Tiddlywinks Day Nursery (Kempston Rural) Limited

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The nursery is warm, bright and welcoming for all children. They enter the nursery happily and become quickly engaged in a wide range of activities. Children develop great friendships and actively seek each other out to play with. They have good relationships with staff. Staff are kind-hearted and nurturing as they help children to enjoy their learning and develop their confidence. Staff praise children when they give the correct answer or work out how to do something. This helps to boost children's self-esteem. Children demonstrate good behaviour. They are curious learners and benefit from the experiences available to them. Children concentrate on and explore activities for long periods of time.

Children gain an understanding of mathematical concepts during a range of activities. They use magnetic bricks to make 'long' snakes and then lie on the floor and measure themselves against the number of bricks. The children discuss who is the longest. Younger children work out how many toy animals they can fit in their boats before the shark gets them. While playing in the garden, children look for shapes within the environment. They look at the roof and spend time working out that it is a cone shape.

Staff share books effectively with all children. Younger children enjoy looking at a book about zoo animals. They guess what animal is in the picture, then lift the flaps to find out. Older children look at the toys in a story sack. Staff read through the story, stopping at different parts to ask questions about what animal will come next. Children guess which animal it might be, then find the matching toy from the sack. This helps to support children's literacy development.

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

• Parents are very happy with the nursery. They find all staff approachable and have good relationships with their child's key person. They feel the nursery provides a lot of information regarding their child's development. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the nursery staff remained in contact with all parents. Parents said they found this effective in supporting their children's return to nursery.
• All children make good progress. Those children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are supported particularly well throughout their time at the nursery. Staff are knowledgeable about child development, enabling them to help children learn. However, on occasion, staff do not always extend the abilities of higher achieving children.
• Children are independent throughout the day. Older children find their own names when they arrive. At mealtimes, children hand out the dinners to their peers, which they eat with knives and forks. Children can choose when to go out into the garden. They go to the cloakroom and independently put on their 'wet suits' and wellies. Children talk about whether they need to wear their hats and gloves because it is so cold. This allows them to make decisions about their own needs.
• Staff encourage healthy lifestyles across the nursery. Children have the opportunity for fresh air each day, and learn how to wear the right clothing to ensure they stay warm. Recently, the staff introduced yoga sessions. They teach children about different breathing techniques. This helps to promote children's mental well-being. In the summertime, staff offer outdoor sport lessons. Children learn about getting their hearts racing. They have opportunities to learn about how to keep their teeth healthy, for example when the dentist comes to visit.
• Children develop good speaking and listening skills at the nursery. Staff talk to children at their own level and maintain eye contact. This helps to ensure that children concentrate on what is being said to them. Children sing songs throughout the nursery day, which encourages their language development. However, at times, staff do not introduce more complex vocabulary to extend children's learning even further.
• There are chances for children to take risks, both inside and outside. This includes balancing on beams and logs in the garden. While out on walks in the local area, children climb trees and explore the woodlands. Staff are always close by to support those children who need it.
• The managers have a clear vision for the nursery. They have a good understanding of their own improvement plans and are already taking steps to achieve their goals. The leaders provide staff with good-quality training and ensure this is up to date and relevant to the children in their care.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• support staff to develop skills to extend the learning of higher achieving children even further
• help staff introduce even more vocabulary into children's learning and play.