Play 2 Learn Day Nursery

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children thoroughly enjoy their time at nursery.

They use their imaginations as they play happily together. Children have formed strong bonds with staff. They feel safe and secure as they explore the stimulating activities planned for them.

They are highly motivated to learn. Children sing and jump enthusiastically as they prepare for their garden adventure. They relish the time they spend outside.

Children are highly engrossed in their play as they gather soil and mix it with water from puddles to form mud. They dig with huge metal spoons and ladles and have freedom to learn about the properties of the mud on... their own. Staff extend their learning to explain where rain comes from to form puddles.

Children hunt for bugs and delight in finding wiggly worms. They are really absorbed in making marks with giant chalk all over the walls and pathways outside. Children copy letters of the alphabet and are starting to recognise letters in their names.

They challenge themselves in their physical development. For example, babies expertly crawl up stairs and then enthusiastically shout 'whee!' as they go down the slide. They are proud of their accomplishments and beam as staff congratulate them on their achievements.

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

The manager has ambitious plans for the nursery. She has detailed and innovative ideas to improve practice continuously. She supports positive staff well-being and motivation through regular supervisions and productive staff meetings.

Staff are highly motivated to attend exciting training opportunities that enhance their skills. They provide feedback and highlight new learning and knowledge to the rest of the team.Music and song are very important parts of life at the nursery.

Children sing and dance during circle time. They are confident to get up and move to the songs, and they add their own actions and interpretations to them. Children giggle delightedly as staff sing a song with a very funny ending.

They are developing an early love of reading and storytelling. Outside in the garden, children sing nursery rhymes while they bang metal pots like drums with twigs in time to the beat.Partnerships with parents are strong.

Parents compliment staff on their kindness and warmth and are thrilled with the progress that their children are making. They are impressed with the healthy meals that their children eat. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are very well supported.

Staff work closely with parents to help children to develop successfully.Staff carefully plan how they will introduce early mathematical concepts. They teach children about colours, shapes and sizes through interesting activities.

For example, babies play with potatoes and carrots and spend time exploring which ones will fit into metal dessert bowls. Staff count aloud to them as they play. Children enjoy eating the carrots and learn about their crunchy texture and taste.

However, staff do not always provide children with a rich range of resources to enhance their learning in the garden.Children are very well behaved and they are learning to take turns and share. They are very kind to one another.

Children are persistent and try really hard to succeed. Staff foster an atmosphere that is affectionate and caring, and children follow their example. Children learn about different faiths and cultures celebrated in their local area through stories, crafts and activities.

They take part in charity drives and start to understand that certain groups of people are less fortunate than themselves.Staff help children to manage risks and teach them how to look after themselves. For example, children learn to eat carefully with cutlery.

Older children show their younger friends how to close large equipment boxes so that they do not trap their fingers. Children have many opportunities to make their own choices throughout the day. The youngest children are able to express their preferences.

However, sometimes, staff miss opportunities to challenge the most able children so that they make even further progress.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.The manager places a high priority on making sure that children are safe, and this is well managed throughout the nursery.

Staff attend regular training and their knowledge of child protection is updated and refreshed in staff meetings. Staff know the signs and symptoms to look for which may indicate a child is at risk. They understand the procedures to follow should they have any concerns about a child's welfare.

The manager conducts safer recruitment procedures and checks that staff remain suitable in their roles. New staff complete a thorough induction to confirm their suitability 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: build on the range of rich resources in the garden to provide children with varied experiences to explore and investigate outdoors make the most of opportunities to challenge the most able children so that they make even further progress.