Stars Day Nurseries Ltd t/a Shooting Stars Pre-School Nursery

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is outstanding

Every child is incredibly nurtured and encouraged in all that they do.

Children show that they feel extremely safe and secure. They are happy, confident and share a tight bond with their key person. There are lots of good-humoured, positive interactions between staff and children.

There is a real focus placed on helping children to develop high levels of independence and excellent social skills, and make rapid progress in their speaking skills. Staff are very sensitive to meet the very specific needs of every child.Children are not afraid to make mistakes.

Staff know when to stand back and let children ...work things out for themselves, or when to offer support. Children are constantly learning or given time to reflect and think about what they are doing. Adults know when to ask questions or introduce new vocabulary.

Children respond enthusiastically to staff's questions with extremely well-thought-out responses that demonstrate their excellent listening and reasoning skills. Children behave very well. They are polite, well mannered and give an extremely warm welcome to visitors, demonstrating their high levels of confidence.

Children are busy and enthusiastic learners who play well together. They show high levels of self-control as they learn alongside each other, taking turns and sharing.

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

Leaders and staff share the same high aspirations for all children to achieve extremely well.

They obtain feedback from local schools, who say that children from the nursery are very well prepared for the next stage of their education. Staff feel valued and work well as a team. They appreciate senior leader's investment in their ongoing training and the consideration that leaders give to their work-life balance.

In return, staff work hard to ensure that all children achieve exceptionally well.Many children arrive at nursery with limited speech and language skills. Staff take every opportunity to listen to children carefully, and skilfully change the language that they use, or the questions they ask, according to each child's individual ability.

The activities that staff plan for children capture their imagination and link closely to their interests. For example, they create a frost-covered playhouse following the discovery of a large block of ice in the garden.Children's independence grows as they learn about routines and their own responsibilities, such as cutting up fruit at snack time.

Staff provide children with mirrors to help them learn when it is appropriate to wipe their nose. Children engage in conversations with staff about good hygiene practice. They know the reason why they must wash their hands before eating and enthusiastically do so.

Children's learning builds day by day and week by week across all areas of learning. Staff plan purposeful activities that develop lots of skills at one time. For example, children sort different-coloured objects, carefully and precisely using tweezers to pick them up.

Children concentrate for long periods of time, work with great care and are proud of what they achieve. Adults encourage children to try hard and to keep going when they find things difficult. Staff are highly skilled at knowing the right time to intervene, question, praise or support.

Staff understand the difficulties faced by children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) extremely well. They access highly targeted training and work incredibly well with parents and outside agencies to help children make sustained progress. Staff provide an extremely inclusive learning environment where all children can access all activities.

Children learn about the similarities and differences of how different cultures and countries recognise special celebrations, such as Christmas.Children's love of rhymes and books is evident throughout the nursery. They sing songs at every opportunity to reinforce their knowledge and skills.

For example, children sing a '999' song and learn how to call the emergency services. They access a wide range of books, both independently and with staff, that they take home to share with family and carers. Parents say the nursery is 'brilliant' and that 'staff are always available to talk to us'.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.There is a very strong culture of safeguarding throughout the nursery. Staff know the children and their families extremely well and are highly vigilant to any concerns about children's welfare.

Staff are extremely well trained in a wide range of safeguarding issues and take timely action in working with other agencies to ensure that they keep children safe. The lead practitioner for safeguarding is exceptionally experienced and is instrumental in keeping a wide range of children and families safe from harm. Leaders follow safe recruitment procedures to ensure only those suitable to work with children are able to do so.