Blandford Children Centre Nursery

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children enter the nursery cheerfully and wave goodbye to their parents and carers at the main door. They are greeted by friendly staff, who welcome them. Children are happy and settled in the nursery and are very familiar with the routines that staff have implemented.

They listen well, follow instructions throughout the day and include others in their play. Children are self-assured and inquisitive. They show respect towards others and behave well.

They form close attachments to staff and have good attitudes to learning.During the COVID-19 pandemic, leaders noticed that some children needed support with their socialis...ation skills, such as playing with other children. Staff help children to learn how to behave with others successfully.

Children enjoy spending time in the garden and delight in participating in group games with their friends. For example, they play excitedly with a brightly coloured parachute. Staff give clear instructions and allow children time to fully explore and enjoy the experience.

Children giggle when the instruction is for all the children to go underneath the parachute. They hide under the parachute, wait patiently and laugh loudly when staff lift the parachute. This has a positive impact on children's social and emotional development, such as building friendships.

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

The manager and staff provide a well-thought-out curriculum for all children. The curriculum is planned carefully and structured to build on what children need to learn next. Staff use children's interests to support their development across all areas of learning.

For instance, they have identified that children need support with healthy eating. Staff encourage children to try nutritious foods at the nursery. They plan activities such as creating a role-play shop with real items.

Children cut up vegetables and become deeply involved in exploring the textures and smells.Children's literacy development is well supported. They enjoy cosy reading areas indoors and in the garden.

Staff have established a library system recently. This enables children to share their favourite stories at home. Children recall and draw pictures from the books to extend their understanding of the stories.

Staff know the children well. They identify when children are not making progress in their learning and seek support from outside agencies. They implement strategies to support children's communication and language, such as sign language.

However, staff do not always fully promote children's thinking skills. For example, they do not always ask children challenging questions, or give them enough time to think when responding to questions.Staff encourage children to follow healthy lifestyles.

Children can plant, grow and harvest vegetables. This helps to extend their knowledge of growth cycles and where food groups come from. Older children enjoy activities where they learn about teeth and the importance of good oral hygiene.

They use toothbrushes and sets of teeth to learn how to brush teeth effectively. Children have daily opportunities to develop their physical skills. For instance, in the garden, younger children climb and slide on the apparatus and older children use wheeled toys to move around.

The provider strives to make the nursery the best it can be for the children and families who attend. Staff comment on the approachable nature of the management team and say they feel well supported in their role. Leaders carry out regular meetings with staff to support and identify training that they may wish to attend to deepen their knowledge and skills.

Recent training has had a positive impact on helping children to regulate their behaviour.Parents speak highly of the staff, describing them as 'approachable and friendly'. They appreciate the links that staff have with the local school to enable a smooth transition process when children are ready to move on.

Staff keep parents informed about their children's day and learning. They provide parents with regular opportunities to discuss their children's progress.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Leaders and staff update their safeguarding knowledge regularly through training, discussions and staff meetings. Staff can identify the signs that indicate a child may be at risk of harm, including wider safeguarding issues. They know who to contact should they have concerns about a child or adult.

Leaders deploy staff effectively. The children are well supervised as child-to-adult ratios are always followed. Most staff have completed paediatric first-aid training.

This ensures they can support children in the event of an accident. Risk assessment arrangements are effective to ensure the environment is safe and secure.

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 further improve their interactions with children, to give children time to think and respond to questions, and to make the most of conversations to extend learning.

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