Nursery @ Itchen College

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children feel safe and at ease. Staff respect each child's preferences on arrival and provide sensitive support. Some children enjoy soothing cuddles with staff on arrival, while others prefer to spend time where they feel comfortable.

For instance, looking at books, before enjoying the range of activities.Babies enjoy singing songs and make choices of these from pictures. Overall, children hear staff use a good range of language, which helps to support their developing vocabulary.

Children learn to follow simple instructions. For example, toddlers helped to tidy up when asked. In addition, pre-school children followed... a series of instructions when using musical shakers.

During the same activity, they learn about mathematical concepts, such as shaking 'up high', 'down low' and 'in a circle'.Children enjoy engaging activities, where they sustain their interest well. Babies and toddlers explore different sensory materials, including water, paint and shredded paper.

Pre-school children learn to use different tools; for example, they whisk in foam and tweezers to pick up dried pasta. This helps to build the muscles in their hands and fingers and develops coordination skills. The managers and staff have high expectations for children.

They identify emerging gaps in children's learning and plan carefully to help close these. Staff successfully include children's next steps of learning into activities that link to their interests. This helps to motivate children to learn.

Staff particularly well support children who need some extra help in their learning, which effectively promotes children's progress.

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

The managers and staff have worked hard since the last inspection to address areas for improvement. They demonstrate a strong commitment to continuing to develop the quality of their provision.

They have a current focus on extending children's learning experiences in the outdoor area; for example, they promote children's balancing skills with different equipment. This was observed during the inspection when older children managed appropriate risks as they balanced along planks.Staff regularly discuss their key children's progress with the managers.

They speak very positively about their work and the support they receive, including for their well-being. Some of the more experienced staff provide effective role models to other staff, which helps to develop consistent practice. Staff build on their skills, including through training.

This includes training that focuses on supporting children's special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). This helps staff to provide effective support for these children.The managers have a clear curriculum to support children's learning.

Staff mainly implement the learning intentions well. At times, some staff do not fully extend children's learning opportunities. For instance, on occasion, some staff do not build on their communication with children to help enhance their language development further.

In addition, at times, staff do not encourage toddlers in developing their independence as well as possible.Effective monitoring of children's learning identifies areas where they need more support, such as learning to manage their feelings and emotions. Staff use books and encourage children to use resources or describe the 'colour' of their feelings, to help them express these.

Children gain a good sense of themselves and make links with others. For instance, in the baby room, they sing a song that welcomes each individual child. Staff positively praise and encourage children, which promotes their good behaviour, self-esteem and confidence well.

Children develop an awareness of healthy practices. For instance, staff work with parents to brush toddler's teeth to help support good dental health. Staff offer children healthy snacks, such as different types of fruit.

They encourage children to widen their tastes for new foods and textures. Parents receive relevant information about lunch box contents. However, the managers have not fully considered enhancing this, to help promote healthy lifestyles further.

Parents speak highly about the support they and their children receive. Staff communicate effectively with parents about their children's needs and development. Parents are encouraged to become involved, such as through taking part in 'parent breakfasts'.

Parents comment that their children are keen to attend. They positively highlight supportive settling-in arrangements and say their children have made good progress since starting.Staff use guidance from other professionals well.

They implement specific activities to extend children's individual learning needs. Staff use signing and visual timetables to support communication with children, which particularly helps those with SEND. Additional funding is carefully used to support children's individual needs, including their well-being and learning.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.The designated safeguarding lead staff and other staff know and understand their safeguarding responsibilities securely. They recognise possible indicators which would be of concern.

They understand how to manage concerns, including reporting to outside agencies. The managers understand the importance of working with outside agencies when needed, to help support families and children's well-being. Robust recruitment and ongoing procedures check staff's suitability to work with children.

Staff promote children's safety effectively, such as ensuring the premises are secure. They complete safety checks daily to minimise potential risks and hazards to children.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: build on the already good arrangements to monitor and develop staff's practice, in particular, to support staff to implement the curriculum intent as effectively as possible, to help promote children's further progress strengthen the liaison with parents to enhance healthy eating and practices, to further support children's good health.

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