Clifton Tots Day Nursery

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Babies and children build strong bonds with the caring and friendly staff. They very much enjoy their time at this nursery.

Staff carefully support babies' well-being and follow their individual routines. They liaise closely with parents to link to arrangements at home. In all age groups, staff provide cosy, calm spaces and adapt the size of the groups to minimise the busyness of the rooms and the noise levels for children.

Babies snuggle with staff to enjoy a book. Children relax outside on a blanket, listening to a story after lunch. Staff successfully promote children's literacy skills.

They have focus stor...ybooks for each age group. Children can borrow books from the nursery's lending library to take home. They also enjoy their family members coming into the nursery to read stories.

Each child's key person follows the nursery's strong processes for assessing their development. They outline children's next steps and form a curriculum from these. Children relish the creative opportunities available to them.

They build their hand strength and coordination. Younger children use their larger muscles to make marks with chunky crayons and pencils. Older children experiment with play dough, and glue and stick different materials.

They have great fun making chalk outlines around their friends on the playground outside. Children make good developmental progress. They gain useful skills and are well prepared for their next stage of learning, such as their move on to school.

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

Partnerships with parents are strong. Parents appreciate the nursery's new online communication app and the information that staff share on this, keeping them up to date with what their children are doing. Regular meetings and conversations take place with parents to help contribute to the consistent approach that children receive.

Parents also enjoy the family events the nursery holds, such as the annual afternoon tea. They get to meet other parents, build stronger relationships with staff and find out more about the nursery.Staff offer plenty of reassurance and support when children are struggling to deal with their emotions or understand expectations.

Children enjoy the staff's company and show respect for them, listening and adapting their behaviour appropriately. Staff help children appreciate the needs of others as well as the boundaries in place for their safety. Children learn to share toys and to play cooperatively.

Children gain the confidence and skills to express themselves. Staff use clear speech to encourage babies' language. They support bilingual children, thoughtfully linking to children's own languages and translating to help their understanding and confidence.

Older children take turns in conversation with staff and interact with their friends, building good relationships and their growing social skills. However, at times, adult-led activities and routines in some age groups are not thoroughly planned and implemented. Although staff adapt their support, children are not consistently engaged or always challenged appropriately, and their learning does not develop as much as it could.

Staff build children's understanding of the world. They regularly take children on walks to local parks to develop their understanding of nature and their local community. They inspire and beneficially introduce children to different languages in a fun and engaging way.

Children in the toddler room excitedly join in with Spanish songs, showing very good skills as they count and name animals.Children are confident to explore and follow their ideas. Babies develop their coordination well as they throw and bounce balls.

Toddlers play hide and seek in the natural wooded area at the end of the garden. Older children explore costume jewellery, learning about the different pieces and their uses. However, staff do not always pick up on and make the most of children's current fascinations as they freely play.

Occasionally, staff do not adapt areas and their support to fully channel children's curiosity, engagement and learning to higher levels.Children enjoy doing things for themselves. They serve themselves food at mealtimes and pour their drinks.

Even the older babies have a go at putting some of their breakfast cereal in their bowl. Children learn to clear away their things after their meal, tidy away the toys and develop their independence well.The leadership team links closely with other leaders in their small group of nurseries to share ideas and continue to develop practice.

They meet with their nursery staff regularly, both individually and as a team. They support staff's knowledge, skills and the nursery practice with a range of support and training. Staff enjoy working at the nursery and say they feel valued and listened to.

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: nenhance the support for children's attention and engagement, particularly during group activities and routines help staff to consistently make the most of opportunities to build on children's interests and fascinations, channelling their curiosity, exploration and learning to higher levels.