Little Hands Daycare Stourbridge

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is outstanding

Leaders are passionate about giving children the highest quality early years experiences. They create a home-from-home atmosphere where children join the 'Little Hands family'.

This ethos is shared by a committed staff team. All staff speak to children with great warmth and kindness. All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), thrive in their care.

A highly effective settling-in process supports families to build strong relationships with staff. This starts from the very beginning of their nursery journey when the whole family visit and explore the nursery and meet th...e staff. Consequently, staff know children exceptionally well and children feel happy and content.

All staff complete training in emotional coaching. This allows them to sensitively help children to understand their feelings from an early age. Staff are intuitive to young babies' needs.

They act swiftly when babies become hungry and talk sensitively to them, helping them to understand their feelings. Older children learn to resolve conflicts between each other, share resources and wait their turn. Therefore, all children learn to regulate their own behaviour and build emotional resilience.

Staff are wonderful role models. They are kind and supportive to each other. Children learn from their positive example, and they show respect and kindness towards their friends.

For example, a small group of children enjoy making fruit smoothies. They chop, peel and mix exotic fruits. At the end of the activity, the children suggest that all the drink is shared out equally for everyone to try.

Children's behaviour is exemplary. They use manners without prompts, stop and listen immediately to staff and closely follow instructions.

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

Leadership in this nursery is inspirational.

Staff carefully consider the different experiences children bring with them. They design a rich and ambitious curriculum that enhances children's development. For example, they provide cooking classes, yoga, and mindfulness sessions.

The quality of teaching is excellent and staff have a clear understanding of how children learn. As a result, they plan well-sequenced activities that successfully build on what children already know.Children show determination learning new skills.

When they get frustrated, staff encourage them to keep trying. For example, young babies carefully practise inserting a bubble wand into a tube, and even though it is tricky, they keep trying. They display a superb attitude to hard work.

This prepares them well for their next stage in their educational journey.Staff are highly effective at differentiating the activities they plan so they are individualised to the children's needs. For example, during a fruit chopping activity, staff support children to count to five in Spanish to extend their knowledge of numbers and language.

As well as this, they support children with SEND to feel and explore the different textures of the fruit. Children therefore make rapid progress in their learning from their various starting points.Leaders ensure all staff receive highly effective professional development opportunities.

There is a strong focus on staff well-being, and morale is very high. Staff supervision is highly tailored and each month has a different focus. For example, this month is 'buddy-up month'.

This is where staff work together to achieve their targets and offer support. This effective system means staff's understanding is up to date, which provides a safe environment for children.Support for children with SEND is excellent.

The well-qualified special educational needs coordinator (SENCo) provides tailored support for children. She uses techniques she has learned on training, like mirroring sounds so that children know the noises they make are of value and heard. She works closely with other professionals to share valuable information.

As a result, children with SEND get the early and ongoing support they need.Staff use current research to formulate their practice. They adapt their curriculum to challenge children to the highest level.

For example, they promote independence from the earliest age. Young babies help to serve their own food at lunchtime. They practise life skills like opening the lids to their yogurts and taking their shoes off.

Children care for giant snails. They learn about habitats and nutrition as well as compassion for other creatures.Children are provided with a wealth of rich experiences, and they have made strong links with the local community.

They regularly visit the local care home. This gives children opportunities to practise vital skills like road safety and confidence speaking in new environments. The nursery is environmentally conscious.

It teaches children about the importance of their impact on the world and how to recycle effectively. This gives children a secure understanding of the wider world around them.Parents speak extremely highly of the nursery.

They clearly attribute their children's progress to their time in the nursery. They say staff truly care about the children and their attention to detail shines through in all members of the team. They are constantly blown away by the variety of activities offered.

Supporting parents with home learning is given the utmost priority. Staff provide a variety of resources for families to use at home, such as activity bags. This helps to consolidate children's learning between home and nursery.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Children's safety is given the greatest priority. All staff have an in-depth knowledge of the types of abuse that may indicate a child is at risk of harm.

Staff are extremely confident in the process for reporting their concerns about children should they need to make referrals themselves. Children are taught how to keep themselves safe in the sun, and staff monitor the ultraviolet levels before they go outside. This helps to provide a safe environment for children to learn and play.