Happy Days Nursery Summercourt

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children are happy to attend the nursery. Staff support them well when they arrive each day and they settle quickly into the wide range of experiences provided for them. Children benefit from high-quality teaching from adults who have high expectations of what they can achieve.

This, alongside careful observation and tracking of individual children's development, ensures that the needs of all children are met effectively. Leaders and staff use this information to build a curriculum so children have the skills and knowledge they need. Children enjoy learning outside because staff make good use of the outdoor environment to provi...de interesting and relevant activities.

Older children make their own potions, mixing water with plants and herbs, and younger children use chalk to draw firework pictures. Children have good opportunities to be outdoors on a daily basis and practise their physical skills. Children understand how to keep themselves safe as staff skilfully support them to take manageable risks.

For example, older children learn how to safely balance on wooden beams and younger children learn how to use the slide. Older children, in particular, are confident in making choices about how they want to learn and what to play with. This means they remain focused and concentrate for long periods.

Children enjoy exploring mathematics. For example, toddlers arrange the dinosaurs by their different sizes, and older children recognise shapes and concentrate well to complete puzzles. Children behave well throughout the day.

They listen, respond appropriately to instructions and are beginning to develop good levels of self-control as they build friendships with each other.

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

Leaders and staff are passionate about giving children the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the future. For example, they have a 'ready for school scheme' for older children to follow.

In addition, some opportunities, such as a take-home bear, are provided to help the parents of older children to support their learning at home.Toddlers explore sand with their hands and older children use play dough and manipulate the dough to music while dancing. These activities help children to develop the muscles in their hands, in preparation for learning how to write.

However, although there are lots of opportunities for children of all ages to explore mark making in a variety of different ways, staff are less confident in developing older children's writing skills.Good arrangements are in place to assess where children are in their learning. Staff use this information well, overall, to plan exciting activities that help children develop the essential skills and knowledge they need for their future learning.

On occasion some staff restrict the learning of toddlers as they do not allow them to use toys and resources to extend their own learning.Children are supported well when they first start attending the nursery. Parents stay with their children to settle them until they have the confidence to stay on their own.

Staff gather important information about each child's emotional and physical needs from their parents so that they are able to tailor the care they provide. In addition, staff follow this process when children move rooms in the nursery.Children's physical health and well-being are a high priority for staff.

Staff provide healthy, nutritionally balanced meals and snacks that children enjoy. Staff help children to become increasingly independent. Skills, such as serving their own food and clearing away after meals, are developed.

Good hygiene, including effective handwashing before mealtimes, is promoted with children of all ages and helps to support children's physical health.A well-established key-person system helps children build strong relationships with staff. Children demonstrate they are happy and feel safe with staff when they accept help and support as they play.

Young children seek out staff for cuddles when they need reassurance during their day.The manager has a good understanding of how to develop the nursery further. She is working closely with rest of the management team to support staff and make improvements that benefit children.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Staff have a good understanding of how to protect children from harm. They know how to identify and report concerns about children, to keep them safe.

The manager ensures she, and all her staff, attend training so that their safeguarding knowledge is up to date. Safeguarding information is clearly displayed, reminding everyone of their duty to report concerns. Recruitment procedures are strong.

Thorough checks, as well as ongoing supervision, help to ensure that all staff are suitable for their roles. The manager and staff carry out daily checks to ensure the nursery is safe and risks to children are minimised.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: support toddlers to use toys and resources to extend their own learning provide more opportunities for older children to develop their writing skills.