Nene Valley Day Nursery

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children are independent and are encouraged to try to do things for themselves. Staff give children time to have a go, particularly when putting on their own shoes, wiping their own nose or setting tables for mealtimes.

This helps to ensure that children have the self-help skills needed in preparation for school.Children are happy and settle well into the daily routines. Staff in the baby room offer the youngest children a calm and welcoming environment which enables them to feel safe.

Babies respond well to the good levels of care shown to them. Children receive continuous praise and encouragement from staff which hel...ps them to develop high levels of confidence and self-esteem. Children behave exceptionally well and understand what is expected of them.

Children adhere to the nursery's golden rules well. For example, they know to use their listening ears at group time.Children are provided with experiences that enable them to gain a greater understanding of the wider world.

For example, the setting has a pre-school eco committee. Children learn about how to look after their environment and the world around them. To follow on from this children, parents and staff attended a local rally regarding the planet and environment.

Children have the opportunity to visit local businesses and the local residential home.

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

Staff know their key children well and good relationships are evident between them. Staff take the time to speak with parents to find out about children's home lives, traditions, languages and beliefs.

For example, following a parent's request, a member of staff made a booklet in an additional language for children to use both at home and at the nursery.Staff promote children's communication and language skills well. They model language and introduce new vocabulary for younger children to hear and repeat.

Staff sing children's favourite songs. Children become excited as they sing along and demonstrate they know all the actions.Staff make accurate assessments of children's development and plan carefully for the next steps in their learning.

The management team closely monitors how individual and different groups of children achieve in their learning. This helps identify areas of development. Following the last review of assessment information, staff have placed an even stronger focus on supporting children's mathematical understanding.

As a result, gaps in children's mathematical development are closing.Staff plan exciting and purposeful learning experiences. As a result, children enjoy taking part and listen well to instructions.

Children enjoy a varied range of sensory activities. They competently handle and manipulate tools such as spoons to scrape out the contents of pumpkins and they experiment with mixing sand, water and mud in the outdoor kitchen.The management team ensures that staff are suitable to work with children.

They use effective recruitment and vetting procedures. However, the current arrangements for the supervision and training of new staff do not support them well enough. As a result, less experienced staff are not as successful in adapting activities to follow children's interests and extend their learning.

Staff plan experiences for children based on their knowledge of the individual child and their families. For example, some children live in flats and have limited access to play outdoors. While at the nursery children can freely choose to play in the outdoor environment.

They have ample opportunities to increase their physical skills and to be outdoors in the fresh air. Children eagerly explore the natural environment and learn how to manage risks.The management team has sought advice from a child nutritionist to ensure that the freshly-prepared meals are balanced and healthy.

Staff are aware of children's dietary requirements and have liaised with all parents about removing certain foods from the menu. However, staff fail to engage children in conversation about what they are eating and the positive impact that making healthy food choices has on their bodies.Children benefit from attending a nursery that is fully inclusive and is particularly effective at supporting children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

Staff work in close partnership with a range of services to ensure that all children and families receive the support they need to make good progress.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Staff have a robust understanding of the procedures to follow should they have concerns about a child's welfare.

They have attended training to support them in recognising the possible signs and symptoms of abuse. They are also able to confidently describe the action they would take if they had concerns regarding a colleague's practice. The premises are safe and secure.

Staff are well deployed, and they supervise children well. Appropriate security systems are in place that include the signing in of any visitors and the use of mobile telephones and cameras at the setting.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: strengthen performance management, so that new and less experienced staff get even more support and guidance to improve the consistency in teaching practice within the nursery promote children's understanding about the importance of eating a well-balanced diet and the need to make healthy food choices.