Strong Tower Nursery

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children have an enjoyable time in this warm and friendly nursery.

They settle well when they first start and quickly develop secure attachments to staff. Staff work closely with parents to find out about children's individual needs. This helps them to plan activities that support children's interests and learning styles.

Children demonstrate an eagerness to learn. They join in planned activities with enthusiasm and confidently explore the available resources when playing independently. Children are learning to develop healthy lifestyles.

They sample various fruits at snack times and have discussions with staf...f about healthy food choices. Children have ample opportunities for vigorous exercise indoors and outside. They skilfully use tricycles with confidence and enjoy energetic action songs.

Staff encourage children to take appropriate risks in their activities. For example, they learn to negotiate the race track and clamber on crates safely. Children have excellent opportunities to learn about each other's diverse lifestyles, cultures and languages.

They talk about their families at home and look at photographs of their special people. Staff plan activities that help children to share in their own important events and festivals, such as Eid and Christmas. Staff skilfully support children who are learning to speak English as an additional language.

Most speak other languages themselves, which inspires children to express themselves in English.

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

Parents are extremely complimentary about the nursery. They praise staff for their kindness and say they are 'brilliant'.

Staff involve parents fully in their children's learning and keep them very well informed about nursery activities. They provide suggestions for activities to do at home and develop an exceptional understanding of children's home experiences.Staff monitor children's progress effectively to identify any areas for concern in their learning.

They work well with parents and other professionals to provide solutions that help to raise children's achievements. For example, sign language has been introduced to support children's developing language skills. Children make good progress in their development and acquire the skills they need for the next stage of their learning.

Staff have a good knowledge of the areas of learning. They enthuse children with their positive attitudes. The owner of the nursery is supportive of her team and encourages them to continue with their professional development.

Staff with less experience benefit from good support from established and qualified colleagues. Staff have recently started to set aside time to observe each other's practice to help them to share skills and extend their own teaching knowledge.Children demonstrate they feel safe and secure at the nursery.

They have curious natures and approach visitors to the setting with confidence. Children express warmth and affection to staff and welcome their participation in their games. Staff, in return, provide children with positive praise that boosts their sense of worth.

Children develop their mathematical knowledge through entertaining activities. They sing counting songs and learn to recite numbers in order. Staff engage children in number games, such as sorting objects by colour, shape and size.

Older children recognise written numbers and some can confidently count up to 20.Staff help children to develop good muscle control. They plan activities that enable children to practise their physical skills, such as cutting with scissors or kneading dough.

Older children are encouraged to learn the letters of their names. They confidently begin to form those letters purposefully as, for example, they mark their artwork.Staff provide children with a broad mix of planned activities throughout the day, such as making collage pictures.

Children eagerly join in with these and show good levels of engagement. However, staff do not make the most of these activities to extend children's learning beyond what they already know and can do.Staff have high expectations for children's behaviour and encourage them to share and take turns.

However, staff are not consistent in how they support children to regulate their own behaviour. For some children, this means they take longer to understand their boundaries.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Managers and staff have a good understanding of their responsibility to safeguard children. They attend regular training, which includes the wider aspects of child protection, such as online safety and the 'Prevent' duty. All staff undergo a thorough vetting and induction procedure to make sure they are suitable to work with children.

Staff assess risks to children before they undertake outings or new activities. This helps to ensure children play and learn in a safe environment.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: make the most of opportunities to build on and extend children's learning even further, particularly during activities led by staff nenhance staff's skills in supporting children to regulate their own behaviour.