Eureka Discovery Hut

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children are happy on arrival at the setting. They receive a warm welcome from staff and eagerly explore the many learning opportunities on offer.

Children are curious and excited to join in with the autumn-themed experiences. They practise their fine motor skills and learn about the natural world as they explore soil and fresh vegetables, using a range of tools. Children engage well with each other and play cooperatively as they successfully share and take turns.

They benefit from joyful interactions with the staff and move confidently about the provision. Children enjoy the opportunity to move from one room to anothe...r, accessing different learning experiences and playing with friends. Children delight in manipulating play dough.

They are interested in the autumn colours and use conkers, acorns and leaves to decorate their dough. They are well supported by staff to manipulate, push, pinch and roll their dough. Children interact confidently with staff.

They make their wishes, and feelings known, and are happy to share their ideas. Children know the routine of the day and understand that they need to wash their hands before they sit down to have snack. They confidently use a photographic timetable to talk about what they will do next.

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

Leaders have developed an excellent curriculum that reflects children's interests and motivations. They provide staff with valuable professional development opportunities that help them to continuously improve their practice. Staff have high expectations of the children and promote their self-awareness and self-confidence, supporting them to reach their potential.

As a result of the effective teaching across this well-defined learning environment, children make good progress across the seven areas of learning.Arrangements for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are excellent. Leaders work in close partnership with external agencies and parents to ensure that children receive appropriate support.

Children's targets are ambitious, and information is shared purposefully to ensure children access the services that they need in a timely manner.Children use their communication skills well, and they are developing their listening and speaking skills. At group circle time, staff support children effectively to participate in simple turn-taking songs and rhymes.

Children delight in passing the drum to each other and successfully learning each other's names. Staff ensure that the session is short and snappy and reflects the concentration span of the children involved.Children develop their imagination and creative skills through a range of play opportunities.

They play for prolonged periods in the mud play area and make excellent use of the wide range of utensils on offer. However, on occasions, staff do not successfully observe and respond to children's play cues and ideas to further challenge their learning.Younger children benefit from a large play space where they move with confidence, actively exploring their environment.

They particularly enjoy playing in the home corner and spend time wrapping baby dolls in blankets, rocking them and putting them down to sleep. Children play well together and are learning to take turns with resources. Staff support children skilfully.

They offer gentle reminders of the nursery rules and respectfully help children to manage their emotions.Children have many opportunities to play and explore outdoors. The adjacent play space offers a range of experiences that promote children's physical development, in particular their large motor skills.

For example, children delight in using large paintbrushes to paint the outdoor wall with water, using vertical movements which develop the strength in their large muscles. They also practise their balancing skills, using a walking beam and stepping stones, where staff offer appropriate support to individual children.Parents are extremely happy with the service on offer to their children.

They feel well-informed about their children's learning and meet regularly with their key person to discuss their progress. Parents are delighted with the warm and nurturing relationships their children develop with the staff. They appreciate the support that staff offer to families.

Parents of children with SEND comment on the inclusive approach to learning and the positive way that children's unique needs are celebrated.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Leaders ensure that staff have a clear understanding of safeguarding and their responsibility to protect children from harm.

Training is updated on regular development days, and there is an effective safeguarding culture across the provision. Staff are confident in the procedure to follow should they identify a concern about a child. Records are clear and concise, and action is taken in a timely manner.

The policies that underpin safeguarding practice are robust and support a highly responsive approach to keeping children safe. Leaders monitor and review effectively the support on offer to families in need, to ensure the protection and safety of children.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: help staff to use their observations of children's emerging play ideas and interests to further extend their knowledge and understanding.