Little Pickles Nursery Tenterden Limited

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is outstanding

Children are incredibly confident, independent and happy.

They are enthralled by extremely interesting and challenging learning experiences. For example, children create their own wooden structures using real tools, such as a drill. Children are enthusiastic about their models and beam with pride as they show their friends, excitedly telling them 'look at my robot I built'.

Children's behaviour is impeccable and there are incredibly polite. They show empathy and kindness and respect each other. They help each other understand their differences and know what makes other children happy.

Children support t...heir friends with additional needs. For example, they remind them to use their favourite outdoor den if they need some quiet time. Children discuss the importance of exercise.

They take part in activities that they know will increase their heart rate, such as riding bikes up the mud hills they help build. All children have outstanding opportunities to challenge their physical skills. They negotiate complicated equipment such as climbing up ropes and large trees.

All children are confident to climb vertical ladders. Older children climb them with independence and babies climb them with developing coordination, with staff close by for support when needed.

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

All staff establish inspirational and trusting relationships with children.

They include children in the daily plans and ensure they feel valued and respected. For example, children request activities and resources and staff implement these into the plans. This helps keep all children enthused in fascinating and enthralling learning experiences.

Children have outstanding levels of positive well-being, self-worth and self-motivation.The manager and staff maintain incredibly positive partnerships with parents and keep them fully involved in their children's learning. They share children's learning experiences daily.

They offer online training videos for parents each week. For example, they were recently invited to learn about how to manage separation anxiety. This is incredibly beneficial in supporting children who have had recent time away from the nursery due to COVID-19 (coronavirus).

The extremely experienced and highly qualified staff have an impeccable knowledge of children's development and they provide them with outstanding learning opportunities. Staff are incredibly passionate and enthusiastic and ensure that they provide children with the skills they need to succeed.All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who speak English as an additional language, make outstanding progress.

For example, each day staff teach children words, such as 'good morning' in a different language, like German and Spanish.All children are extremely confident to communicate and share their ideas. Staff regularly introduce new words to children's already extensive range of vocabulary.

For instance, children remember what words were used by staff during an earlier story to replace the word 'big'. They confidently tell their friends 'that's ginormous' and 'it's enormous'. The manager employs a speech and language therapist who attends the nursery weekly.

She provides training for staff to support children to communicate to their highest potential. This helps staff ensure all children rapidly narrow any gaps in their communication development. As a result of the training, they have added new ways to support all children, including the babies, to communicate extremely well, such as they consistently use signing.

Children have outstanding opportunities to respect and understand other people's similarities and differences. For example, they learn about same gender relationships and understand how this is a personal choice for each individual.The manager and staff attend incredibly beneficial training to support them to enhance their already impressive skills and knowledge.

For example, they have recently learned about the different ways to support mental health and well-being. Staff are empowered. They have a role to provide training each week to each other and cover an extensive range of topics.

This includes learning how to support children with their breathing language. This is a technique staff use to support children to remain calm and clear their mind to help manage their emotions.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

All staff have an outstanding knowledge and understanding of the safeguarding and child protection policies. This includes knowing who to contact to raise and follow up any concerns. Staff encourage children to manage risks in extremely challenging activities.

Children follow thorough safety advice from staff. For example, they light fires using flint and chisel wood to make mallets safely. Children play an active role in assessing risk in the nursery.

For instance, they walk around the learning areas and look for any slip or trip hazards. They 'write' down any risks they find and tell a member of staff. Staff have extremely thorough risk assessments in place, including any updates regarding COVID-19.