Laugh N Learn Day Nursery

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is outstanding

Children receive a warm welcome, are confident and thoroughly enjoy their time in this inspiring setting. They build very strong bonds with the staff who care for them and are eager to start back at the setting after the summer holidays.

New children settle quickly in the unfamiliar environment. Staff are incredibly supportive. They liaise with parents and/or carers to ensure that every child's needs are fostered.

Children's routines are matched superbly to those at home to promote seamless transition and consistency of care. Staff gather plenty of information about the children's previous experiences and intere...sts. They use what they find out to plan and provide a wide array of rich, varied and imaginative opportunities for children.

For example, some children do not have a garden at home, so staff ensure that outdoor play is a regular feature of the daily experiences offered. Furthermore, many children missed out on opportunities to socialise, see their friends and visit local places of interest during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since restrictions have been lifted, children enjoy frequent trips and outings.

Children and their families have also benefited from a day out with staff to the beach. This was a new and exciting experience for many and holds very fond memories for them to treasure.

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

Leaders and managers are fully focused on creating a staff team who put children at the forefront of everything they do.

They ensure that staff are empowered and passionate about their roles and responsibilities and engage in training and research to boost their skills and knowledge. Staff share their expertise with one another and a culture of mutual support and continuous improvement is meticulously embraced. There is a sharp focus on promoting well-being both before and since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Leaders and managers ensure there is always someone available to talk to and they provide access to a counselling programme to gain external help if this is preferred. Well-being boxes, which are readily available for staff and parents, include snacks, treats and personal items that they may need.All staff know the children exceptionally well.

They identify next steps for children's learning and use every opportunity to enrich the children's experiences. Children are highly engaged and staff are incredibly skilled in their interactions with children. Staff listen to children and pick up on their cues.

They know instinctively when to intervene in play to offer more challenge and when to step back and enable children to try out and persevere with new experiences. Staff adapt their teaching and build on opportunities that follow children's interests and natural curiosity using open-ended and innovative resources throughout.Children use real food and objects as they pretend to cook meals.

They talk with staff, visitors and their friends about what they are making and how it tastes. Staff use this as an ideal opportunity to encourage children to think about which foods are healthy and about the importance of eating well. Children extend this activity as they pretend to feed the play animals and make sure they are well cared for too.

Children are captivated by stories and develop a love of books. They listen intently and laugh and react with awe and wonder as staff read to them using expressions and animated voices.Children are very independent, confident, caring and considerate of one another.

They enjoy taking responsibility for themselves and their environment. Children work together, and with very little guidance from staff, help to tidy away and collect their belongings when it is time to go home.Staff are excellent role models and children are very well behaved and polite.

Children thoroughly enjoy finding out about one another and respect and value their differences and similarities. They look at photographs of one another and reminisce about special moments in each other's lives. Children learn about different cultures and flourish as they take part in many celebrations and events throughout the year.

Parents are delighted with the progress their children are making and comment very positively about the staff. They truly appreciate and follow the guidance and support staff provide. This helps to ensure consistency and encouragement with eating, toileting and other self-care skills that children need to master at the setting, home and elsewhere.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Leaders, managers and staff have exceptional knowledge and understanding of how to identify and respond to safeguarding concerns about a child or colleague in a timely way. They conduct regular research and complete varied training to ensure that they are up to date with any changes to legislation or local procedures.

Leaders and managers are very aware of the vulnerabilities in the community and work closely with schools and other professionals to provide extensive support to families in need. The suitability of staff is assured through robust recruitment procedures. Staff are vigilant and ensure that children play in a safe environment.