Tiny Turtles Daycare

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

A headline strength of this nursery is the kind and caring staff. Children flourish in their emotional security. To illustrate, babies laugh wholeheartedly when they are tickled. Older children are reassured by holding hands with familiar staff. This nurturing approach to children's care helps to foster children's happiness and well-being. Staff offer children a warm welcome when they arrive, and they quickly settle. Children are encouraged to share their opinions. Staff regularly ask them what they wish to play with. Children choose their toys and games with careful thought. There are always plenty of fun activities on offer, which helps to enthuse and excite children in their play. Children are helpful and enjoy undertaking small responsibilities. For instance, at lunchtime they help to prepare the table with cutlery and cups. They are proud of their contribution to this routine and show confidence and a self-assured attitude. Children listen to instructions and understand what to do and how to behave. Simple rules are discussed with children each day to reinforce boundaries. Praise is regularly offered, and staff reward children with star stickers to recognise and celebrate achievements. Children learn right from wrong and cooperate well.

Staff make good use of spontaneous opportunities, as these arise, to extend children's learning. For example, children notice an aeroplane flying overhead. Staff encourage them to discuss transport and to think about what destinations they may be travelling to. This supports children's imagination. Visitors to the setting help to enrich children's learning experiences. For example, there is a flurry of excitement when a visiting police vehicle sounds their siren. Children learn in very hands-on ways about emergency services and people who help us. This helps to develop children's appreciation of the wider world around them. Children benefit from learning outside in the garden. They explore an outdoor water station. Children show impressive critical thinking and problem-solving skills when they catch water as it trickles and cascades down. Children who attend this nursery are busy, happy and have fun.

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

• Since the last inspection, the ambitious management team has made improvements to the environment and curriculum. Staff have attended training to improve their teaching skills. Planning and assessment systems have been redesigned and embedded into practice. Children benefit from an ambitious curriculum, safe space and high-quality teaching.
• Staff invest significant time and effort preparing a stimulating learning environment. They proactively research new and exciting activity ideas. Every day, tables and floor-based activities are displayed in an inviting way to excite and enthuse children. This dedication helps to create a fun learning space, and children remain continually occupied.
• Staff carefully track children's progress. Observation and assessment is used well to identify what children need to learn next. Staff clearly know what they want children to learn during activities. This helps to focus teaching with precision and supports children's development.
• Staff develop strong links with other professionals, including teachers, health visitors and speech therapists. This collaboration and professional teamwork helps to ensure that all children's needs are met.
• Partnerships with parents are good. Parents are highly complimentary about the quality of service they receive. They particularly praise the daily communication they have with staff as a key strength.
• Children play in the fresh air every day and enjoy the activities that staff plan for them. They exert themselves by running and climbing. This contributes to children's good physical health.
• Staff well-being is promoted. Team-building events and a caring approach from the leadership team help staff to feel valued and respected. In turn, staff are committed, dedicated and driven. This impacts on the quality of their practice and experiences for children.
• Children hear plenty of language as staff provide ongoing narration when children play. However, sometimes, staff ask closed questions or do not allow children time to respond to questions. This limits opportunities for children to contribute to discussion and conversations.
• Overall, children focus and concentrate during play. However, occasionally, particularly at mealtimes, the volume in the room becomes distracting for children. This prevents concentration and is a little disruptive for some children.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• develop staff's skills to engage children in two-way conversations, pausing and allowing children time to think and respond to questions
• help staff to be more aware of distractions in the environment to enable children to concentrate and focus more.