Little Engineers Nursery

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children benefit from secure and trusting bonds with staff.

Staff welcome parents and their children when they arrive at the nursery. Children self-register and develop a good sense of belonging and community. Staff know children well and support their learning effectively.

Children make good progress in relation to their individual starting points and capabilities. Children who speak English as an additional language achieve equally as well as others. Staff introduce songs and books to children, although these are not used to full advantage.

Children thoroughly enjoy their time at the nursery. For example, yo...unger children eagerly explored musical instruments to find out about the sounds they made, and older children were excited to observe how pieces of ice changed in shape when kept at room temperature. Staff are caring and sensitive to the needs of the children.

They comfort the younger ones when they are tired or upset, and offer them praise and encouragement as they play. Managers and staff have high expectations of the children. They talk to children in a calm and constructive manner and support their social and emotional well-being effectively.

Children learn to share resources fairly and to take turns. Their behaviour is good. Children learn about their own identity and the cultural diversity around them.

This helps them feel special and unique.

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

Staff gain relevant information from parents about what their children know, can do and need to learn next when they first join the nursery. They observe children during play and use further information from parents to help assess children's learning regularly.

Managers and staff provide a stimulating and engaging educational programme that helps children learn and develop new knowledge and skills. They also ensure that activities build on children's interests and support individual needs. For example, children were interested in dinosaurs, so staff planned activities to help children construct 'houses for their favourite dinosaurs', at the same time learning about the new housing development in the local area.

Children can count, sort and match objects correctly. They listen attentively, recognise some of the sounds in their names and engage well in writing activities. This helps them build the skills they need for their future learning, including starting school.

Children display positive attitudes to learning and relate well to each other. Children help themselves to resources and decide which activities to do. They enjoy creative activities, such as making colourful pictures and collages.

They like to show their work to staff, who praise them warmly.Staff hold discussions with children and listen to their views. However, they are not consistently effective in extending the children's language and thinking to further deepen their learning.

At times, too, staff introduce new activities quickly and do not allow children enough time to finish their self-chosen play.Staff help children to adopt healthy lifestyles. For example, children know that they need to wash their hands before eating.

They enjoy healthy meals and socialise well with their friends. Children enjoy the outdoor play, fresh air and exercise. Younger children learn to push wheeled toys safely.

Older children can manoeuvre bicycles and scooters with good control and coordination.Partnerships between parents and children are very strong. Staff keep parents fully informed about their children's learning and development.

Parents speak highly of the very good care their children receive from this approachable and helpful staff team.Staff work closely with other early years providers and relevant professionals to ensure good continuity of learning and progression for all children.Managers continually support staff and monitor their performance to help ensure that all children learn well and staff meet their care and learning needs effectively.

They consider the comments and suggestions of staff, parents and others, which helps them to highlight strengths and to target improvements. Managers are alert to staff's workload.Staff attend training to strengthen their knowledge and skills.

They appreciate the way managers support their well-being, for example, through counselling.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Thorough recruitment checks ensure that all staff are suitable to work with the children.

Managers and staff complete regular and appropriate safeguarding training, including in the 'Prevent' duty. They demonstrate a good understanding of the possible signs and symptoms of abuse and know how to make a referral if they are worried about a child. Managers ensure that staff are familiar with the nursery's policies and procedures so that they know what is expected.

Staff undertake regular checks of the premises and equipment to help keep children safe and secure. Through outings, children practise crossing roads safely.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: provide a higher level of challenge to help children extend their language and thinking nallow children more time to accomplish their favourite tasks to their own satisfaction.