Tinkerbells Day Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are happy and enjoy their time at the busy nursery. Children show that they feel safe as they greet staff with hugs. Babies who are new to the nursery quickly build strong bonds with staff.

Children understand what is expected of them at the nursery. They understand the routines of the day and follow the rules. For example, older children make 'pre-school promises', such as to have 'kind hands'. Staff are respectful and are good role models for children. Children behave well.

Children demonstrate positive attitudes towards their play and learning. They are keen to join in with planned activities but are also happy to lead their own play. Children choose from the wide range of interesting resources on offer, which are appropriately challenging for each age group.

Children's physical development and overall well-being are well supported. Children look forward to playing in the outdoor area each day. They laugh with their friends as they spray hosepipes. Staff encourage children to climb in and out of tractor tyres and to balance on low wooden beams. Children benefit from the fresh air and exercise.

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

• Leaders strive to continually improve the children's experience of nursery. They evaluate the provision regularly. Leaders identify areas for improvement and make changes that have a positive impact on children.
• Staff supervisions are used effectively to identify training needs. Training is targeted to benefit children. For instance, staff have completed training on supporting children's speech and language skills. Leaders are mindful of staff's well-being.
• Staff use assessment effectively to monitor what children know and can do. They know children well and plan for their learning, taking account of individual interests. Staff ensure that children's prior learning is embedded before moving on. Children make good progress in their learning.
• Children who receive additional funding and children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are well supported. Staff understand and meet children's individual needs. Leaders liaise with other agencies to ensure that children have access to appropriate support. Funding is spent on training and resources to benefit children's specific needs.
• Leaders and staff promote a love of reading. Staff read to children, and children also choose to look at books by themselves. Children enjoy visits from the mobile library and take books home to share with parents. Children are chatty and confident. Their language and literacy skills are well promoted.
• Children learn about shape and colour from the youngest age. Some older children build on their numeracy skills through their play. However, the curriculum for mathematics is not yet consistently implemented throughout the provision. This hinders children's ability to build strong foundations in their early understanding of numeracy.
• Building children's independence skills is a real strength of the nursery. From the earliest age staff encourage children to complete tasks for themselves. Staff seamlessly build on children's skills. For example, two-year-old children serve their own food, and pre-school children wash their own plates after lunch. Children learn important life skills.
• Children's emotional literacy is promoted effectively. Staff encourage children to talk about and understand their feelings. They sensitively step in to support children when frustrations occur, helping them learn to resolve disputes calmly.
• Children learn about the customs and celebrations of other cultures. They learn some words from other languages, such as Polish and Lithuanian, which their friends speak at home. Children who speak English as an additional language are supported to learn and play in their home language as well as in English. Children begin to appreciate our diverse world.
• Partnerships with parents are strong. Parents are encouraged to share experiences from home using the online application. Staff share information with parents about what their children are learning at nursery. Parents feel involved in their children's learning.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• develop the curriculum for mathematics and implement it consistently to further support children's understanding of numeracy.