Little Angels Fun Club and Nursery

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children very much enjoy their time in this fun, safe and stimulating nursery. They show a strong sense of belonging and are happy and confident in their play. Staff provide an effective balance of planned activities and opportunities for children to make choices and lead their own learning.

For example, two-year-old children choose a photograph on arrival of which activities they would like to join in with. This focus on embracing children's interests helps to ignite their curiosity and encourages them to engage well, overall, in their learning. However, there are times when staff overlook children who are less motivated to jo...in in the good learning experiences they provide.

Children learn about the high expectations that staff have for their behaviour. Younger children begin to respond to boundaries, while older children learn to manage their feelings and consider the needs of others. Staff manage children's conflicts sensitively, with great consideration to their level of understanding.

They teach children to be kind and caring toward one another. Parents are very complimentary about the nursery provision and the support they receive from staff. They welcome regular feedback about their children's achievements and say that nursery has had an 'excellent impact' on their 'whole life'.

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

Plans for children's learning are based on staff's good knowledge of what children already know and can do. This helps children to build on their knowledge and skills and achieve more in their learning.Support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, and those who speak English as an additional language, is particularly effective.

Approaches to their learning are very well coordinated and demonstrate the highly effective partnerships that are established with other professionals. Children build rapidly on their learning and develop a good range of skills in readiness for school.Staff help older children to develop a wide vocabulary and support them well to make good achievements in their language and communication skills.

For example, they repeat new words and phrases back to children to help them to learn about correct grammar and pronunciation of the words they use. Occasionally, however, staff who work with the youngest children do not give them enough opportunities to practise new sounds and words.Children are, generally, keen to join in activities and are eager to learn.

This is demonstrated when children keep trying to match cogs in a puzzle to make all of the wheels turn. They play together harmoniously and show a willingness to try new activities. There are, however, occasions when staff are not alert to children who are less involved in the valuable learning experiences they provide.

At such times, children can become restless and do not benefit as much as possible from staff's good teaching.Staff teach children about the importance of living a healthy lifestyle. They benefit from nutritious home-cooked meals and this is enhanced by interactions with the nursery cook, who teaches them about healthy eating habits.

Additionally, plenty of opportunities for fresh air and exercise contribute to children's good physical health.Managers are very mindful of monitoring and promoting staff's well-being. Measures are in place, such as opportunities for counselling, to help staff to feel confident and happy in their role.

Good arrangements for supervision help staff to develop their own skills and knowledge. Morale is high and contributes to the happy, inclusive atmosphere in nursery.Managers and staff hold children's security and happiness in high regard.

They acknowledge that when children's emotional needs are met well, they will be ready to learn, grow and develop. Children form strong relationships with staff. They show that they feel safe and confident in nursery and develop a secure sense of belonging.

They benefit from plenty of praise that helps to raise their self-esteem.Staff teach children to value their own individuality and to begin to understand and celebrate differences between themselves and others in society. Children learn about lifestyles in their community and in the wider world.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Staff understand their role in protecting children from harm. They keep their knowledge up to date, for example, by attending training courses and liaising with the local authority.

This contributes to their good knowledge of the signs that may lead to concerns about a child's welfare. They know who to speak to and how to report any such concerns. Children develop an understanding of how to protect themselves.

For example, staff encourage them to think about the safest ways to behave. They talk about what 'Safety Sue' and 'Hazard Harry' might do.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: be even more alert to children who are reluctant to engage and help them to participate more consistently in the good learning opportunities provided nenhance the interactions between staff and the youngest children in order to promote their communication and language skills to the highest levels.