Teddy Bear Day Care

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is outstanding

Children behave exceptionally well. They are extremely happy and settled. Children who are new to the setting run to their key person's open arms for a hug.

There are high expectations for all children. Children are highly active learners who are keen to explore and have a go during all activities. They are consistently engaged in learning and develop an extremely wide range of skills for the future.

Children make exceptional progress in their physical development. They are extremely keen to practise what they learn. During the inspection, older children independently decided to place a large safety mat on the g...rass before they attempted to jump off a low-level wall.

Older children confidently rode two-wheeled bikes down a slope in the garden at high speed. Younger children are extremely inquisitive. They thoroughly enjoying learning how things work.

They eagerly explore handles, bolts, switches and door stoppers attached to a board on the wall.Children develop an excellent understanding of the world. They learn about the local community during regular outings.

For example, they go on walks to the sea and a creek where they see boats unloading fish. Children have picnics in a park, and they visit a local café and library where they meet different people.

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

The manager works very closely with the qualified staff team to provide children with an ambitious curriculum.

Staff successfully implement his clear vision to provide a homely, calm, sensory environment that supports all aspects of children's learning and development extremely well. Staff have an exemplary knowledge and understanding of their key children's development, which they use to help them make the best possible progress.Staff provide children with an exceptional range of activities that motivate them to learn.

In response to children's great interest in growing fruit and vegetables, the manager has obtained a local allotment to build on this area of children's learning further. Staff teach children about growth and decay as well as new words, such as 'expand', when they discover what happens when they add water to compressed compost.Staff communication and interaction with children is exceptional.

During the inspection, children chose to pick tomatoes they had grown and feed them to the pet chickens. Staff joined in and encouraged children to remember and talk about how they had watched the chickens hatching from eggs in an incubator which staff projected onto a screen.Staff consistently build children's vocabulary and confidence to talk.

They often tell stories from memory and deliver them in an animated way that successfully captures children's involvement, attention and imagination. Children enthusiastically predict and talk about aspects of the story they remember.Staff fully embrace the physical challenges that children create for themselves and their enjoyment of being active.

They consistently help children to assess any risks and make decisions about how to keep themselves safe. During the inspection, staff recognised children's determination to ride trikes across upturned crates, and they asked questions that enabled children to consider and achieve this safely.Staff skilfully support children to develop excellent behaviour, independence and social skills.

They are positive role models for children as they calmly explain what is expected. They support children to learn to wash up their plates and cups at snack time, look after their belongings and attend to their personal care needs. Children form close friendships.

The special educational needs coordinator and manager constantly strive to obtain support from other agencies to meet the needs of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Recently, they have approached a Sure Start centre to discuss workshops for parents to provide support and advice. Children with SEND receive exceptional support and are fully included in all activities.

The manager coaches and supports staff to build on their excellent practice. He is fully committed to supporting staffs' professional development and spends considerable time making sure that training is suitable. He states that 'staff can only be as good as the training they receive' and that he believes it is 'important that their practice is current and relevant for the children of today.'



Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.The manager has an excellent knowledge and understanding of his role and responsibility to protect children's welfare. He works closely in partnership with the local authority to keep children safe.

Staff receive training and opportunities to update their knowledge of wider and changing safeguarding issues, such as protecting children from extreme views and behaviour. The manager regularly uses prompt cards with different child protection scenarios to check staff's understanding of what to do if they are concerned about a child's safety. Staff work hard to provide a safe and secure environment for the children.