Rimu Music Day Nursery

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children happily arrive at the nursery and separate from their families with ease. They quickly settle into the routine of the day and become engrossed in their play.

There is a calm atmosphere, with children positively engaged in their learning. Children enjoy a warm, nurturing environment. Children feel safe and secure at the setting, and behave well for their age.

Children learn the importance of good health and hygiene through activities and everyday routines. For example, they independently access the 'hydration station' to get tissues to wipe their noses whenever they need to, and to have a drink of water. Childr...en can confidently explain why they need to brush their teeth during an oral health activity.

Children become immersed in their play and are highly motivated learners. For example, when re-enacting 'We're going on a bear hunt' children maintain high levels of engagement and enjoyment as they guide their miniature people through the 'thick oozy mud' and 'deep, cold river.'

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

Staff have high expectations for children's behaviour and act as positive role models.

Staff focus on promoting children's self-care and independence from when children start at nursery.Staff know what the children are interested in and what they know and can do. They use what they know about children to plan a wide range of enjoyable activities to help children learn.

Children enjoy looking for worms and other insects in the forest school area. They excitedly tell staff how the worms 'wriggle' and 'curl'. Staff extend children's language further by talking about how 'long', 'curly' or 'straight' the worms are.

Children use mathematical language of 'longer' and 'shorter' to compare worm sizes.Staff provide a range of learning opportunities and experiences for children to be active and develop their physical skills. For example, children enjoy jumping on the trampoline, taking large steps across the wooden logs outdoors.

They benefit from taking part in physical development programmes, such as dancing and gymnastics. Children learn how to move and control their bodies in a variety of different ways.Staff feel well supported by the management team.

Staff receive regular supervision. They are able to access a variety of training opportunities to ensure they have up-to-date knowledge and skills. The manager and staff strive for continuous improvement.

Children develop a love of books as they listen to familiar stories. Staff read with enthusiasm, allowing children to join in with words and phrases. World Book Day is celebrated with a broad range of exciting activities planned to celebrate children's enjoyment of books.

Children use their mathematical skills to successfully count how many flamingos there are in the book 'Glamingos'.Staff provide many opportunities for children to develop their independence. For example, they encourage children to take their coats from the pegs and put them on by themselves.

Staff are available to support children if needed. Children are skilled in using the toilet and washing their hands independently. Children are very keen to contribute to tidying away activities when supported by staff.

Overall, there is a clear curriculum to support children's communication and language development. For example, staff are skilled in modelling language, using open questions and narratives to extend children's language. However, this is not consistent for all children, particularly for those children who speak English as an additional language.

Partnership with parents is strong. Parents comment on good communication from staff and how staff share information about their child's care and learning, using an online journal app. This helps parents to support their children's development at home.

On some minor occasions, the deployment of staff is not as effective as possible to fully support children's learning, particularly during group-time activities.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Management and staff have a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities to keep children safe.

Staff know how to identify, record and report concerns about a child's welfare. They know how to identify and act when children may be at risk of extreme views or practices. Staff complete regular safeguarding training to keep them up to date with current safeguarding requirements.

Management have robust procedures in place for recruitment of staff. The manager and staff complete thorough risk assessment of the premises to ensure children's safety.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: nimprove staff's understanding of how to support children with English and as additional language to make better progress in their communication and language development review and improve staff deployment across the setting, particularly during group time activities to help support children's learning at all times.