Tiny Tots Day Care Nursery

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are eager to start their day at nursery and separate well from their parents and carers. Staff interactions are warm and nurturing and support children to become quickly engaged in their learning environment. Staff provide a curriculum that is broad and responsive to children's individual needs. They use children's interests to shape learning opportunities, for example by setting up construction areas. Children put on hard hats and pretend to be builders, using toy hammers and pieces of wood.

Books are integrated throughout the nursery, and staff actively promote a love of reading. Core books are explored consistently over time, allowing children to become familiar with stories and embed understanding. Babies explore different textures within books, and staff encourage them to touch and interact with these features while reading. Older children engage with activities linked to the books they read, such as exploring shells to link with the book 'Sharing a Shell'.

Children develop a strong sense of belonging in the nursery and build positive relationships with staff, which helps them feel confident and secure. Family photos are displayed on the walls, and children take pride in showing and talking about their families. Staff act as positive role models by joining children for lunch and supporting them to follow daily routines. This helps children to behave well.

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

• Language development is well supported across all age groups. Staff actively engage with children, providing rich language input. For example, during water play activities, staff model words such as 'squeeze'. They extend learning for older babies with two-word phrases, helping them to build vocabulary. Older children confidently use descriptive language while watching a gardener outside. Staff build on this interest by encouraging them to describe what they notice, supporting children to put their observations into words.
• Children's independence is actively promoted throughout the nursery by providing opportunities for self-care and choice in their play. During mealtimes, children are encouraged to serve their own food and clear their plates, supporting practical life skills. Children are confident with daily routines such as handwashing and tidying up. This reinforces responsibility and understanding of expectations. Activities are designed to allow children to make choices and take ownership of their learning.
• Older children enjoy a range of learning opportunities to help them build strength in their fingers in preparation for early writing skills. They learn how to use scissors and enjoy making their own play dough. However, staff have not considered reviewing the learning environment to ensure that older children are consistently engaged in purposeful play.
• Staff plan meaningful opportunities for children to engage in mathematics. For example, children explore volume as they fill jugs and mix coloured water together. The concept of size is introduced to younger children as they explore 'big' and 'little' sponges. This helps children to develop a positive attitude towards early mathematics learning.
• Partnerships with parents are well established. Families are kept well informed of their child's learning and development through regular consultations. Parents are actively involved in the life of the nursery. They share stories in their home languages and attend events, such as sports days and graduation ceremonies. Resources, such as home learning bags and lending libraries, encourage parents to continue their child's learning at home.
• The nursery plays an active role in the wider community. They have partnered with a local care home where children benefit from visits to spend time with residents. The nursery has links with local businesses, enabling children to donate flowers to the public. Children benefit from a wide range of extra-curricular activities, including yoga, football and science workshops. These experiences help to broaden children's understanding of the world around them.
• Leaders maintain a good oversight of the nursery with a clear commitment to continuous improvement. Systems to monitor staff practice are well embedded, with staff receiving regular supervision and observation of their practice. Professional development is prioritised, with staff accessing training through online platforms and whole-nursery training days. Leaders support staff well-being, providing access to counselling and initiatives that celebrate achievements.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• support staff to continuously evaluate the environment to ensure that older children are consistently engaged in purposeful play and learning.