UK Kidz

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are happy and settled at this welcoming setting. Staff are caring and enthusiastic, welcoming children at the start of each session. Children excitedly find their picture to self-register and place it on their peg before independently hanging up their coat and bag. Children are pleased to see their friends on arrival. They eagerly join in with the activities set out to engage them in learning. The setting has good routines in place, which children are familiar with. For example, children know after they have finished their snack to get their coat on ready for outdoor play. This helps children to feel safe and secure.

There is an ambitious curriculum in place that covers all seven areas of learning. Staff are very attentive and follow children's interests to help them to progress in their learning. Staff ensure that children have regular opportunities to explore and play outside. This has a positive impact on children's health and well-being. It gives them a wide variety of opportunities to practise and develop their physical skills as they run, jump, dig and kick large balls. Children learn to share and take turns with play equipment. They use their imaginations as they pretend to make cakes in the sandpit using sand as flour and shells as eggs. Children are gently guided by attentive staff.

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

• Staff actively support children's communication and language skills. They recognise the importance of supporting children who speak English as an additional language. There are some staff members who speak children's first languages, as well as using visual communication. This supports children to develop their communication skills.
• Staff value and respect the varied cultures and experiences of children who attend the setting. They help children to celebrate these. Children explore similarities and differences between different faiths and cultural communities. They have the opportunity to learn about a wide variety of celebrations. These activities positively promote the diverse world in which children live and prepare them for life in modern Britain.
• Children learn to be independent in the setting. They take off and put on their own coats and hang them up, wash their hands independently, pour their own drinks and self-serve at snack time. Staff encourage children to collect their own lunch boxes from their bags at lunchtime. This helps to give children a sense of responsibility and high self-esteem.
• The setting promotes healthy eating and an active lifestyle. Staff ensure that children have a choice of nutritious snacks. There is a healthy packed lunch box policy in place. Staff help to educate parents on the importance of healthy eating for their children. They understand the importance of promoting good oral hygiene. Children brush their teeth after lunch and proudly show off their clean teeth and admire them in the mirror.
• Staff support children well as they play. They extend children's learning, following their interests. For example, as children enjoy playing with the sea creatures in the water tray, staff encourage them to think about mathematical concepts, such as comparing sizes of the turtles and understanding placement by putting creatures on and under the boat. However, staff do not consistently give children time to listen, think and respond to questions, to promote deeper learning and foster their confidence further.
• Children behave well. Staff are positive role models and have high expectations of children. Children receive lots of encouragement and beam with pride as staff praise their achievements. However, staff do not always set consistent boundaries. For example, on occasion, children are encouraged to scoop sand out of the sandpit using the excavator, but on other occasions are told that the sand must remain in the sand pit. This can lead to confusion, with children not knowing what is expected of them.
• Partnerships with parents and carers are strong. The setting goes above and beyond to support parents and the local community. The setting has recently been recognised for this with an award from the local authority. Parents speak highly of the setting. They feel that they are kept informed of their children's progress and supported to extend their children's learning at home.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• give children time to think, reflect and answer when asking questions so they can process information, formulate thoughtful responses and build confidence in their abilities
• ensure that all staff are consistent in their approach so that children know what is expected of them.