Zig Zags Day Nursery (Percy Road)

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children are happy and settled from the moment they arrive in the morning. They greet staff warmly and busily engage themselves in the activities. Children learn to follow routines and understand behavioural boundaries. Younger children listen and respond positively, as staff remind them about sharing the toys. Older children show that they can regulate their behaviour, as they wait patiently for a turn on one of the tricycles.

Children are eager to play outdoors each day. They enjoy being active and engaging in vigorous exercise. This promotes their physical health and well-being. Children learn to control their large-muscle movements as they practise ball games with staff. They show good concentration as they learn to balance and keep trying as they carefully step from one log to another. Staff carry out daily checks of the premises to ensure that they are safe for children.

Staff have high expectations for children. They want children to have fun and enjoy their learning. Children show imagination and enthusiasm as they create 'pizza' and 'noodles' from play dough. They learn new words and practise using simple tools. Older children develop useful skills in readiness for school. They listen intently to stories and join in at appropriate times. Children demonstrate their understanding and develop confidence to speak out as they contribute to discussions.

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

• Leaders work closely together to evaluate and develop the provision. They ensure that staff receive regular supervision sessions and training to support their professional development. Staff talk enthusiastically about how they improve their teaching skills, such as by attending courses or doing research at home.
• The curriculum is well planned to support all areas of children's learning. The resources and activities are appealing and support the children's individual interests. Staff monitor children's progress closely and help them to build on what they can already do. They provide effective support for children who need extra help and those children who speak English as an additional language. Leaders use funding to provide additional hours of care for children. This helps all children to make good progress.
• Children are very imaginative. They express their thoughts and ideas during role-play games, such as pretending to cook or go shopping. Staff provide lots of occasions where children can be creative in this way. They join in with the children's play and support them to develop their simple storylines. However, staff provide fewer opportunities for children to express themselves by experimenting with colours and exploring different materials.
• Staff support children's communication skills effectively. They understand how to adapt their speech to foster children's understanding at different stages in their learning. Staff introduce new words and help children to remember these during conversations, songs and stories. They repeat back words and phrases correctly, to support children's emerging language skills.
• Children are confident at the nursery and make decisions about what they want to play with. They show good concentration and remain focused on the activities that they choose. Children of all ages enjoy challenges and demonstrate good perseverance in completing tasks, such as jigsaw puzzles.
• Staff teach children about keeping healthy, such as by washing their hands regularly and brushing their teeth. They encourage parents to provide healthy snacks each day. Children proudly show staff that they have brought a healthy apple or mango to share with their friends.
• Children learn to recognise their personal needs, such as when they are thirsty or need to use the toilet. Staff, generally, support children's independence well and encourage them to make choices. However, they do not consistently give younger children time to practise their self-care skills, such as washing their hands, serving their own snacks and putting on their coats.
• Parents speak very highly of the nursery and staff. They access information about their children's learning through an online portal and through daily discussions with staff. Staff encourage parents to share their children's experiences at home. They also work closely with parents to support children's development, such as with toilet training and behaviour. This helps to provide good continuity for children.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• develop the opportunities for children to support their imaginations and creativity, for example to explore colours and play with a wide range of materials
• help younger children to cater for their own personal needs by giving them time to practise during routines, such as snack times and handwashing.