2nd Home Childcare Ltd@Chowdene

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children thrive in this setting where they feel safe, happy and relaxed.

Staff collect a wealth of information from each child's parents so that they can meet children's individual needs. A strong emphasis is placed on working with key agencies so that all children can achieve their full potential. Children behave well and are kind to each other.

For example, younger children share toys and equipment readily. Staff work hard to help children to begin to manage their feelings. They explain the routines of the day to calm children's frustrations when they want to keep playing outside.

Children take pride in thei...r achievements as they proudly show staff the 'cakes' they have made with dough. Staff respond warmly to children due to the very positive relationships they have with them. Children are involved in the wider community.

For example, they visit care homes to build relationships with others. A range of events is organised at the setting to raise money, which helps children begin to learn about charity and those who are less fortunate. Children's interests are at the centre of the planning for children's learning.

Staff provide children with a well-balanced range of exciting activities that they enjoy. Managers and staff have high expectations for all children in most areas of their development.

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

The manager has worked very hard with a local nursery to establish good links.

The Reception teacher visits the setting to gain information on children's development. During circle time, children talk about moving on to school. This helps to prepare and reassure them about when changes occur.

Parents are highly complimentary about the setting. They say that they find staff and the manager very friendly and approachable. Staff work hard with parents to involve them in their child's development.

They send ideas for parents to try at home, which helps to continue children's learning.Children have lots of fun playing outdoors. Younger children enjoy moving around on the push-along toys.

Older children are highly enthusiastic about exploring the garden. They keenly move leaves out of the way to look for bugs with their magnifying glasses.Staff are valued at the setting.

Their views and opinions are listened to by managers at all levels. Staff are involved in training to update their skills and knowledge, which benefits children's welfare and learning. Leaders competently monitor how well the setting is providing a good, ambitious curriculum for each child.

They take appropriate action when it is needed, for example, by obtaining more resources to promote mathematics.Children enthusiastically listen to stories and begin to share their ideas with staff about what will happen next. Teaching is good and in some areas, such as communication and language, it is very good.

Staff constantly talk to the children, ask them questions and introduce new words.Staff know the children they care for very well due to their good assessment of what they know and can do. This means that staff consistently plan activities to help children to make progress in their learning.

For example, babies' physical development is promoted as activities are presented at a low level, and sturdy furniture enables them to pull themselves up and move around. Babies delight in picking wooden pegs off the side of a box, which develops their small-muscle skills.Staff are successful role models for children.

They show children how to behave kindly and provide lots of praise for children's achievements. Staff show children how to roll out dough and sometimes, children copy what the staff do. For example, they push the dough they are making down the sides of the bowl with a rolling pin to make it go to the bottom, after watching staff do this.

Children's independence is mainly promoted well. Resources and toys are easily available for children to chose what they want to play with. Younger children confidently use knives to put spreads on their crackers, and changing units have stairs so that children can play their part in helping to get up.

Children are usually encouraged to take care of their own personal needs, such as getting their coats and boots on and blowing their nose. However, this is not consistently promoted throughout the setting.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

All staff show a good knowledge of how to safeguard children. They know the indicators of abuse and neglect. Staff show a secure understanding of how to follow the setting's procedure for reporting concerns.

They are confident in how they would report any concerns to the relevant agencies themselves, should they need to. Consistent risk assessments are completed during the day. Staff do regular checks on the outdoor area so that it is safe and suitable for children.

Security in the premises is robust. The managers check the identity of visitors to help ensure that only authorised people are allowed to enter.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: support staff to improve the already high expectations they have for all children, with specific regard to children's growing independence.