Tots Junction

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are happy and well settled at this good nursery. Their eagerness to explore fills the air. Children have adapted well to changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, they part from their parents with ease at the main entrance. Staff build strong bonds with the children, which helps them to feel secure during their time at the nursery.

Children have positive attitudes towards their play and learning. For example, babies grow their physical strength as they learn to crawl and pull themselves up using low-level furniture. They notice their reflections in mirrors and babble with delight. Toddlers explore how the texture of cereal changes while crushing it using their hands and with rolling pins. They excitedly join in with singing about farm animals. Older children develop their pre-writing skills. They practise their small-muscle skills and hand-to-eye coordination with scissors and as they make 'cakes' using play dough. Children use their own ideas and make links in their learning. For example, they use small animal figures to make footprints in dough and tell their friends to 'stamp like this'. At lunchtime, children realise that they can make a 'triangle' using their cutlery.

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

• The provider explains that her vision is for 'children to feel happy and have their needs met', giving parents assurance that their children are 'cared for in a safe environment'. Leaders include the views of children, parents and staff in their self-evaluation. This helps leaders to identify ways to improve. For example, they have recently redesigned the curriculum, following changes to the statutory educational programmes.
• Children access a curriculum that follows their interests and builds on their prior knowledge. For example, staff follow children's interest in pirates by reading stories and teaching children pirate songs. However, staff are not always fully clear on what leaders intend children to learn, and how to implement this effectively. For example, staff working with younger children are not fully aware of how best to support children's communication and language skills.
• All children make good progress. Leaders consider how additional funding is spent to have the most impact for children. The provision in place for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities is good. Leaders work with parents and external professionals to make referrals and review children's development. This helps gaps in learning to close and helps to prepare children for their next stage in learning.
• Staff encourage children to be independent, such as by putting their coats and hats on by themselves. Children eat nutritious, home-cooked food. They remind each other to blow their food if it is too hot. Older children enjoy taking on additional responsibilities, such as helping to set the table for lunchtime.
• Children access the outdoor area each day. That said, leaders do not give outdoor learning enough priority, to support children who prefer to learn outdoors. For example, children's time outdoors is sometimes very short. Staff do not always make use of the outdoor space or resources to fully promote children's engagement in learning.
• Staff promote children's good behaviour well. For example, they remind children to use manners and to share toys with their friends. Children receive praise from staff when they succeed. For example, children confidently recall that they were given a golden star for 'sharing toys and tidying up'.
• Partnership working is strong. Leaders establish links with the schools that children move on to. Parents comment that the nursery is 'wonderful', and that their children 'grow in confidence and thrive', while making 'happy memories'.
• An effective programme of supervision and training helps staff to improve their practice. Staff report that they are happy and supported by leaders. For example, leaders allocate time for apprentices to complete their coursework. The well-being of staff is a priority for leaders. They provide staff with awards, such as 'employee of the month'.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• support staff to fully understand what leaders intend children to learn, particularly in communication and language, and how to implement this effectively
• identify how to better support children who prefer to learn outdoors, to fully promote their engagement in learning.