Curious Little Thinkers Day Nursery Limited

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision requires improvement Staff's teaching is variable and inconsistent, including for children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

For example, although staff know children's learning needs, they do not focus their teaching to support them to make good progress or close gaps in their learning. However, the manager has a clear vision for how she would like children to learn through play and exploration. Children are keen and enthusiastic to attend the nursery.

They explore the resources and activities independently and show they feel safe here. Staff regularly praise children for their efforts and teach them how to share..., take turns and be kind. This has a positive impact on their emotional well-being.

The manager and staff team have considered the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children's learning. They recognise that some children need support to build routines and encourage them to try new foods. Staff encourage children to take an active part in their self-care and develop independence.

However, they have not acted swiftly when some children display a potential delay in their learning. In addition, staff have not had opportunities to receive effective supervision to improve their skills and knowledge to work with children.

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

Staff do not have a thorough understanding of how to help children build secure foundations for future learning.

For example, they focus on writing skills with young children but have not supported their fine motor skills prior to this. Staff model how to spread butter on the bread to make sandwiches and encourage children to have a go. However, children are not shown how to hold their knife in order to do this effectively.

Staff know children very well and meet their care and specific medical needs effectively. They have close relationships with them and their families. Despite the weakness in teaching, children show they feel happy, safe and settled in the nursery.

They seek reassurance from staff and benefit from their kind, caring approach. Parents say they are happy with the care their children receive and say they feel supported by the team.Despite staff's awareness that some children show a delay in their communication and language skills, they have not implemented any strategies to help children begin to close gaps in this area of their learning.

For example, they do not consistently model clear new words to children or ask open questions to encourage them to extend their vocabulary. In addition, staff have not made referrals to other professionals to help some children receive any further support they might need.In contrast, some children communicate confidently and show enjoyment in stories and songs.

They sit with staff as they read about a snail and enjoy exploring in the tank to see if they can find the nursery snail. Staff teach them about the different things snails eat and how they need to live in a certain environment to grow.Staff promote children's good health.

They regularly go out for walks, and children enjoy exploring the local community's parks and woodland area. They develop good physical skills and benefit from the fresh air and exercise. Staff encourage children to think about making healthy food choices, and children know to wash their hands before they eat.

The manager has not fully considered the skills staff need to support all children's learning and development. For example, although the manager has accessed professional development opportunities to support children's speech and children with SEND, the staff team has limited understanding in these areas. In addition, staff have not had effective supervision to help them reflect on their teaching or consider improvements.

The manager has established links with the local authority and seeks support to make the necessary improvements. There are good partnerships with other settings children attend, such as schools. Staff gather information about children's learning and plan to continue this in the setting.

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 meet the requirements of the early years foundation stage and Childcare Register the provider must: Due date improve staff's teaching to ensure they provide appropriately challenging experiences for children which build secure foundations for future learning 08/05/2024 ensure concerns about children's development are acted upon swiftly, and strategies are used to help close gaps in their learning, particularly in their communication and language development 08/04/2024 provide staff with appropriate training and supervision to enable them to effectively support children's learning and development needs, including children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities.

08/05/2024