Chard NNI/Schools Out

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children make good progress at this setting. Their individual needs are the absolute priority of the staff.

The passionate manager and her professional team know the children exceptionally well. They understand what motivates children and what additional support they may need to achieve the best possible outcomes. They use this detailed knowledge to provide good-quality learning experiences for the children who engage well with what the setting has to offer.

Children are well prepared for school and later learning.The setting has developed an inclusive and well-sequenced curriculum. Staff are clear about what they want... children to know and be able to do.

There is a strong emphasis on children's language development and well-being. Children develop trusting attachments with the caring and attentive staff who offer reassurance and cuddles. Children seek out their friends to play games of their choosing, using their imaginations as they pretend to cook together or set up camps in boxes.

Staff provide children with consistent strategies for managing conflict as they encourage them to say, 'No thank you. I don't like it.' This helps children to learn to respect one another and to feel safe in the setting.

Staff are well trained in using a range of strategies to support children's communication skills. All children, including those who speak English as an additional language, benefit from this. Children become confident talkers.

They enthusiastically tell visitors about how they care for the nursery pets, explaining what different foods the guinea pigs eat, for instance. Younger children recognise the sound of an emergency vehicle as it passes. They point to the road and copy the sound it makes.

Staff quickly respond, saying 'ambulance' and children repeat the word back. Staff and children have some lovely conversations with one another in this 'one-big-family' setting.

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

Children develop a love of reading as they share favourite books and stories with staff.

Young children bond with staff as they point to pictures in the book which staff name for them. This helps to develop a good vocabulary. Children interact with the stories using props which helps them to retell the story in their play.

Older children compare toy insects with the pictures in the book to identify them. They identify a bee by its wings, for example.Children learn about healthy lifestyles.

They are physically active as they confidently move around in the large outdoor area. Younger children enjoy bouncing and swinging. Older children run and navigate pathways on bikes with confidence.

They understand the importance of washing their hands after handling the animals. For instance, after stroking the snail, they say they have to 'wash off snail germs'.Staff encourage children to develop good independence and self-care skills.

Young children learn to feed themselves and find their shoes. Older children wash up their dishes after eating. They learn to use knives to spread butter on their rice cakes for snack.

Staff encourage children to persist when they find a task tricky, for instance cutting up a pear. They praise children for their efforts and children show pride in their achievements.Staff understand the importance of allowing children to do things for themselves before offering assistance.

However, staff do not always apply this to more cognitive tasks. For example, staff often suggest solutions, instead of giving children opportunities to come up with their own solutions, to challenges and misconceptions.Partnerships with parents are strong.

The manager and her team offer support and guidance sessions on a range of areas such as toilet training, weaning, managing children's behaviour and healthy eating. Parents value the information that is shared at handover each day. Parents say that staff are approachable and genuinely care about their children.

They are confident that their children are very happy in the setting.The setting works alongside other agencies to ensure it is fully inclusive. This enables it to meet the needs of all children, including those with complex medical needs.

The manager and her staff team are highly committed to supporting children to become valued members of the nursery community. They recognise how each child can contribute and feel a sense of achievement in their abilities.The staff team is extremely happy and feels very well supported by their manager.

Staff are professional and dedicated to their roles. They attend regular staff meetings and training. They continually reflect on the nursery environment and how it can be improved to best meet the needs of the children.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: recognise and make use of opportunities in children's play for them to solve problems for themselves.