Happy Bunnies

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

The provider and her committed team show a strong focus to provide high-quality care and education for children.

The well-qualified staff have a good knowledge of how young children learn. They provide children with stimulating experiences that reflect their individual interests and cover all areas of learning. Staff are skilful at providing the right level of adult support and direction depending on the individual ability and stage of development for each child.

This allows children to benefit from the rich and varied activities on offer and to make good progress. However, occasionally, staff do not use effective ques...tioning techniques. Children thoroughly enjoy the time they spend in this warm and welcoming nursery.

They develop extremely positive attitudes to learning and respond well to the high expectations of staff. Children show consideration towards each other and form strong friendships. They are well behaved and polite.

Older children settle quickly on arrival and immediately seek out their friends to share experiences with. They are happy and enthused in their learning and demonstrate confidence in trying new activities. Babies and toddlers enjoy having the freedom to explore.

Nurturing staff sensitively help them to foster high levels of self-assurance and independence, in preparation for the next stage in their learning.

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

Staff provide good narratives during children's play. They talk to children about what they are doing, use descriptive language and repeat key words to reinforce children's understanding.

However, some staff do not use skilful questioning techniques. They ask questions that do not always encourage children's thinking skills, and sometimes these questions are asked in quick succession. This means that children do not always have time to respond and share their ideas.

Overall, children's health and well-being are supported effectively. Children enjoy healthy snacks and meals. They are encouraged to brush their teeth after eating, supporting their understanding of leading a healthy lifestyle.

However, it was noted that a member of staff did not implement a particular hygiene policy effectively after blowing children's noses and failing to wash their hands, resulting in an instance of poor hygiene practice.Good attention is given to developing children's literacy skills. Staff read enthusiastically to children.

Young children select their own books and snuggle with staff, who encourage them to turn the pages and talk about what they see. Older children use props to help them retell their favourite tales. For example, children use sticks and straw to build the houses made by the three little pigs, and explore porridge oats as they listen to the story of 'Goldilocks and the Three Bears'.

Children demonstrate a love of literacy and enjoy stories in all areas of the nursery.Children's physical development is a key priority. Shortly after arriving at nursery, children engage in energetic play which prepares them well for the day ahead.

They continuously access the well-resourced outdoor area and are developing good skills in running, jumping, climbing and pedalling, using a wide range of play equipment. Children enjoy playing games with staff, who model how to throw and catch and how to use a bat and ball.Children of all ages are encouraged to explore and investigate.

Young children enjoy making marks in foam and watch how sand changes when water is added. Older children enthusiastically experiment with 'magic potions'. They watch intently as the mixture creates lots of coloured bubbles, and staff encourage them to listen to the popping sound it makes.

Staff foster very good partnerships with parents. Information provided to parents helps them to understand how their children are doing in relation to their age and how to help them to progress further. Parents are very complimentary about the nursery and speak highly of the staff team.

Staff are supported by the dedicated and passionate leadership team. Leaders carry out supervision meetings with staff to ensure that they fulfil their job role and responsibilities. Staff observe each other's practice, share ideas and attend additional training.

The leaders and the staff team have a clear vision for further improvements. They engage in continuous reflective practice and value the opinions of staff, children and parents.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

All staff fully understand their responsibility to safeguard children from harm. The nursery has clear, detailed policies, and the manager is the designated staff member to take the lead if concerns about children's safety arise. Emphasis is placed on ensuring children are cared for in a safe environment through effective procedures and practices.

These include robust recruitment, selection and induction arrangements. There is a strong commitment to staff attending training to develop their skills and knowledge in all areas of safety, such as safeguarding, first aid and basic food hygiene.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: nimprove hygiene procedures further to maximise children's well-being at all times support staff to develop their teaching skills so that they consistently use skilful questioning techniques.