Daisy Chain Nursery

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children are confident and happy in this homely and welcoming nursery.

Staff have warm relationships with the children and the environment is bright and inviting. Resources are plentiful, well maintained and organised effectively. Staff develop the curriculum through the use of children's interests to encourage them to make independent choices.

They have a good knowledge of each child's unique characteristics. Babies show fascination and delight as they explore swirling discs and fibre optic lights, and observe the large fish in the tank. Toddlers develop an understanding of mathematical concepts as they pour, empty, f...ill and mould while exploring the soil play.

Pre-school children benefit from opportunities to develop their own play and learning during child-initiated sessions. This also helps to support their emotional development. Children learn to be independent from an early age.

Babies feed themselves and have developed good physical skills. Toddlers and pre-school children enjoy very social mealtimes. They listen to each other with genuine interest and enjoy communicating as a group during lunchtime about their likes and dislikes.

Children develop a good knowledge of healthy lifestyles and where their food come from. For example, they talk about where milk comes from and the different vegetables in the hot meal. Children's behaviour is good.

They are kind to their friends.

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

The provider and the management team display an excellent commitment to achieving the highest possible standards for children. Staff have regular meetings to evaluate the effectiveness of their provision and continuously reflect on their practice and the experiences they provide for children.

Leaders provide regular training and development days, giving staff the opportunity to share ideas. However, plans to improve the performance management systems using shared skills and knowledge are not fully established.Leaders and staff provide an interesting and challenging curriculum that promotes all areas of children's learning and development.

They ensure the provision, both indoors and outdoors, is fully accessible throughout the day. Children relish playing outdoors, where they have many opportunities to develop their physical skills. Toddlers experience safe risk and challenge as they use tools such as trowels and large spoons to fill different-sized containers with soil.

Babies enjoy listening to stories while sitting undercover in cosy dens. Additionally, activities such as weekly yoga lessons and trips outside of the nursery further support children's physical well-being.Staff encourage children to use their senses and available tools.

Children explore soil which they freely use in their dough play. Additionally, staff teach children new words to enhance their growing vocabulary. Pre-school children concentrate as they use pipettes and syringes to move liquids.

They delight as they mix flour and herbs to create their own magical potions.Children practise early writing skills in a range of ways and use numbers in play and within the nursery routines. They enjoy looking at books and sharing their favourite stories.

Books are made available for each child to take home and enjoy with their family, cultivating children's early love of reading.All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, are well supported and make good progress from their respective starting points. Staff liaise with outside agencies and work closely with parents to share ideas to support children's progress.

For example, they use funding to enhance the environment and resources and complete training and research which benefit all the children.Staff use their knowledge of how young children learn and develop. Their good teaching skills help children build skills for the future.

Staff's interactions are good and they model play and language well. This helps to keep children motivated to learn. However, occasionally, some staff do not make the most of opportunities to intervene and challenge children's learning even further.

Partnerships with parents are very strong. Parents speak highly of the nursery. They comment that, 'staff are really innovative', and they praise the management team saying, 'no other nursery in their league'.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.All staff understand their responsibilities to safeguard children and can capably describe procedures for working with relevant agencies to protect children from harm or neglect. They are vigilant about monitoring children's welfare and take prompt, appropriate action if they have any concerns about a child in their care.

Stringent recruitment and vetting arrangements are in place to ensure that those working with children are suitable to carry out their role. Staff carry out rigorous risk assessments in all areas used by children and take swift action to minimise identified hazards.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: continue to embed the already good teaching and leadership strategies to enhance the performance management of all staff nadapt teaching, during already good routines and child-led play, to further challenge children's individual skills and fully enhance children's learning.