Tender Cubs Pre-School And Day Nursery

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children are happy and well settled at this welcoming setting. They arrive with big smiles, ready to start their day. Children develop secure relationships with the caring staff, which helps them to feel safe and secure.

They are friendly and confident in their interactions with peers, staff and visitors. Staff have high expectations for all children. This includes children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), children who receive funding and children who speak English as an additional language.

Children benefit from a broad and well-sequenced curriculum. They are enthusiastic learners and make go...od progress in their development. For instance, children of different abilities concentrate intently during cutting activities.

Younger children try hard as they learn first how to hold scissors and then to snip the edges of paper. Older children proudly demonstrate that they have developed their skills and can now cut around shapes. Children are supported to be as independent as possible.

They confidently make choices about their play and are keen to do things for themselves. For example, babies are eager to feed themselves and toddlers recognise when they need to wash their hands and do so unaided.

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

The manager is committed to constantly developing the quality of the provision.

She supports staff to develop their professional practice and enhance the learning experiences for children. For instance, staff are learning to use picture cards and pictorial timetables with children. This helps younger children, children who speak English as an additional language and children with SEND to follow the nursery routines.

Staff gather detailed information about children from parents and from their own observations of children's play. They plan activities and experiences which engage children and enhance their learning. For example, children concentrate as they carefully measure, pour and mix ingredients to make play dough.

They learn about colours and textures, build on their understanding of mathematics and strengthen their hand-to-eye coordination.Staff use the nursery garden daily, to enhance children's physical development. Children thoroughly enjoy the opportunities to learn and play outdoors.

They participate in activities such as action rhymes, jumping on the trampoline and painting on a large scale, which help them to develop their large-muscle movements.Children confidently explore experiences using their senses. They demonstrate active imaginations and are resourceful and inventive.

For example, children use dried rice and pasta to support their role play, as they pretend to cook meals for the staff. They enjoy the sounds that the ingredients make as they pour them into pots and pans. Therefore, they find suitable containers and create musical shakers to accompany themselves as they sing.

Staff use some effective methods to support children's communication skills. For instance, they comment on children's play and introduce new vocabulary. However, staff do not always consider children's stages of development when speaking to them.

For example, on occasion they use long and complex sentences and questions, which some children find difficult to understand and respond to.Children listen to staff and generally behave well. When there are occasional disagreements between children, staff respond calmly and support them to be kind, share and take turns.

However, staff do not always make use of opportunities such as these, to help children identify how they feel and learn to talk about their strong emotions.The manager and staff work with parents to devise healthy menus, which children enjoy. For instance, following a parent consultation, they provide healthier options, such as fresh fruit and yogurt for dessert.

Staff talk to children about healthy lifestyles and how a balanced diet can help them grow up healthy and strong.Parents are happy with the care and education provided. They say that staff tell them about their children's progress and support them to participate in their learning.

For example, staff invite parents to accompany children on outings and encourage them to read the nursery's 'Book of the Month' with children at home.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.The manager and staff are aware of the signs which may indicate a child is at risk of harm.

They understand the procedures to follow, should they have concerns about the welfare of a child or the conduct of a staff member. Staff receive regular training, to help keep their knowledge up to date. They know about a range of safeguarding issues, including the risks to children from exposure to extreme views.

The provider follows robust recruitment procedures, to help ensure that staff are suitable. Staff carry out regular risk assessments across the nursery, to remove or minimise any hazards.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: strengthen staff's understanding of how to support language and communication skills for children of different ages and abilities nensure that staff provide consistent support, to help children understand, express and begin to regulate their feelings and emotions.

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