Dream Catchers Nursery

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children laugh and play with confidence in this friendly nursery. They quickly settle into the daily routines and make good progress in all aspects of their learning.

They rise to staff's high expectations for their success. Babies flourish in the warmth of staff's caring and thoughtful manner towards them. Children, including those children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), develop their curiosity and eagerness to learn and extend their knowledge.

For example, they use mirrors and photos to explore the subtle differences in the shape of their eyebrows when they express a range of emotions. The...y recreate the shapes in different ways and use a good vocabulary to talk about what makes them happy, angry or sad.Children know that they are valued and cared for.

They respond very positively to staff's praise and guidance. This helps them to feel safe and secure at all times. Children learn to take good care of themselves.

For example, they put their toys away enthusiastically to a cheerful tidy-up song. Children then wash their hands carefully before sitting down to enjoy a nourishing meal. The close relationships that staff form with parents contribute to children's sense of belonging.

This has helped to support children's continued well-being and personal development during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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

The manager and her deputy provide strong leadership and a clear direction for future developments in the nursery. They have created a team of staff who have a good understanding of their role.

Staff feel that their contributions to nursery life are valued. They are keen to develop their skills and further qualifications, and they are supported effectively by senior management. The manager and staff review their planning, assessment and organisation to ensure that all children achieve their full potential.

Staff plan well to meet children's learning and development needs. They collect in-depth information from parents and use their observations to acquire a secure knowledge of children's interests and personal needs. Staff use this knowledge well, overall, to inspire children.

For example, staff use children's love of dinosaurs to enrich their vocabulary and develop their understanding of length and measure. However, occasionally, staff do not extend children's learning and build further on their vocabulary and understanding.Staff strongly promote children's early communication skills.

For example, they repeat babies' early sounds and speech back to them. Staff praise babies and help to clarify the sounds they make to form words. Children sing many songs and rhymes that develop their vocabulary and introduce them to different patterns of speech.

Staff work closely with other professionals to provide well- targeted support to help children with SEND to develop their communication skills.Children, including those who speak English as an additional language, develop a love of books, rhymes and songs. They enjoy many opportunities to sit with a member of staff and share a favourite book and listen to well-told stories.

They learn to anticipate what will happen next and to enjoy repeating phrases from familiar books.Children are very well behaved. Staff help children to follow clear and simple expectations based on respect and kindness to others and appreciation of their environment.

Staff help children who find it difficult to manage their emotions to think about and improve their own behaviour.Staff encourage children to develop their appreciation of healthy lifestyles well. They prepare nourishing meals and snacks and help children understand the importance of healthy eating.

Children join in with planting and growing their own herbs and vegetables in the nursery planters. Staff support children's toilet training and awareness of hygiene, such as washing their hands thoroughly and the importance of cleaning their teeth.Parents hold very positive views about the nursery.

They welcome how happy and eager to learn their children are. Parents appreciate the good guidance that staff provide. They comment on the very detailed feedback that they frequently receive, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Parents feel that their children are well prepared for their future learning.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Staff are vigilant.

They know the signs that indicate a child may be at risk of abuse and neglect. Staff are clear about the action to take if they have a concern. The safeguarding lead makes sure that staff receive the training they need to keep their knowledge up to date.

She regularly sets staff further challenges and tests their knowledge to deepen their understanding. Staff have a good understanding of child protection procedures and the nursery policies.

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 identify and use opportunities to extend and deepen children's learning and enrich their vocabulary.