The Little Den Day Nursery - Basford

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Staff have a clear understanding of their key children. They respond well to their individual needs. For example, where children show signs of tiredness, hunger, or are generally unsettled, staff firstly meet that need and then provide the children with lots of cuddles as reassurance. This approach is successful in ensuring that children build and maintain positive relationships with the staff. Children comment that they like 'kicking balls' while they play outdoors. Younger children shake different musical instruments as they dance to familiar songs and rhymes. Children carefully follow the instructions of the staff. They behave well.

Children thoroughly enjoy sensory activities, such as sand play. Some use their hands to pick up the sand and then watch in awe as it pours out. Other children use the different-sized diggers to scoop, dig and collect the sand. Staff provide lots of ways to extend children's learning as they add water to the sand and talk about the different textures. They also share stories and videos with the children to show them how they can use the diggers. The support in place for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities is good. Staff carefully observe and monitor the children to set further targets that enable them to continue to thrive in their development.

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

• Leaders are passionate and ambitious. They are driven to ensure that children receive the right level of support they require in their care and/or learning. Leaders think about what the children will continue to need as they prepare to leave their setting and put effective measures in place to support them. They reflect well on the setting to identify further areas where they can continue to raise outcomes for children.
• Staff comment incredibly highly about the support they receive from leaders. Leaders use supervisions to continuously monitor staff practice. They coach staff and identify any training needs that staff may have. Leaders do this with an aim of deepening staff knowledge and raising the quality of teaching and learning that children receive.
• The curriculum covers all areas of learning. Staff place focus on supporting children's language development. They remodel children's language skilfully as they correct children's pronunciations. Staff use what they know about the children to plan a range of purposeful adult-led activities. However, as children free play, there are limited resources for the children to engage with. This results in occasions where they do not remain engaged and highly motivated to learn.
• At times, the organisation of routines is not well thought out, particularly around mealtimes. For example, children are requested to sit and wait for their meals for long periods of time before it is given to them. This results in occasions where children become restless and slightly frustrated. However, staff members generally interact well with the children during this time.
• Staff find out children's starting points from parents. They also complete their own observations and assessments to identify what children already know and can do. Staff effectively identify next steps for learning and develop plans for the children to build on their knowledge. They work well with parents and other professionals where concerns are raised about a child's development, to ensure that children continue to flourish.
• Parents comment positively about the support that leaders provide for their children. They state that staff are friendly and always take action on any concerns they raise. Staff gather key information from parents before their child starts, such as any medical or dietary requirements. Leaders ensure that this information is shared with all staff and updated regularly. Staff keep parents informed about their child's learning and provide them with lots of activities and tips that they can do to extend their child's learning at home.
• Staff use a range of events throughout the year to teach children about themselves and others. Children enjoy looking at pictures of their families as part of group time activities. Children are respectful and show care towards each other.
• Children are provided with a range of healthy meals. Staff use this to have discussions with children about what their bodies need to stay healthy. They provide lots of opportunities for children to get physical. This supports children to start to learn how they can live healthy lifestyles.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• adapt the organisation of routines, particularly during mealtimes, to minimise waiting times for children
• provide rich and stimulating activities as children free play, to ensure they remain engaged and highly motivated to learn.