TH Day Care Ltd t/a Shooting Stars Pre School Nursery

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision requires improvement Leaders have responded to most of the actions raised at the last inspection. However, the quality of education remains variable. Group activities that staff provide are not targeted well enough to help children make the progress that they are capable of.

When children struggle to cut with scissors, they are provided with materials that are difficult to cut. This results in children losing interest. Furthermore, staff do not consider the organisation of group activities to promote children's engagement.

Children are expected to sit and wait their turn for extended periods and this results in children becoming disengaged. S...taff do not consistently follow the setting's procedures for mobile phones and electronic devices. This poses an element of risk to children.

This said, leaders do have other safety measures in place to minimise the risk.Despite the weaknesses, children arrive eagerly to this nursery. Children have developed strong bonds with the caring staff who know them well.

Children use the available resources to extend their ideas. They use their imagination as they use dough to make 'pizza'. Staff extend children's play as they use a toy phone to order one of the pizzas.

Children use their physical skills to squeeze and roll the dough. Staff encourage them to use their mathematical knowledge as they ask questions such as, 'How much is the pizza?' Children proudly present the 'pepperoni pizza' to staff. Children are motivated to learn when taking part in activities of their own choosing.

Leaders have ensured all staff have accessed training to enable them to support children's emotional well-being. Staff are nurturing in their approach and children are welcomed with reassurance and a cuddle. Staff sing to children as they change their nappies and as they place them to sleep.

These loving relationships help children to feel safe and secure. Overall, children behave well and follow the instructions from staff. When staff announce that it is tidy-up time, older children eagerly say that they want to 'tidy the blocks'.

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

Leaders are passionate about raising standards and are aware of the weaknesses that need addressing. Staff are provided with a range of support and training from leaders and they feel supported in their roles. However, training is not tailored effectively to help improve the consistency of staff practice and the quality of education.

Staff practice remains variable.Staff provide some opportunities to support children's communication and language development. They teach children songs and engage children in lots of singing throughout the day.

However, staff do not allow enough time for children to respond before asking further questions. There are weaknesses in the implementation of leaders' intended curriculum for communication and language.Staff complete observations and assessments to monitor children's progress.

This includes the required progress check for two-year-old children. Staff ensure that any gaps in children's learning are identified swiftly. The nursery's special educational needs coordinator meets with parents and other professionals regularly to ensure children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are supported well.

Children's diverse family backgrounds are valued. Leaders have recruited a workforce who are equipped to provide some bilingual support to the children and families. Leaders ensure children learn about cultures that are different from their own.

They invite parents and staff to share cultural traditions with children. This helps children to learn to value and respect other people and their beliefs.Leaders place high importance on promoting children's independence skills.

However, some staff do not promote independence as leaders intend. Some staff put children's aprons and coats on for them without allowing them to have a go. The seating arrangements for babies do not allow them to feed themselves.

This said, older children hang up their coats and find their name card as they arrive, and they pour their own drinks at mealtimes.Since the last inspection, leaders have ensured children are provided with nutritious snacks and meals that reflect their individual dietary needs and preferences. Children are encouraged to drink fresh drinking water throughout the day and staff talk to children about the benefits of eating healthy food.

Staff provide opportunities for physically active play. Children get out of breath as they 'shake the sillies away' before lunchtime. Children are learning about the importance of healthy lifestyles.

Parents are complimentary about the nursery. They describe the staff as 'calm' and 'supportive'. Parents value the regular updates they receive about their child's day.

They feel supported to be able to help their children's development at home. Parents who have children with SEND feel supported as a family and talk positively about the progress that they have seen with their children's development.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Leaders have developed daily checks to identify and minimise hazards to children's safety. Staff have a good understanding of the signs that may indicate concerns about a child's welfare and the procedures to follow. Staff follow safe sleep guidelines and ensure children are well supervised.

Staff do not consistently follow the mobile phone and electronic devices policies. For example, leaders were not aware that staff use the electronic devices to share nursery rhymes with children. This poses an element of risk to children.

This said, staff are confident with the risks associated with devices and mobile phones, and leaders regularly check these devices.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To meet the requirements of the early years foundation stage, the provider must: Due date ensure that all staff consistently follow the setting's policies and procedures, particularly those that relate to mobile phones and electronic devices.09/10/2023 To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: target training to ensure staff consistently implement the provider's intended curriculum to raise the quality of education to a consistently good level strengthen the planning and implementation of activities, to help all children remain focused and engaged in their learning.