Little Green Rascals Bishopthorpe

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is outstanding

Staff within this nursery are exceptionally skilled at following the lead of the children and providing exciting and inspiring activities linked to children's interests.

Children are inspired to learn and are enthusiastic and animated learners. They show exceptional resilience as they persevere with activities from start to finish. For example, children select their own ingredients to make dough.

They refer to previous learning as they add flour and water and then later add salt. Children decide together how much flour to add to make the dough pliable and how to mix it.The manager demonstrates exceptional leader...ship and support for her dedicated and committed staff team.

She creates an environment of reflective practice with all staff, who are eager for further training and professional development. Staff feel valued and strive to create a nursery where children have the opportunity to excel and reach their full potential. Children are extremely happy and confident.

They have developed exceptional relationships with staff who they trust implicitly. Behaviour throughout the nursery is impeccable. Children are supported to understand and manage their own emotions and are supportive of peers who may be upset.

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

Throughout the nursery, staff are calm, attentive role models who are respectful in their interactions with children. Colleagues and parents create an environment of mutual respect and understanding. Children know the standard of behaviour expected of them and are kind and considerate to others.

Children are provided with a superb range of experiences which they explore with awe and wonder, using all their senses. Staff provide children with plenty of time to think and respond to questions they pose. This helps encourage their oral and critical thinking skills.

Staff maximise spontaneous learning opportunities that ignite children's interest. For example, children draw a car and then make one with wood and nails, using tools and measuring to enhance number skills.There are exceptionally strong and positive relationships between staff and children.

This promotes an excellent sense of security and emotional well-being so that children form highly positive attachments and show great motivation in their learning. Children enjoy regular fresh air in the exciting and well-planned outdoor area. They engage gleefully in energetic play to develop their physical skills and promote their understanding of healthy lifestyles.

Staff skilfully weave all aspects of the curriculum into activities and stimulate children's imaginations. At snack time, children decided to make a café. They served staff with the food and then presented a bill, informing staff of the amount to be paid and the change required.

Children giggled when staff paid them.The manager and staff monitor children's development very effectively. This helps them to swiftly identify, and fully address, any gaps in their learning.

Staff recognise the importance of continually finding ways to challenge children to maintain and further develop the excellent outcomes in their learning.Partnerships with parents are excellent. From the time children first start at the nursery, parents are fully involved in their learning and development.

Staff speak to parents each day and show them what their children have been doing. Parents stated that staff 'go above and beyond to support and extend children's learning at home'. For example, staff prepare a booklet for children to complete at the airport about looking for planes and various objects.

Parents value this support and children are delighted to bring the booklet back to nursery on their return.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.The managers and staff work extremely hard to ensure that children within their care are protected.

They have an excellent knowledge and understanding of the signs of abuse and the procedures they would follow and implement. The manager constantly reviews staff knowledge through regular training, staff meetings and supervision sessions. Recruitment procedures are rigorous and robust.

Staff support children to understand how to keep themselves safe within their activities and the wider world. Children confidently use hammers, nails and sharp knives with adult supervision. Children discuss how to sit around the fire as they toast marshmallows and make cakes.