Happy Hours Nursery

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children are happy and thoroughly enjoy their time at this nursery. The dedicated staff team warmly embraces both children and their families, creating an environment that is both welcoming and supportive. Staff who act as key people play a vital role by collecting their key children from the entrance, strengthening their relationship and providing a sense of security.

Moreover, older children cultivate a deep sense of belonging as they eagerly pick up their named, painted pebble on arrival and place it beneath their key person's photo, further enhancing their connection to the nursery community. Children actively engage in the...ir learning, enthusiastically participating in a diverse curriculum that offers them interesting experiences. The managers and staff have an inclusive vision, catering to all children's needs, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

Staff encourage children to be inquisitive, confident and resilient learners, fostering curiosity and developing their abilities. Children delight in hands-on experiences, such as engaging in water and sand play and creating models with dough, which not only promote their critical thinking skills but also nurture their creativity. They also explore resources that facilitate role-play experiences, allowing children of all ages to simulate real-life scenarios and unleash their imaginations.

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

The managers and staff actively develop children's communication and language skills through frequent conversations and meaningful interactions. They create small-group activities that encourage children to select vocabulary and use it in their communication, enhancing language proficiency and pronunciation. Additionally, they introduce different books and songs each year to expand vocabulary and support overall language acquisition.

Children benefit from a variety of activities on offer. They show excitement and curiosity during free-flow play and small-group activities. They are eager to join in, and the older children, in particular, want to shout out the answers to staff's questions during activities.

However, this eagerness sometimes leads to challenging behaviour. Staff do not consistently implement effective rules, which is essential to set clear expectations and foster positive behaviour, especially for older children transitioning to the next stage of their education.Partnership with parents is strong.

The managers and staff understand the importance of building trust with parents to provide consistent support for children. They share activities and books with families to extend learning at home. Parents praise the staff's warmth, dedication and approachability and are confident their children enjoy attending the nursery.

Children develop independence from an early age. Staff encourage them to make play choices and take assessed risks. They support older babies in carrying out tasks independently, such as taking off shoes and placing them on the shoe rack.

Toddlers use child-friendly knives to chop their own fruit. Older children assist with cleaning and serve food during lunchtime.Children cultivate their understanding of numbers and various mathematical concepts through interactive play with resources, where they count, arrange by colour and learn number vocabulary.

Staff also endeavour to promote children's literacy skills through storytelling and engaging them in small-group activities that initiate discussion and encourage the use of descriptive language. However, there are instances when staff do not always take advantage of every opportunity to further enhance children's literacy skills.The managers and staff arrange trips to local points of interests.

This helps children become familiar with the local community and enables them to develop an understanding of the world around them.Children develop physical skills through regular indoor and outdoor activities. In the garden, older babies have space to crawl and practise walking, while indoors, they practise climbing up and down steps.

They use mark-making tools to further strengthen their small hand muscles. Older children engage in active outdoor play, safely climbing on the climbing frame and riding scooters. They also enhance their fine motor skills through various activities, such as writing on a whiteboard and painting on an easel.

The manager and her deputy lead the nursery collaboratively. Staff possess a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities. They liaise seamlessly with external agencies to provide individualised assistance for children.

Smooth transition plans are in place as children move between age groups and to school.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.The nursery is safe and secure.

Procedures are in place to ensure that children cannot leave unattended. Robust recruitment procedures are in place. A clear induction process, ongoing checks and supervision sessions make sure that staff are suitable to work with children.

All staff attend safeguarding training and understand their roles in keeping children safe and protected from harm. Children learn how to keep themselves safe.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: nimplement more effective rules to enhance positive behaviour, particularly for older children transitioning to the next stage of their education make use of every opportunity to enhance children's literacy skills even further.