Little Einsteins Nursery

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children are safe and thrive in this warm and welcoming setting. They clearly enjoy attending, as they confidently separate from their parents and carers on arrival.

Children quickly become immersed in the activities provided. They are motivated and eager to learn. Children concentrate on their chosen activities and persevere in tasks that at first seem challenging.

For example, pre-school children concentrate intensely as they chop cucumbers. They develop their confidence in using small child-appropriate knives, in turn developing essential skills for the future. All children make good progress, including those with s...pecial educational needs and/or disabilities.

Children behave well for their age, particularly in the toddler room. Recent adjustments to the toddler environment have had a very positive impact on children's behaviour and their engagement. Children know what is expected of them.

They follow instructions well and understand that a bell indicates it is time to tidy up. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, staff have focused their teaching on supporting children to interact with others and develop their confidence in social situations. As a result, children are learning to share and to take turns.

Babies have very trusting relationships with their key person and benefit from the calm and nurturing environment that staff provide.

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

Staff have a detailed understanding of what their key children know and what they can do. They plan exciting learning opportunities so that children develop curiosity and a sense of awe and wonder.

For example, children play with sand and water. They create pictures using different media and explore textures and natural objects. However, children who prefer to learn outdoors are not supported as well.

This is because staff do not yet apply the same level of consideration to the planning and provision of activities outdoors.Staff interact well with children. They are playful and engaging in their approach, which helps to ensure children are motivated in their learning.

Occasionally, however, staff do not challenge misconceptions in children's learning. For example, when children count incorrectly or use a knife upside down, staff do not always intervene. Furthermore, staff sometimes miss opportunities to strengthen and challenge children's understanding and knowledge even further.

Staff support children's emerging communication and language skills well. The staff working with babies continuously model new words and use repetition to reinforce children's understanding. Staff supporting toddlers provide a running commentary as children play, which helps to ensure that children hear a rich variety of vocabulary.

In the pre-school room, staff introduce new vocabulary.For example, they introduce the word 'architect' when children talk about the tower that they have built.Huge consideration is given to supporting children's understanding of being healthy.

There are plentiful opportunities for children to develop their large-muscle skills such as climbing, balancing and running. Children enjoy very healthy and nutritious meals and snacks. They make fruit kebabs to enjoy at snack time and take home 'salad plates' to share with their families.

Pre-school children brush their teeth at nursery and are learning the importance of good oral hygiene. Toothbrushing packs are provided for families, and staff signpost families to local dentists as needed.Staff feel very well supported in their roles.

They benefit from purposeful supervision meetings and observations of their practice. Staff are encouraged to reflect on their interactions with children and identify any improvements they could make. This helps to ensure that children always receive good-quality care and education.

Staff are offered plentiful training opportunities to help develop their practice even further. Leaders have a very clear vision for further improvements. The passion and dedication of the staff team are commendable.

Partnerships with parents are strong. Parents are very complimentary about the support that staff have given them and about staff's friendly and approachable manner. Parents state that they are 'lucky to have their child's key person' and describe the nursery as 'amazing', with 'seamless transitions' for their children and 'dedicated staff'.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Staff have a good understanding of their role and responsibility in protecting children from harm. They are knowledgeable regarding the reporting of any concerns about a child's welfare and how to refer to appropriate agencies.

Staff engage in regular training to ensure that their knowledge and skills remain current. Leaders discuss safeguarding matters in supervision sessions and team meetings. They continually check staff's understanding through spot questioning and quizzes.

Robust recruitment and vetting arrangements ensure that staff are appropriately verified and safe to work with children. Medication and accident procedures are meticulous, which helps to ensure children's all-round safety and well-being.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: strengthen the outdoor curriculum in order to fully support those children who prefer to learn outdoors help staff to develop their teaching skills so that they confidently challenge misconceptions in learning and embrace opportunities to strengthen children's knowledge and understanding further.