Little Gem’s

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children receive care from very warm and affectionate staff, who support them well with their learning.

They have a key person who forms strong attachments to help them feel safe and secure. Children behave well, including when playing outside. They play happily with their friends and show high levels of confidence.

This is evident, for example when children volunteer to sing their favourite nursery songs in front of their friends and adults. They receive lots of praise and encouragement, which further boosts their self-esteem. Children make independent decisions about their play.

They enjoy looking at books a...nd singing songs, which helps to promote their language skills. Children also delight in imaginative play with staff and their peers. For example, they pretend to cook and eat 'sushi' in the home corner.

Outside, children become engaged in popular activities, such as water and sand play, which provide them with tactile experiences. They develop their physical skills, such as when using ride-on toys. Children enjoy numerous outings to new places, such as a farm, an aquarium, a theatre and the local library.

These learning opportunities increase children's knowledge and sense of the world around them.

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

The highly dedicated provider has created a welcoming and inclusive environment. She has worked hard to build a strong partnership with schools that children will attend, particularly the host school.

This stands out as an area of strong practice which helps to secure a smooth transition for the children who are moving on to the next stage of their education.Parents comment very positively about staff and how they support their children's learning. For example, they report significant progress in their children's speech and counting skills since joining the nursery.

Parents find the communication is highly effective, which keeps them fully up to date on what their children are learning. The strong partnership between parents and staff benefits children well.Staff find that they receive good levels of support and guidance to develop their teaching practice.

For example, following training, they have increased their knowledge of how to use natural resources to support children's early mathematical skills. This has resulted in children showing more interest in this particular area of learning.Staff observe and assess children's learning regularly to help them plan an ambitious curriculum.

They also make use of the information gained to provide additional support for children who have additional learning needs. However, there are times when staff do not adapt planned activities consistently to support all children's learning as fully as possible.The provider supports staff to promote children's understanding of letters and sounds.

She acknowledges that they can do more to develop children's early writing skills, particularly the older ones, in preparation for school.Staff promote children's good behaviour. They remind children gently that 'sharing is caring' during play.

Children respond positively to this.Children are motivated to play because staff have high expectations for them. They concentrate well at their chosen activities and persevere with a task.

This is evident, for example when children build a 'tower' and a 'crane' using toy bricks.Staff develop children's love of books. They read a wide range of books with enthusiasm and animation.

Consequently, young and older children look at books with pleasure. These sessions also expand children's increasing vocabulary.At snack and mealtimes, staff engage children in meaningful conversations about healthy eating.

This builds on children's understanding of the effects food has on their bodies.The provider is committed to evaluating their practice for children and their families. She has identified priorities for continuous improvements, such as to review the curriculum for expressive arts and design.

This is to further promote children's curiosity and imagination.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.The provider follows robust recruitment procedures to determine staff's initial suitability to work in the nursery.

She has put systems in place to check that staff continue to be suitable to work with children. The provider takes her role as the designated safeguarding lead seriously. She ensures that staff gain a secure understanding of the signs that may indicate a child is at risk of harm.

As a result, staff are confident about safeguarding issues and how to report them to relevant agencies. Staff supervise children well to help keep them safe throughout the day.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: differentiate planned activities to help children to make the best progress in the next phase of their learning make more effective use of opportunities to enable children, particularly the older ones, to practise their early writing skills.

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