Westhoughton Kids Club

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Staff greet children with a warm welcome. As a result, children are happy and confident as they enter the nursery. Staff have created a caring and nurturing environment, and they know the children well. This helps children to settle quickly.

Children behave well. Routines and expectations are clear for children, so they are able to begin to understand how to manage their own behaviour. Children, particularly in the pre-school room, show a good attitude towards learning. They thrive on positive reinforcement, which helps them to develop a can-do attitude. For example, children are eager to have a go at new challenges and excitedly express to staff when they have learned something new.

Staff provide a variety of learning experiences for children. For example, babies practise their large-muscle movements on the indoor slide and explore making marks in paint. Toddlers use their imaginations as they create a pretend road using big sheets of paper. Pre-school children develop their understanding of the world as they learn about the king's coronation. Overall, children have many opportunities to acquire knowledge and skills in all areas of their development.

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

• The new manager has made significant progress since the previous inspection. The manager and staff have reflected on the actions raised and made improvements. For example, there is now a strong emphasis on supporting staff development through training to achieve better outcomes for children. This has helped to create a more confident and knowledgeable workforce.
• The manager has a clear intent for what she wants children to achieve. Staff understand the curriculum and implement it well. They plan interesting experiences for children, which ensures that their individual learning needs are met. As a result, children are making good progress in their development.
• Children have some opportunities to problem-solve. For example, they use resources, such as crates, to make steps to help them reach the water tubes. However, at times, staff focus a little too much on directing children's learning. This limits opportunities for children to test their own ideas.
• Mathematics is embedded throughout the nursery. For example, older children learn about counting in sequence as they engage in outdoor games. Younger children are introduced to mathematical language, such as 'tall' and 'short', as they build with blocks. This purposeful experience helps children to develop their early mathematical knowledge.
• The manager has a clear intent for communication and language development. Staff regularly sing songs with children and have a nursery rhyme of the month, which they share with parents. They also introduce new words to children, which helps them to develop a wide vocabulary. However, this is not consistently implemented throughout the nursery. For example, some staff do not focus sharply enough on developing children's communication. As a result, some children have fewer opportunities to develop their conversational skills.
• Children enjoy reading books and listening to stories, which supports their early literacy skills. The manager has introduced books into all areas of the nursery. This helps children who would not usually seek out a book in the reading area to become more interested in them.
• Staff praise children for their efforts and successes. As a result, children beam with excitement as they express their new knowledge to staff. Staff have also taken on board parents' suggestions. For example, they recently introduced an 'I want to learn' board in the pre-school room. This innovative idea helps children to celebrate their achievements.
• Children benefit from lots of opportunities to learn about oral health. For example, pre-school children receive a weekly call from the 'Tooth Fairy' to talk to them about looking after their teeth. Children demonstrate their understanding as they confidently discuss what foods are bad for their teeth. They are developing a good understanding of healthy practices.
• Parent partnership is strong. The manager regularly seeks feedback from parents. This helps parents feel involved in decisions made about their children's education. Parents are complimentary about the care and education their children receive.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• support staff to consistently implement the intent for communication and language throughout the nursery
• provide children with greater opportunities to test out their own ideas.