Little Starlings

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Overall, children arrive confident to part from their parents and/or carers.

Staff comfort those new to the setting or unsettled, so children soon feel safe and secure to play and explore. This underpins children's learning and development. Staff implement the curriculum well.

Staff plan exciting activities, which capture children's interest and support their development effectively. For example, children are eager to find the resources they need to build a tent. They become confident as they independently select matching size sticks and staff help them to compare them to their own height.

Children solve probl...ems as they untie the tangled rope and use it to join the sticks together, building their resilience and willingness to learn when it does not work first time. Staff introduce words such as teepee and encourage discussions about camping. Staff help children to explore their own ideas, such as painting the cover, where they notice how the blue and yellow paint makes green.

Staff promote children's physical development well, indoors, and outdoors. For example, children dance in time to music, changing their movements to assorted styles. They balance with confidence on low beams and climb steps to the tree house, under supervision.

Children manipulate a wide range of tools and equipment, building their muscle skills ready for writing.

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

The owner is currently managing the setting. She provides a well organised environment, with a strong focus on enabling children to become independent learners.

She spends several hours with parents and children before they start at the setting to get to know them well. Staff quickly identify if children may need additional support. They work closely with parents and other professionals to ensure children receive the help they need to catch up with their peers.

There have been recent changes to staff and the owner has just employed a manager, who has already had a positive impact on children's experiences. For example, she has changed mealtimes so that children no longer spend too much time waiting for their food, as well as providing a more social time. Staff provide good support for older children to develop their independence during routines, such as snacktime.

For example, they wash their hands, pour their own drinks, and peel fruit.Staff support children's language skills effectively. They use songs, books, and rhymes to extend children's vocabulary.

They engage children in conversations, such as talking about a picture they have brought from home. Children become confident communicators. Although staff plan mathematical activities, they do not all consistently extend and challenge children's mathematical language and knowledge, during routines or in free play.

Children behave well in this inclusive setting. They develop a positive awareness of each other's similarities and differences. Children follow instructions, know the boundaries and are kind to each other because staff consistently support them.

Young children enjoy being with the older ones and benefit from learning from them. Children laugh as they have fun learning.Parents appreciate how staff collaborate with them over potty training children or encouraging better eating habits.

Those with children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, confirm the good support they receive. Although all parents see photographs of their children and know the week's activities, they do not all receive regular information on what their children are working on next, to support them better at home.Overall, the owner/manager evaluates the quality of the provision successfully.

She recognises where new or inexperienced staff need greater support and helps them to improve. The manager works closely with the reception teacher at the school to ensure they are providing children with the skills they need. One staff member has had training at the school to introduce letters and sounds appropriately to the oldest children, ready for their next stage of learning.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: focus staff development on supporting children's mathematical skills and language during routines and free play, to extend their knowledge further provide regular, consistent information for parents on their children's next stages of development, to help them support their children better at home.

Also at this postcode