines so children's learning can be maximised throughout the day.