Tiddlers Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children receive a warm welcome from staff as they arrive at nursery. Staff are keen to hear about what children have been doing at home. Children are eager to hang their coats up and get ready for their day ahead.

Children sail the 'Tiddlers C's' to become confident, curious and caring with a strong sense of self. Staff create an interesting and stimulating environment that sparks children's natural curiosity to learn. They plan an exciting and varied curriculum for all children. Staff share the curriculum with parents, along with ideas of ways they can continue their child's learning at home.

Staff are positive role models for children. They talk to them about the importance of sharing, taking turns and being kind to one another. Staff give gentle reminders to children as needed during the day. They build children's confidence and self-esteem through praise and encouragement. Staff use facial expressions to show babies and younger children they have done well. Children show through their behaviour that they feel safe and secure in nursery.

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

• Leadership within the nursery is strong. Leaders and their staff team have worked hard since the last inspection to make improvements. The improvements they have made mean that the safeguarding and welfare, and learning and development requirements are met.
• Staff well-being is a priority. Leaders recognise the skills and abilities of the staff team. Staff's continued professional development means that their knowledge and understanding in a wide range of subjects are ongoing. They meet regularly as a staff team to share ideas and best practice.
• Children learn good hygiene routines to keep them healthy. They understand the importance of washing their hands at appropriate times throughout the day and taking care of their teeth. Staff sensitively meet the personal care needs of children. They work with parents to support their child through developmental milestones, such as toilet training.
• Mealtimes are a relaxed, social occasions. Children enjoy a wide variety of freshly prepared meals throughout the week. High levels of supervision during mealtimes mean that children remain safe. Children develop independence from an early age. Older children serve their own food and staff support younger children as they learn to feed themselves using appropriate cutlery. Children's individual dietary needs and preferences are met well.
• Children benefit from fresh air and exercise. They enjoy spending time outside being physically active and exploring their environment. Children enjoy learning about how things grow and the life cycle of plants. They develop dexterity as they use a variety of small tools to fill plant pots with soil and carefully place wildflower seeds into the soil. Children recognise that the seeds need water and sunshine to help them grow. However, staff could further enhance the curriculum in ways that promote even deeper learning and progress in the outdoor area.
• Provision for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is a particular strength. Staff work extremely closely with parents and other professionals involved in children's lives to ensure sharply focused development plans support children to make the best progress. Staff place great importance on ensuring their knowledge and understanding of all relevant information relating to specific medical needs are robust.
• Staff encourage children's use of language through conversations, books and songs. Children look forward to circle time, which supports this well. They sing favourite songs, such as 'Five Currant Buns', with gusto. Children watch carefully as a member of staff creates currant buns using foam. As children pretend to pay for one of the buns, a member of staff carefully tries to scoop them up with a ladle to give to the children, but ends up squashing them making a large 'splat' sound. The children giggle loudly. A targeted provision for children aged between 18 and 24 months emphasises the enhancement of communication and language development, meeting each child's individual needs through a highly personalised approach.
• Parents speak highly about the service provided and the care and consideration given from each member of staff towards them and their children. They say that they feel secure that their children are cared for in a safe environment and state that they never have any worries about the care provided. They say that they wish that there was a 'Tiddlers school'.
• Effective routines are in place should a child become unwell during the day to minimise the spread of infection. Staff deal with accidents swiftly and sensitively. Staff complete appropriate medical records, which are shared with parents.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• support staff to consider more ways to encourage even deeper learning and progress in the outdoor area.