Hamond House Day Nursery

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Staff allow children to choose their own play. They then interact to extend children's interests as they happen.

For example, pre-school children independently connect pieces of a wooden track. They guide trains along the route, demonstrating their small-muscle development and early hand-to-eye coordination skills. Staff suggest using the wooden blocks when pre-school children decide to build bridges and tunnels.

Pre-school children show their positive attitude to learning through their enjoyment in achieving their own goals.Staff are good role models. They have high expectations for children's behaviour and conduct....r/>
Children are very respectful of their friends and staff. They play well together and share resources. Pre-school children show high levels of confidence in social situations.

For example, they ask visitors their name and why they are attending their nursery. Pre-school children explain the behaviour rules in place, such as how they use their 'listening ears' and 'walk indoors'.The manager and staff continue to identify the impact on children of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly children's language, physical and social development delays across the two- to four-year age range.

Staff provide many experiences for children to develop their communication skills across the nursery. They introduce children to words such as 'happy', 'sad' and 'worried' to develop their emotional literacy. Children have good opportunities to extend and enhance their physical development indoors and outdoors.

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

The nominated individual, manager and staff have worked hard to meet the actions raised at the last inspection. They have sought support from the local authority to help raise their practice. The nominated individual and the manager have recently implemented planning in the moment.

This means children choose their own play, and staff interact to enhance children's interests. However, staff do not always make use of open-ended questions to extend and challenge children's interests further. At times, this hinders how children expand their curiosity and how they are supported to extend their learning in the moment.

Staff offer lots of different textures for children to explore with their fingers. For example, babies enjoy playing with sand. Pre-school children use brushes, their fingers and fresh flowers to make marks on paper with paint.

Children of all ages have opportunities to enhance their sensory exploration through a range of materials.Babies enjoy looking at photos of their family members. They name some of the people they see.

Babies listen to stories read by staff. They learn to make farm animal sounds. Babies giggle as staff tickle their noses with a feather.

One holds out their hand and says 'stuck' as the feather sticks to their fingers. Staff use signs and actions alongside words when speaking with all children. This helps to support all children's early language development.

The manager and staff support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those awaiting diagnosis well. They build positive working relationships with other professionals and parents. Funding is used well to ensure good outcomes for children.

Staff who are bilingual record nursery rhymes for children in their home language, such as Polish. This allows children to join in with their peers during singing activities. These approaches help to support children who speak English as an additional language and contribute to their sense of security and belonging.

Toddlers enjoy role play. They imitate what they have seen some adults do. For example, toddlers take on the role of the doctor and carry their medical case.

They role-play using medical instruments on staff and their peers.Staff supervise children well during mealtimes. They consider children's food preferences, dietary requirements and allergies.

Staff support children's social and independence skills from a young age. For example, toddlers sit at the table with their friends and take it in turns to put healthy and nutritious food on their plate.The manager and staff plan social events for parents and other family members at the nursery, such as Mother's Day and Father's Day brunches.

Parent partnership and support for the whole family are real strengths of this nursery. The manager and staff also establish good relationships with others in their community, including schools and the nearby care home. This supports children's moves to school and their intergenerational relationships.

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 further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: continue to monitor staff's practice and support them to use a greater range of questioning to help enhance children's curiosity and extend their learning further.