Littleworld Day Nursery

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children approach the nursery with excitement and happiness to be attending. They look forward to seeing which staff member greets them at the door. Staff check the children are well and have had a good rest.

For example, they check on younger children who were struggling with sleeping due to teething. Children quite happily wave goodbye to their parents and go to their room. Staff have formed special bonds with all the children in their room.

Children will confidently look for any familiar adult for support. All children settle quickly, and staff meet their needs. Children feel safe and secure in this nursery.
.../>The manager has an ambitious curriculum that includes a range of approaches. Staff plan for the individual child, using their learning intentions. They also follow children's interests.

For example, the babies are doing activities relating to the 'The Gruffalo'. Staff successfully build on children's learning as they move through the nursery from babies up to pre-school. There is an effective key-person system in place that helps support children's learning and development.

For example, each child's key person completes regular observations and assessments and takes prompt action if they identify any gaps in the child's learning. This helps all children make good progress.

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

Management and leadership are strong.

The staff feel extremely supported by their manager. Staff benefit from useful opportunities to develop their skills further. For example, they complete qualifications and receive regular training as well as taking part in appraisals and supervision meetings.

The well-being of the staff is a big priority for the leadership team. For example, it holds team-building sessions, supplies luxuries and gives staff regular breaks. Staff are extremely happy to work at this nursery, and the morale is good.

The special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) provision is extremely good. The special educational needs and/or disabilities coordinator (SENDCo) has extensive knowledge on how to support children with SEND. The SENDCo works alongside all the staff, parents and external agencies to ensure that children's individual needs are being met.

They also hold training sessions for staff. This helps ensure that all children make good progress in their learning. Staff use a range of strategies to support children, such as visual aids and Makaton.

Children with English as an additional language also use these strategies to help them understand their adult. Therefore, children's needs are being met.Staff successfully extend children's knowledge.

Older children have regular sessions to focus on early literacy skills. For example, they are working on improving their listening and attention skills and are beginning to notice letter sounds. However, some staff have a less-confident understanding of the skills they want children to gain in preparation for school and how to support them in this learning.

Children have formed good relationships with their peers. They will play alongside each other. Children demonstrate that they respect each other and will take turns.

For example, older children join in with a group game outside, which is led by their adult. In some situations, however, staff do not always support children to develop an understanding of the rules in their classroom. Although they give occasional reminders, this is not always consistent.

Therefore, at times, children are unsure of how they are expected to behave.Staff plan a variety of interesting opportunities for children. Older children enjoy climbing large equipment to extend their physical development, while younger children join in with sensory experiences.

Staff take children's interests and learning needs into account, so children happily join in. They relish opportunities to explore the world around them when staff take them out for nature walks and happily take part in Yoga sessions or sports. These experiences build on what children already know and can do and broaden their knowledge and skills effectively.

Parent partnership is strong. There is a good communication, and parents are happy with the care that is provided. Staff share regular updates with the families on their children's development.

There is a 'home-learning library', where parents can take activities home for children to continue their learning. The nursery holds events for their families, where they raise money for local charities. This shows a sense of community.

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: strengthen staff's understanding of how to consistently support older children's learning in preparation for starting school support staff to set clear expectations for children's behaviour to help children understand what is expected of them, especially during large-group activities.