Explorers Childcare LTD

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is outstanding

Children arrive extremely excited and eager to start their day at this highly inclusive setting.

As children arrive, they are warmly welcomed by staff with huge smiles and an abundance of enthusiasm. A highly effective key-person system ensures that children form exceptionally strong bonds with staff. Young babies seek their key person for comfort when they are upset.

Older children show a strong sense of belonging as they identify themselves as part of the 'ladybird' or 'bumble bee' group. Staff are excellent role models for children and brilliantly uphold the setting's aim to be happy and confident individuals.... Children behave well and play harmoniously alongside each other.

They show consistently high levels of engagement in activities that are planned to meet their individual needs and interests. As a result, children are incredibly content and confident. This enables them to thrive in their learning environment.

Children experience a rich and ambitious curriculum, securely underpinned by staff's knowledge of how children learn best. The curriculum is extremely well sequenced to build on children's existing skills and abilities. For example, children recall that trees need sun and water to grow.

Staff skilfully introduce new concepts to children as they expand on this. They explain how trees use roots and introduce new words, such as 'carbon dioxide'. Staff have wonderfully high expectations of what children can achieve.

In turn, all children are making excellent progress in their learning and development.

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

Children develop an exceptional understanding of the world around them. Regular visits to local care homes and links with the local church gives children a strong sense of community.

Staff are passionate about creating awe and wonder for children. They support children to learn about the different cultures, beliefs and celebrations of their friends in an age-appropriate way. Children learn new languages.

Additionally, they take part in dance, music and gymnastics classes. As a result, children are gaining a wealth of knowledge and skills to prepare them for their future success.Staff expertly plan activities to deepen children's knowledge.

They consider the learning opportunities they provide in the indoor and outdoor environment. For example, children securely embed their mathematical knowledge of shapes through a shape hunt in the local community. Staff encourage older children to consolidate their learning as they ask them to remember what they have learned throughout the day.

Staff's holistic approach to teaching is highly engaging and gives children rich and meaningful learning opportunities.Children demonstrate a love of books. They are totally captivated as they listen to familiar stories.

They finish the sentences of their book of the week, 'We're Going on a Bear Hunt', and excitedly act out the actions. Children thoroughly enjoy having conversations with staff, who interact with children extremely positively. Staff model language tremendously well.

Babies copy the words modelled by staff during play. Staff ask relevant questions to older children that challenge their thinking. In turn, children are highly confident communicators.

Leaders and managers are highly attuned to the needs of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Their dedication to meet each child's individual needs is inspirational. Strategies to support children's care and learning are implemented at the earliest stages.

A sensory room is a wonderful addition to the setting and provides a safe and calming place for children. As a result, children with SEND make excellent progress from their starting points in this highly inclusive environment.Promoting children's independence is seamlessly threaded throughout the setting.

As a result, all children become highly independent and learn the skills required for their next stage of learning. Babies show excellent hand-eye coordination as they feed themselves independently. Toddlers demonstrate exceptional turn-taking skills as they patiently wait their turn to slide down the slide.

Pre-school children possess the skills needed that will support an extremely smooth transition to school.Parents are truly valued as partners in their child's education. Feedback from parents is excellent.

They comment that staff know their children incredibly well. Parents describe being 'blown away' by the care their children receive. They value the setting's commitment to providing off-site trips and activities.

Staff use a range of strategies to keep parents informed of their child's learning and development. Parents are incredibly well supported to extend their child's learning in the home environment.The commitment of leaders and managers within the setting is inspirational.

They are highly reflective and continually strive for improvement. Staff receive continual feedback on their performance. Regular and relevant training enables them to continually build on their already excellent teaching to achieve positive outcomes for children.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.All staff have a thorough understanding of their roles and responsibilities. This helps them to keep children safe from harm.

They demonstrate a secure knowledge of what actions to take if they had concerns about a child's welfare, or if an allegation was made against a fellow staff member. Leaders and managers are proactive in supporting parents on how to keep children safe online. Effective risk assessments ensure a safe environment for children within the setting and while on off-site trips.

Leaders and managers follow robust recruitment processes. They are committed to checking the ongoing suitability of staff working with children. This helps promote children's safety to the highest level.