Stars Day Nurseries Ltd t/a Little Stars Day Nursery

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is outstanding

Children benefit enormously from this uniquely organised learning environment. Their individual needs are extremely well met by caring and nurturing staff who are all passionate about doing the very best for each and every child.

There is high level excitement when staff join in children's play. For example, staff animatedly take part in a 'bear hunt' and children run to hide as they offer their own suggestions about what to do next.Children have extremely close attachments to all staff throughout the nursery.

Staff have a deep knowledge of all children's families, backgrounds and circumstances. This familiarity... gives children such a strong sense of security and belonging, and high levels of confidence to try new things or to persevere at tasks.Children make significant progress from their starting points, many of which are much lower when compared to others of the same age.

Parents unanimously recognise the huge contribution that staff make to this progress. The provision for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities is exemplary. Staff are swift to identify any needs and work tirelessly to successfully narrow the gap in attainment between these children and their peers.

This gives children a strong foundation for when they eventually start school.

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

When children arrive they are keen to be instantly involved in the activities they can see. This is because staff organise the learning environment inside and out to be very inviting and led by children's interests.

Although children have a base room, they are free to move in and out of all rooms, with the outdoor area being the central feature. Children move with great purpose and confidence. They have so many wonderful activities to choose from and as a result, show very high levels of well-being and engagement.

Staff all display such a confident and profound knowledge of each child's care and learning needs. This informs a highly successful system for observation, planning and assessment, which involves parents and other professionals as necessary.Children's communication and language development are promoted at every opportunity.

Staff add extra words to extend babies vocabulary. For example, when a baby says 'duck', the member of staff replies, 'The duck is in the water.' Older children confidently use mathematical language.

For example, when a member of staff asks children what they can do to help her reach the hook to display the hanging basket they have just planted, a child laughs and says, 'You need to get bigger.' Children's emotional and personal development is given a high priority. Staff do all they can to help children with new challenges in their lives, such as a new baby in the family.

Children are encouraged to express their feelings, for example, when they want their comforter, and they do so because they know they will be listened to. Children of all ages have many opportunities to develop their independence skills.Staff use innovative ideas to engage and support all parents.

For example, once a month, parents are invited to come into the nursery to share breakfast with their children. 'Mr Pickles', the toy lamb, goes home with babies and their parents so that his adventures can be shared with all.The leadership and management of the nursery is inspirational.

Staff comment that it is an 'amazing' place to work. They feel extremely well supported in their role and report they have grown so much in confidence through the support they have received and the training opportunities they have been offered. Staff's well-being is given the utmost priority by the management and directors.

Staff are rightly very proud of the service they offer children and their families.Stringent procedures are in place to ensure children's safety. Accidents are thoroughly monitored to inform ongoing risk assessments.

Recruitment and induction procedures are robust. Children and their families are at the heart of every decision or improvement made by the management or staff at this nursery.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Staff demonstrate a deep knowledge of the arrangements in place to safeguard children and to protect them from harm or neglect. They fully understand their responsibility to report any concerns they may have about a child, or a colleague they may be working with. Managers demonstrate that they can take swift action and work successfully with other agencies in order to keep children safe.