Perfect Start Day Nursery Walton-on-Thames

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children are happy and highly engaged at this warm and caring nursery. Babies and children share close bonds with staff. They often reach out to their key person for a cuddle, demonstrating that they feel safe and secure in their care.

Staff encourage children to be independent. They make sure that children feel valued and included, and they prepare them well for the next stage of their learning. For example, older children enjoy the responsibility of tasks such as setting the lunch tables or checking the garden for hazards.

Staff provide children with plenty of opportunities to develop their physical skills and mobili...ty through stimulating activities. For example, babies enjoy climbing on soft play equipment and pulling themselves up to activities. Toddlers have fun negotiating climbing up steps and running down slopes.

Older children enjoy the challenge of pedalling bikes in the garden. Staff support and guide children as they use knives to cut vegetables. Children listen carefully to adults as they talk together about how to hold the knife safely and where to put their fingers so they do not cut them.

They demonstrate high levels of concentration and determination as they cut up their chosen vegetable.

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

Managers place high emphasis on continually enhancing children's language and communication development. They have implemented a whole-nursery approach to communication.

Staff use signs and adapt language to support children's individual needs, and children join in with exciting activities to promote communication. This has had a positive impact on children's behaviour and language development and has reduced children's frustrations, ensuring that children are better equipped to communicate their needs as they arise.The recently appointed manager has developed a well-balanced curriculum that takes into account children's development.

Staff plan for the different ages and stages of development for all children at the setting. However, staff do not always manage ways in which all children can benefit from adult-led activities in order for them to get the best from these. On occasion, younger children are not fully included, to ensure they also gain from the experiences staff offer.

Children rest and sleep according to their needs. Staff ensure that children settle quickly to sleep and spend time next to them, providing reassurance where needed. Safe sleeping routines are followed, and staff check children regularly.

Older children have time to rest and build their energy levels back up and can access quieter areas to relax, such as the book areas.Children are highly motivated and engaged in their learning. Each day, older children make a batch of play dough.

They use their own recipe book and measure out the ingredients. This process helps children to learn valuable skills and supports them to understand the link between the ingredients they use and the final product.There is a well-established key-person system, which supports children to develop strong attachments with staff.

Each child also has a 'buddy' key person, who ensures that they remain settled should their main member of staff be absent. Building these bonds promotes children's well-being and helps them to feel secure.Parents speak highly of staff and comment on how happy their children are to come to nursery each day.

They feel well informed about their children's learning and development. For example, parents are kept updated about their children's day through personalised feedback communicated via discussion with staff and the nursery's app. Managers and staff strive to support parents by providing information on a range of topics, such as issues pertaining to sleep and toilet training.

This strong parent partnership helps children to transition between home and nursery well.Staff morale is high. Leaders give staff well-being a high priority.

They ensure that staff's workload is manageable. Staff are supported through coaching, reviews and access to training, which ensures they are able to improve their practice. This results in consistent practice across the nursery.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Staff demonstrate a good understanding of how to keep children safe and promote their welfare. They know how to recognise the signs and symptoms of abuse and understand the procedures to follow to ensure safeguarding concerns are reported correctly.

Staff discussions, training and quizzes help to keep staff's knowledge up to date. Staff keep children under close supervision as they play and eat and when they sleep. Risk assessments are effective, and appropriate steps are taken to minimise hazards to children.

Managers adhere to thorough recruitment procedures. They make checks on new and existing staff to ensure they are and remain suitable to work with children.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: review and improve adult-led activities for the younger children to enable them to gain the most from these activities.