The Rocking Horse Childcare Centre

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children happily arrive at the nursery and are greeted by the friendly and welcoming staff. They independently hang their coats on their assigned pegs before exploring the activities that staff have planned. Children build strong and warm relationships with staff. They go to them for cuddles and reassurance. This helps them to feel safe and secure in their care. Staff use books creatively to help children develop their language. For example, children use props to re-enact parts of the book 'The Gruffalo'. They competently turn the pages and use expression as they repeat the rhyming parts, which they remember well.

Staff support children to learn to do things for themselves. For example, children pour their own drinks and serve themselves at mealtimes. Babies learn to feed themselves. Children wash their hands regularly, and staff take time to teach children the benefits of regular handwashing.

Children enjoy the time they spend outside. They show good hand-to-eye coordination as they dig and make sandcastles in the sand tray. Children develop their coordination skills further as they manoeuvre ride-on cars and bicycles. Children build an obstacle course using the large construction outside. They check that it is safe before confidently balancing across. The curriculum covers all areas of learning well. Children gain useful skills in preparation for school.

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

• Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) thrive in this setting. The deputy manager coordinates the provision for children with SEND, liaising closely with families and other professionals. Staff are proactive in accessing early help and swiftly address any gaps in children's learning to help them make the best possible progress.
• The manager has recognised that, following the COVID-19 pandemic, specialist services are extremely busy. This means that referrals made for these services are taking longer than expected. Staff in the setting have attended additional training so that they can implement strategies to support the development of children's speech and language. There is a designated language lead in the nursery, who is deployed effectively to work with children who need extra support. This has had a positive impact on the children's communication and language. It has also helped to improve staff knowledge and skills.
• Staff give children timely reminders about the expectations of the nursery, such as 'kind hands' and 'walking feet'. However, when staff give positive praise to the children, they often comment 'good boy' or 'well done'. This means that children do not know what they have been praised for so that they can continue to show this desired behaviour.
• Staff promote a love of reading. There are comfortable chairs for the children to get cosy in and relax. Families are encouraged to borrow books from the nursery library to share at home. This supports children's early literacy skills.
• There are effective arrangements in place for supervisions, which includes opportunities to identify training needs. Staff well-being is also a priority. Staff express how they feel supported and valued.
• Staff know the children well, and they plan activities based on the children's interests. Staff understand the importance of building on what children already know and can do. During activities, staff engage in conversation with the children and ask some challenging questions. However, occasionally, staff do not adapt their teaching practice to model and demonstrate. This means that, sometimes, when children are presented with new activities, they are unsure of what they should do, and they lose interest.
• Staff maintain good levels of hygiene and safety in the nursery. Potties and nappy changing mats are cleaned after each use. Milk and food preparation takes place in a hygienic kitchen that has suitable equipment and storage areas. All gates and doors are secure.
• The baby room is a strength of this nursery. Staff in this room have enhanced their practice with specific training for bottle feeding and sleeping. Relevant information is shared about children's care and development when they first start. This ensures that attachments are formed and babies' unique needs are consistently met.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• help children to understand why they are being praised for positive behaviour so they develop an awareness of behavioural expectations
• provide highly effective teaching that helps children to achieve the best possible outcomes.