Nik-Naks Daycare

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Upon arrival at the nursery, staff warmly greet children, creating a welcoming environment that fosters participation and learning. Throughout the day, staff offer gentle encouragement and praise to children, which helps create a positive learning atmosphere.

From the moment children join their peer groups, they are engaged and motivated to explore various enjoyable activities that have been thoughtfully prepared for them. For example, older children benefit from exploring safari animals in a muddy tuff tray, while younger children are curious and engaged in hands-on activities that support their concentration. They excitedly o...bserve cause-and-effect concepts using large disks spinning around spinners.

Staff have high expectations for children's behaviour. They act as positive role models by demonstrating good manners. Staff often emphasise to children the importance of using polite language and manners in their play.

Children participate in routine tasks such as wiping tables and preparing meals. This helps to build children's independence and to develop a sense of achievement. Staff introduce young children to early mathematical concepts and numbers during daily activities.

For example, they point at each chair and count when setting up high chairs for snacks. Young children repeat counting and happily sit for a snack. This supports young children in understanding daily routines and raising their awareness of numbers.

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

Managers create a curriculum designed to provide children with essential skills for the next step in their education. Staff gather essential information from parents and establish clear starting points for children's learning. The curriculum includes activities that help children regulate their emotions, enhance their physical abilities, and develop their communication and language skills.

Staff use observation and assessment tools effectively to identify gaps in children's learning. They plan engaging activities across all areas of development. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities receive prompt interventions to ensure they make good progress in their development.

Staff collaborate closely with external professionals to support these children effectively. As a result, all children make good progress in all areas of learning.Children benefit from engaging in activities that develop their mathematical and language skills.

For example, children freely express their creativity by building various structures using construction straws. Staff skilfully count the sides of the shapes created by children and praise them when they form letters from their names. However, staff sometimes do not promote critical thinking skills through open-ended questions to allow children to extend their learning further.

Staff introduce children to songs and nursery rhymes during daily routine activities. This promotes language development and makes learning fun. For example, younger children excitedly explore items in a bag that they sing about, while older children pretend to pay for their 'current buns' at a 'bakery'.

Children develop a love for reading at a young age. Before a story session, they eagerly assist in tidying up the room to prepare for the story. Staff members engage children effectively and capture their attention by using funny facial expressions and varying tones of voice.

The children actively interact with the story, pointing at pictures and shouting out key words and rhyming sentences. Staff reward the children with stickers for listening well, reinforcing positive behaviour.Partnership with parents is effective.

Parents appreciate being part of nursery life and their children's education. They praise leaders' passion and welcoming nature. Parents feel informed about their children's next steps and how they can contribute to their children's learning at home.

This promotes consistency in teaching, both at home and in the nursery.Managers have a strong understanding of safeguarding protocols and established clear procedures for various scenarios that may occur. This promotes the safety and well-being of children.

Managers conduct regular supervision meetings with all staff to promote their well-being and identify ways to provide support. However, they acknowledge that the team is relatively new and still in the process of adjusting. As a result, staff require additional training to enhance the quality of teaching throughout the setting.

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: continuously monitor and assess staff's teaching practice to more effectively plan for their professional development and to address any minor areas of weakness create opportunities for children to delve deeper into topics and enhance their critical thinking and problem-solving skills.