Once Upon A Time Day Nursery

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children have happy and warm relationships with staff. They feel a strong sense of belonging in the nursery. For instance, staff display photos of babies' families in the room and use key words from languages spoken by children.

Children participate in a variety of activities, some of which are linked to their interests. This helps children to enjoy and engage with activities well. Children are confident and eager to learn.

Staff value each child and have high expectations of them. Children learn to take turns and share well. For instance, during a creative activity, children take turns to pour water and mix ingredient...s in a bowl.

Children act in safe ways; for instance, they use the stairs with care and caution. Older children show good awareness of safety. For example, children comment that the floor needs to be wiped with a towel, when they notice a member of staff attending to a water spillage on the floor.

Children enjoy a range of creative activities and freely select from a range of tools and materials to use in any way they choose. They develop good small-muscle control through creative activities. For instance, children use their hands to explore different textures.

The curriculum is broad and builds on children's experiences. Children learn useful skills in preparation for school.

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

Children have good early mathematical skills.

For instance, staff teach children mathematical language, such as 'big' and 'small', as they play with objects. Children recognise numbers as they play with numbered toy cars. Staff support children's counting skills by singing counting songs and number rhymes.

Staff support children's communication, language and literacy skills effectively. They use group times, songs, books and key words to support children's language development successfully. Children learn to recognise and write their names well.

Staff help children to gain a good understanding about differences. For instance, they ensure that different cultures, races and religions are reflected in toys and resources, such as dolls, dressing-up clothes and puzzles. Staff talk about and celebrate special cultural and religious events, such as Diwali and Chinese New Year.

Children learn how to do things for themselves. Older children pour their own drinks and serve themselves at lunchtime. Staff support younger to gain these skills.

All children help to tidy up at the end of play sessions.Children behave well. Staff are consistent and fair in their approach to behaviour management.

They promote positive behaviour through group rules shared with children, such as being kind to each other.Staff have successful partnerships with parents. They give parents regular updates on their children's development in effective ways.

Staff suggest activities for parents to do at home to support children's learning.The manager supports staff well. The manager and other members of the management team observe and meet with staff regularly to discuss their work performance and to identify their training needs.

Staff attend a broad range of courses, including a course on positive interaction with children, which has led to improvements in this area.The management team has a good awareness of the nursery's strengths and areas to work on. It sets clear goals to build ongoing improvements, such as to continue to develop the garden to promote best outcomes for children.

Children develop good physical skills. They practise climbing across frames, balance on tyres and learn to navigate space in wheeled toys. Babies crawl through tunnels and use push-along toys to support their walking skills.

They learn to move in different ways, for example during soft play on cushions.The nursery provides nutritious, freshly cooked meals and snacks which meet any special dietary needs. Staff teach children how eating a well-balanced diet is good for their bodies.

Children have some understanding of the world. For instance, staff teach them about different countries. However, this has not been fully developed to include, for example, changes in nature, such as how things grow.

Staff have started to support children's understanding about oral hygiene. For example, they talk to children about caring for their teeth and gums. However, this has not been extended to support children's awareness more fully in this area.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Staff prioritise children's safety. They ensure that children are well supervised at all times in all areas, including the outdoor area.

Staff carry out health and safety checks, both indoors and outdoors, each day to reduce the risk of hazards. They have a good safeguarding knowledge. Staff know the signs of behaviour that might indicate that a child is at risk of abuse.

They have full understanding of procedures to follow to report their concerns. Staff are aware of a range of safeguarding issues, including witnessing domestic abuse. They know how to identify and report their concerns promptly.

Staff attend regular safeguarding training to keep their skills and knowledge up to date.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: strengthen children's understanding of the world further, particularly in relation to changes in nature.develop children's awareness of good oral hygiene.