The Little Tugboat Day Nursery Ltd

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are happy in this community-focused, nurturing environment. Staff quickly form strong bonds with children and their parents. Staff use effective strategies to quickly settle children so that they feel safe and secure. The staff adopt a 'child-centred' approach to implementing the curriculum and are confident to talk about children's next steps. They work closely with parents to support them with ideas of how they can help at home. Children are happy and are keen to communicate their enjoyment while engaging in learning.

Children behave well. For example, they sit and take turns during circle times. They enjoy the 'Knock, knock on the box' game. They find the hidden objects inside the box that inspire them to sing a range of familiar songs. They join staff in singing action songs and fill in missing song words as staff pause for them to join in.

Staff carefully plan a range of activities for children to develop their fine motor skills. Staff model how to 'squeeze' the tweezers to collect coloured pom-poms. They support children to develop their skills in using scissors and modelling and manipulating clay. This helps to strengthen the small muscles in their hands, which supports their next steps in writing.

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

• Children enjoy using their senses to learn about the world around them. For example, babies enjoy the sensory experience of using blue coloured water and cornflour as they pretend to explore the ocean. Older children smell fruit teabags and squeeze lemons and limes to make cups of tea for a tiger, after reading their favourite book. Staff support children well as they develop their imagination.
• Children enjoy the designated reading areas throughout the nursery to independently self-select books. Staff enjoy retelling familiar stories. Younger children enjoy watching puppets alongside the story of 'The Three Little Pigs'. Older children are supported in developing their vocabulary as they sequence the story, 'The Tiger Who Came to Tea'. This supports children in developing a love for reading.
• Staff model their expectations for children's behaviour well. Staff remind children about making good choices and remind them of the 'Golden Nursery Rules' of listening carefully, sharing and taking turns. Staff adopt a positive approach to managing children's behaviour. For example, explaining why the story puppets need to be put away.
• Leaders are passionate about the development of staff. They offer regular coaching and mentoring opportunities to further develop staff in their practice. Most staff set challenging targets for children through their planned activities and interactions. However, even more support is needed to help staff to challenge younger children. This would ensure that there is consistency in maintaining high expectations for all children throughout the nursery.
• Children learn the importance of healthy eating as part of a healthy lifestyle. For instance, they role play using a variety of real fruits and vegetables. Children enjoy mealtimes and staff sit with them making it a social experience. Staff talk to children about the foods that are good for them. They teach children to be thankful for the foods they have to eat and enjoy.
• Staff support children in developing independence. Children follow steps to wash and dry their own hands. Babies feed themselves with spoons and older children use serving spoons to help themselves to vegetables. Older children are given strategies to develop their independence in getting ready for outdoor play.
• Leaders and managers ensure that all children are ready for the next stages in their learning, including starting school. They work closely with the local schools to ensure smooth transitions. They work alongside external agencies to ensure that all children make expected progress, including children with English as an additional language (EAL). Staff report high levels of well-being and feel fully supported as they work towards achieving early years recognised qualifications.
• Parents are happy with the nursery. They receive regular daily communication, and they know their children's next steps. They are invited in to attend parent workshops covering a wide range of topics to support them further with their children's development.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• further support staff with planning and target setting to ensure consistency in maintaining high expectations for younger children.