Skallywags

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children thrive in the friendly and vibrant nursery where they feel safe and secure.

Staff provide a nurturing environment where children build strong attachments with adults and their peers. Children demonstrate high levels of emotional well-being, and new children settle quickly. Staff get to know the children well and are sensitive to their individual needs.

For example, babies enjoy cuddles and smile as they recognise familiar adults. Staff babble and talk with babies to support their emerging language skills. Babies confidently explore natural resources and sensory lights.

Children eagerly participate in ...activities and show a positive attitude to learning. Mathematical concepts are woven through staff practice. Staff support young children effectively to learn colours as they add food colouring to water.

Children's learning is extended as they test which objects float or sink. Older children sort different shapes, discuss weights and use the light box to look at shades of light and dark. Children make choices in their play and share resources with their friends.

Staff role model positive behaviour, and children know what is expected. They behave well and receive praise and encouragement. Older children complete tasks for themselves.

However, opportunities are often missed to encourage younger children to develop these skills.

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

Staff are passionate about their role and provide high-quality care and education. They plan activities to build on children's interests and keep them motivated.

Staff actively engage as children play to build on their existing knowledge and extend their skills further. Staff use detailed observations and track children's learning. They monitor progress and ensure any gaps are addressed as quickly as possible.

Children make good progress from their starting points.Staff place a high priority on children's communication and language skills. They introduce new vocabulary and provide explanations as children discuss new concepts.

For example, children explore sensory materials and share their experiences as they feel the textures of soil, jelly, cornflour, mud and sand. Staff enthusiastically share stories, sing rhymes and encourage meaningful conversations. Children who speak English as an additional language are supported effectively to enjoy and fully participate in nursery life.

Parents speak positively of the nursery and state that their children are very happy and settled. Overall communication is good, and parents receive regular feedback on their children's care routines and daily activities. However, information could be strengthened to ensure children's next steps are shared with parents to keep them updated.

Children have excellent opportunities to learn about healthy lifestyles and be physically active. Babies and toddlers enjoy the sensory area and ball pool inside. They use their feet to manoeuvre sit-on toys outside to increase their coordination.

Older children learn to manage risk as they climb and balance. Staff extend children's physical skills as they support them to spin hoops and ride scooters skilfully. Children grow vegetables and increase their understanding of healthy eating and the natural environment.

Managers lead a team of highly qualified staff who work cohesively. They all have high expectations for children and carry out their job roles effectively. Staff all complete regular training to increase their knowledge.

They share their skills and disseminate their new learning to the team. This ensures that all staff maintain the strong level of teaching, which benefits the children.Staff proactively increase children's understanding of diversity and the wider world.

They discuss similarities and differences as children learn about their families and other cultures. Children eagerly enjoy planned activities to learn about festivals. For example, they happily talked about Holi.

Staff extend children's learning effectively by asking questions and prompting memory recall. Subsequently, children develop a positive view of themselves and others.Managers regularly review and monitor the nursery provision and practice.

They seek feedback from parents and children to help make ongoing improvements. Recent changes have been made to incorporate 'in the moment' planning. Staff benefit from regular supervision and say that they feel supported.

Their workload and mental well-being are prioritised. This helps provide a positive environment where children flourish.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

All staff have a clear understanding of their responsibility to keep children safe. They complete daily checks to ensure that any hazards are minimised. Staff teach children to manage risk when using equipment and practising fire evacuation procedures.

Children learn about road safety and stranger danger to help to keep themselves safe. Staff keep their safeguarding training up to date. They know how to recognise potential signs that may indicate a child is at risk of harm or neglect.

They also understand how to follow procedures and make a referral if they had any concerns about a child's welfare. The managers ensure suitability checks are in place for all staff.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: nenhance the way information about children's next steps is shared with parents, to provide continuity and extend learning at home nuse all opportunities effectively to fully promote independence skills for younger children.