Little Rainbows Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children thrive in the calm, happy and sociable atmosphere that staff create.

They show confidence as they happily interact with adults and their friends. Children have plenty of opportunities to make choices about their play. This supports their decision-making and independence skills effectively.

For example, children choose to play indoors or outside. They move freely and safely between the different environments. When children indicate they would like to stay inside, staff deploy themselves effectively to facilitate children's play.

They get down at children's level and involve themselves in lively role-pl...ay games in the home corner. Children look to staff for encouragement and reassurance as they open and close the play-oven door. When staff praise children, they respond by repeating the action.

Children benefit from a key person, who gets to know them well. Staff use their knowledge and ongoing assessments to support all children appropriately, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. They support children's emotional well-being and build positive relationships with their parents.

Staff are caring and enjoy the company of babies and young children. They play alongside children making activities fun and interesting. For instance, children make their own play dough.

Staff show them how to rub their hands in the flour and clap them up high. Children copy the movement and giggle as the flour sprinkles over them.

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

The manager and staff have worked hard to implement and embed an effective curriculum.

Activities are well planned and help to support all children to make progress in their learning and development. Staff recognise children's interests and gather information from parents when they first start at the nursery. This helps staff to know what children need to learn next.

Children's independence is promoted well. They are encouraged to make choices in their play and learning. Staff encourage older children to develop confidence with managing their self-care skills.

For instance, staff ask children to 'catch their cough', which they do and then they independently wash their hands. Children learn how to pour their own drinks and serve their meals.Overall, children behave well in the nursery.

Staff help them to manage conflict, to share and to take turns. Children build lovely friendships and enjoy sharing experiences together. For instance, when new children join the nursery, children welcome them and share toys.

That said, on the rare occasion when children do display unwanted behaviour, not all staff explain to children why rules are in place, to help them understand the reason for them. For instance, staff do not talk to children about why they should use kind hands or walk inside.Parents speak positively about the nursery.

They applaud staff for the advice and support they receive from them. Parents comment that their children have come on 'in leaps and bounds' since they started at the nursery. They praise staff for the regular communication and updates they receive.

Parents state that they have good links with staff and receive regular information about children's progress. Furthermore, they say that staff provide activity ideas for children to do at home to support their learning further.Staff use mealtimes to support children to develop their social skills.

Children sit with their friends and engage in two-way conversations. Staff prompt discussion to help children learn about healthy lifestyles. For example, they talk about the vegetables they have for lunch and say where they grow.

Children enjoy regular opportunities to get fresh air and engage in outdoor physical play.Staff provide children with a rich indoor learning environment that sparks their interest and curiosity. Staff know the children well and generally support their learning.

However, at times, when babies join the older children, staff do not consider the activities and experiences provided for them. This sometimes results in activities being too challenging for babies and they lose interest quickly.The manager undertakes regular staff supervision meetings to monitor their performance and assess ongoing training needs.

Staff comment that they feel valued, and that the manager pays close regard to their well-being.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.The manager and staff are knowledgeable about child protection concerns.

They complete training to keep their safeguarding knowledge up to date. All staff have a secure understanding of the correct procedure to follow if they have concerns about a child's welfare. Additionally, they know what to do if they have a concern about a colleague's conduct.

Staff record injuries that children arrive with and seek explanations from parents as to the cause. They ensure the premises are secure, to make sure children cannot leave the nursery unsupervised and no unauthorised visitors can gain entry.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: review the activities and experiences provided for younger children when joining different age groups together, taking children's stages of development into account develop a consistent approach to supporting children's behaviour so that they understand what is expected of them and why.

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