Growing Beans Nursery And Preschool

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children of all ages have access to a stimulating environment. They arrive happy and eager to learn.

Children show that they are happy and feel safe. For instance, they form close attachments with staff and firm friendships with their peers. Staff offer plenty of cuddles and reassurance for children who are new to the nursery.

Children behave very well. They display good manners and are kind and respectful. Children are confident to engage with visitors and share their views.

For example, older children state that they enjoy the phonic sessions and playing with their friends at nursery. Children's communicatio...n skills develop well and they articulate what they know and can do securely. This positive attitude creates a secure foundation for the next stage in their learning.

Partnerships with parents are strong, although not all parents are fully aware of their child's learning. Staff are beginning to encourage older children's independence, although this is not yet consistent throughout the nursery. Expectations are high for all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

Appealing and challenging activities help all children to build on what they already know and can do, and they achieve well.

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

Many staff are well qualified and are supported well to gain further qualifications. All staff access regular safeguarding and first-aid training.

The manager has worked hard to bring the new staff team together. She has an ambitious but realistic vision for the nursery. Staff feel involved in decisions that affect their practice and they have time out of the sessions to update children's progress records.

Staff monitor children's progress effectively. Where they have any concerns about a child's development, they speak to the parents and any other professionals that are involved in the child's care, so they are able to plan appropriate activities. Children make good progress, including those with SEND.

Stories are promoted very well within the nursery. Older children enjoy using their phonic knowledge to read enthusiastically along with staff. Staff skilfully ask questions to inspire children's ideas further.

Older children are pleased to show how well they remember a familiar story. Babies are keen to press buttons on interactive books and say animal sounds. This supports their early literacy development and communication skills well.

Staff have high expectations for children's understanding of mathematical concepts. For example, younger children count how many ducks are on the duck pond and older children draw numbers and shapes in the sand.Older children enjoy music sessions and exploring the different sounds that musical instruments make.

Younger children eagerly sing along to rhymes and copy actions.Partnerships with parents are good and parents' feedback is positive. While staff offer advice and support about homework so that learning can continue at home, not all parents have been made aware of children's next steps to help them make an effective contribution to their children's learning.

The key-person system throughout the setting is effective. Staff know children well and share affectionate bonds with them. Older children settle quickly into their room and younger children, once settled, are happy and content.

Staff plan effective adult-led activities that are focused on what children need to learn next. This, helps children to develop good skills across all areas of learning.Staff encourage older children to become independent.

However, opportunities are missed for younger children to do things for themselves. For example, staff put children's coats on them ready for trips, and aprons for messy play.Children have daily opportunities to visit local parks and libraries.

Staff help support children's curiosity and enjoyment of the natural world. For example, children regularly visit the local common to collect leaves, and paint with mud.Staff support children to share, take turns and be kind to each other.

Children develop early friendships and seek out others to share their experiences. They work together during activities and help one another. They behave very well.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Managers have rigorous recruitment procedures in place to ensure staff are suitable to work with children. All staff complete mandatory training to ensure their safeguarding knowledge is up to date.

Staff have a good knowledge of safeguarding practice, including the reporting procedures. Consequently, they are aware of the procedures to follow should there be any concerns regarding a child's welfare. The managers ensure that daily risk assessments are carried out.

Staff carry out a visit beforehand for off-site trips to complete risk assessments in order to minimise potential risks. This helps to keep children safe.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: strengthen communication with parents and carers to ensure they can actively contribute to children's learning support staff to encourage children's independence throughout the nursery.