Hillside Playcare

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is outstanding

Children flourish and thrive in this family orientated nursery. They form heart-warming bonds with staff who know them extremely well. Children form solid friendships with all children.

They develop exceptional levels of empathy and take care to include everyone in play activities. Children show incredibly high levels of self-control, and are able to deal with disappointment well. They develop exceptionally high levels of independence.

They help to lay the table, carry their plates, wipe their noses, push in chairs and put everyone's water bottles back in their place. Children patiently wait for their turn with ...a toy and communicate their intentions exceptionally well. For example, children carefully explain to each other that when the timer has ended, they would like to wear the princess dress.

Children have high levels of self-esteem and confidence for their ages. They are proud of their achievements and cannot wait to share them with staff. For example, children eagerly tell staff that they have tried potatoes for the first time.

They understand the effect food has on their bodies. Children explain, 'potatoes will make me grow.' They learn about where their food comes from.

Children help to harvest vegetables and prepare them for snack. They thoroughly enjoy smelling and exploring the vegetables, as well as cutting fresh herbs to add to their meals. Children are very well behaved and know exactly what is expected of them.

They are kind and considerate of their friend's feelings and use exceptional manners. Children learn how to keep themselves safe and healthy. They consider the effects of wearing thick fancy-dress costumes when it is really hot.

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

The provider, who is also the manager, has developed an exceptionally strong staff team who are dedicated to providing the best care and education for children. Children's interests and happiness are at the heart of everything they do. The manager is an excellent role model for all staff.

She has passed on her expert knowledge, enabling staff to provide an ambitious curriculum which means all children make excellent progress.Staff skilfully facilitate children's play. They know exactly when to step in to build on what children already know and can do.

Consequently, children display extremely high levels of problem-solving skills, and continually challenge themselves and develop vivid imaginations. For example, children are fascinated with who is the tallest. They carefully think about the ways in which they could find the answer.

Carefully facilitated by staff, children excitedly measure each other on the floor using toy bricks. Children use words such as 'taller', 'shorter', 'smaller', and 'the same' to describe each other's height.The provider has high expectations of staff.

Robust professional development plans are in place. Staff skills are valued and implemented to maximum impact.Staff take advice from each other about how to further improve their already excellent practice.

Staff are eager to complete courses to further their knowledge and skills and the provider is very supportive of this. Staff swiftly identify gaps in children's learning and source their own training so they can provide the best level of support.Partnerships with parents are exemplary.

They are exceptionally well informed about the curriculum and what they can do to continue learning at home. Parents highly recommend the setting, with many planning for future children to attend. The provider arranges days where parents and other family members can attend the setting to meet each other and see the nursery in action.

Communication and language is a vital part of the curriculum. Staff provide excellent commentary during children's play, modelling language and adding new words into their vocabulary at every opportunity. Children confidently use new words in their play that they have learnt.

For example, children remember they need to be 'patient' when waiting for their turn with a particular toy. Staff help children build strong foundations for speaking and listening. Even the youngest children confidently listen, pay attention and take part in circle-time activities.

Consequently, all children are very well prepared for the next stage in their learning, including the move to school.Staff are skilled at seizing opportunities to incorporate a wide range of learning into play. For example, a group of younger children are completely engaged as staff read them a book about their bodies.

Children enthusiastically identify their legs and toes. Staff incorporate mathematics seamlessly into the activity. Children excitedly count how many toes they have.

Staff skilfully extend this by introducing adding and subtraction. Children are mesmerised by staff's interactions and are eager to learn new things.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Staff have a secure understanding of child protection procedures. They can identify concerns and know the steps to take to keep children safe from harm. Staff know the action to take if they have concerns about the behaviour of other staff.

They are clear about their responsibility to report concerns outside of the setting if the provider is not taking action. Staff have a strong knowledge of wider safeguarding issues, such as families being drawn into extremist views. Robust recruitment and ongoing suitability measures are in place to ensure that all staff are, and continue to be, suitable to work with children.

Staff are clear of their roles and responsibilities. They carry out effective risk assessments to keep children safe. Staff keep the premises secure and have effective emergency procedures in place.