Happy Days Nursery

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children have formed strong relationships with staff.

Babies smile and reach out their arms to their key person and enjoy a warm embrace. Toddlers and older children are keen for staff to join in their play. They ask them for help in completing a jigsaw puzzle and to join them for a game of tennis in the garden.

Staff know their children well and plan their curriculum to help them make good progress in their development. Staff encourage children to work together to form friendships and to develop their social skills. For instance, babies enjoy a group activity with staff where they listen to nursery rhymes and play alo...ngside their peers.

Toddlers help to make up the beds for those going for a nap later. They lay out the pillowcases and blankets on the beds for their friends. Older children help one another to tidy up and enjoy carrying out tasks for staff, such as unloading the dishwasher.

Children behave well and understand the nursery rules. Older children talk about how they need to be kind, take turns and respect one another. They copy staff's effective role modelling, such as remaining calm and patient until their lunch is served.

Children always use their manners, saying 'please' and 'thank you' to staff. After lunchtime, staff encourage children to develop their independence skills. Children carry their plate and cutlery to the kitchen, carefully keeping these balanced.

The nursery supports all children, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds and with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Staff work with other professionals and attend training to ensure that they can fully support children's development. For instance, staff implement communication games to benefit children's vocabulary.

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

Parents are highly complimentary about the care that staff provide to their children. They comment how the nursery provides a home-from-home environment and how much their children enjoy attending. Staff find out information from parents about children's interests, health needs and routines from home.

They follow these well to ensure consistency for children. Staff provide frequent updates to parents about their child's development and ways to support learning at home.Children enjoy listening to familiar stories.

They remain focused and engaged throughout. Older children recall their past knowledge, talking about what happens next in the story. However, staff do not always adapt their teaching to help the older children build on what they already know to extend their learning further.

Staff have a strong understanding of child protection. They know the signs and symptoms of when a child's welfare may be at risk. Staff are confident in the procedures of who to report their concerns to if needed.

The play environment is safe and suitable for children. Staff carry out appropriate risk assessments prior to children arriving and supervise children well throughout the day to ensure their well-being.Children and staff have meaningful conversations.

Staff repeat sounds and words for younger children, encouraging them to copy to increase their language skills. They talk to children about their experiences, supporting them to learn new words. Older children ask good questions to find out more information, such as whether octopus and jellyfish lay eggs.

They recall past knowledge talking about the life cycle of a butterfly.Staff plan exciting trips for children, such as visits to the library, the park and the beach. Children learn how to stay safe in the sun and how to keep hydrated.

Staff teach them about water safety and of the creatures that live in the sea. Children enjoy making sea creatures from different materials, although staff do not always enable children to express their own ideas. For example, children are told where to put the glue and how many tissue paper tentacles to attach to their 'jellyfish'.

Staff implement simple games to encourage children's hand-eye coordination. They encourage babies to place small plastic balls into the holes of a cupcake baking tray and cheer when they achieve this. Babies beam with delight at their accomplishment.

Toddlers confidently manipulate their fork at lunchtime, successfully feeding themselves. Staff show older children how to hold a racket and how to hit the ball over the net. Children develop good physical skills.

The manager values her team. She ensures that staff's well-being is at the forefront and provides them with consistent support. Most staff have worked at the nursery for many years, and morale is high.

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: nadapt teaching to provide more challenge for older children, helping to build on what they already know and can do provide more opportunities for children to express their own thoughts and ideas, particularly during creative activities.

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