Ottertots Day Care Nursery

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

The staff demonstrate commitment and enthusiasm in their roles. They draw on their professional knowledge and experience well to plan an enjoyable curriculum across each of the seven areas of learning.

Staff provide quality childcare in a friendly and welcoming nursery that values the benefits of outdoor play and learning. Planning is based on children's interests, and staff plan activities to help target specific needs. Children benefit from a range of outdoor play and learning experiences.

For example, staff plan regular outings to the local farm, beaches and areas of interest. Older children have regular forest scho...ol sessions. Staff transport children safely, using the nursery's minibus.

Staff are responsive to the needs of children and their families, and they plan opportunities that help them prepare for their next stage in learning. Children enjoy their time at the nursery. They are happy and settled, and show that they feel safe and secure with staff who know them well.

For example, younger children are greeted warmly as they arrive, sharing smiles and respectful interactions as they play with toys together.

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

Staff plan interesting activities that help children to develop their learning in imaginative ways. For example, children hold thoughtful conversations with staff as they create stories and draw pictures together.

Staff record the language children use to help them understand that words have meaning. As a result, children feel positive and motivated to learn.Older children enjoy group activities led by staff who are enthusiastic and who motivate their interests.

For example, staff create superhero characters to help teach children how to manage risk in their play, and children explore some mathematical concepts as they stack crates into high towers during activities at circle time.At times, noise levels in the playrooms can prohibit children's ability to engage fully in activities and maintain their attention for the full duration. This prevents children from being able to practise speaking clearly.

As a result, opportunities to use new vocabulary consistently are limited.Children demonstrate high levels of curiosity and enjoyment. For instance, they excitedly use walkie-talkies in the garden, and they learn new skills as they work out how to operate them and speak and hear others.

Children have positive attitudes and respect for others. When they struggle to regulate their behaviour, staff are quick to respond and take appropriate action. For example, they remind children to slow down in case they slip.

This helps children learn to manage their behaviour and keep themselves safe.Children have lots of opportunities to be independent and manage tasks for themselves. For example, they choose from a range of paints to mix their own colours and explore mark making in creative ways.

Young children are confident and enjoy exploring their developing mobility. For example, they pull themselves up on furniture to practise walking. Staff are sensitive to their needs and help encourage children to achieve their goals.

Frequently, the floor has too many toys, which limits the opportunities for children who are learning to walk to take their first steps easily and safely. As a result, younger children's physical development is occasionally limited.Staff have good opportunities for career development and feel well supported in their roles.

As a result, morale is high, and staff turnover is low, which offers good consistency of care for children and relationships with parents.Leaders and managers seek opportunities to develop staff's knowledge and skills continually. For example, staff attend targeted training opportunities which help to keep their knowledge and skills up to date.

They benefit from effective support which helps them to reflect on their practice and develop specific roles.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.The staff team has a secure knowledge of child protection issues and safeguarding concerns.

Staff know the signs and symptoms that may indicate a child is at risk of harm and know how to report their concerns. They are aware of their safeguarding responsibilities and attend regular training to update their knowledge, to help them keep children safe. For example, all staff hold paediatric first-aid certificates to help ensure they know what to do in the event of an accident.

There are effective procedures to manage children's individual needs, such as allergies. Managers have effective recruitment and induction processes that help them to ensure staff are suitable.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: monitor the noise levels of activities more closely to help children further develop their vocabulary and support opportunities to practise speaking clearly nensure the floor in the baby room is consistently well managed to maximise opportunities for young children to develop their walking more easily.