Little Hearts Day Nursery

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children arrive excited and full of enthusiasm for their day. Children are happy and respond very positively to the welcoming staff. They are keen to participate in the range of activities provided and are absorbed in play.

The manager and staff pride themselves on providing a homely environment where children feel relaxed. Children quickly settle into the daily routines of the nursery. They make independent choices about what they would like to play with from the selection of fun and interesting toys provided.

All children make good progress in their learning. Children's behaviour and attitudes to learning are exempla...ry. They display wonderful consideration towards each other and visitors.

Children ooze with confidence. Babies learn routines and boundaries from a young age. They know what time of the day it is and can anticipate what is coming next.

Children benefit from a range of interesting activities that build on what they know and can do. They have lots of opportunities to practise their skills and learn new ones through their interactions with staff. Staff have high expectations for all children.

Within the outdoor space, children are provided with many opportunities to develop their physical skills. For example, older children proudly show off their balancing skills as they ride bikes. They ride at various speeds, up and down slopes, negotiating obstacles in their way.

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

Children's communication skills are a top priority. All staff model an extensive range of vocabulary. This means that children consistently have opportunities to hear and practise new words.

For example, children learn that the texture of an octopus' tentacle is bumpy. Babies confidently babble with contentment. Children verbalise their emotions without prompt.

Language screening assessments have been introduced to support with the early identification of language delay. This will help to ensure early intervention, so that children swiftly receive the support they need.The manager supervises staff well.

She values her staff team and provides regular training to develop their knowledge and practice. For example, staff in the baby room are given good support to understand babies' developing brains. Staff display a keen desire to do well and improve their knowledge.

Children's behaviour and attitudes to learning are outstanding. They display wonderful manners, thanking each other without adult direction. Children are eager to join in activities and participate with high levels of engagement.

They are resilient and cope well with challenge. For example, children understand when they are 'out' and lose while playing a fun game. They appreciate that not everyone can win and enthusiastically encourage their friends to continue.

Staff praise them for their positive attitudes and resilience.Overall, staff support children in developing healthy lifestyles. They provide nutritious meals, activities that help to develop children's physical skills and teach children the importance of brushing their teeth.

However, on occasions, staff do not support all aspects of children's personal hygiene well, For example, older children are not consistently supported to learn how to clean their noses hygienically.Children are encouraged to learn about life in modern Britain. They discuss growing their own crops to be used in their meals at lunchtime.

They learn about what happens within the world. Children have an awareness of what they are contributing towards when leaving toys for the children's charity. They are aware of recycling and the materials that we can and cannot recycle.

Children also help to put their own rubbish in the recycling, giving them a sense of pride for the world that they live in.Partnership with parents is a strength of the nursery. Parents speak highly of the nursery staff and talk about the support they have received.

Parents are happy with how the staff communicate with them and they enjoy receiving notifications about what the children have been doing during the day.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Staff have a very good understanding of their safeguarding roles and responsibilities.

This includes understanding the signs and symptoms of abuse and neglect and the correct procedures to follow in the event of a concern about a child's welfare. Staff all attend regular training that helps to keep their knowledge up to date. Management follows robust recruitment and vetting procedures to ensure that staff and apprentices are suitable.

The environments are safe and secure. Staff undertake daily checks indoors and outdoors to ensure that children play in a safe environment.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: develop staff practice to support children in managing all aspects of their personal hygiene well.