The Wooden Horse At St. Hildas

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children are very settled, happy and safe at the setting. The provider has taken effective steps since the previous inspection to ensure that children's safety and welfare are safeguarded. The key-person system is strong and children form close bonds with staff.

All staff ensure that children's individual needs are well met, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The care and support for children with SEND is a particular strength of the setting. Staff work very closely with other professionals to ensure that children receive the extra support they need.

The provider welcomes other p...rofessionals into the setting to deliver this support with staff. Staff are positive role models and have high expectations for children's learning and behaviour. As a result, children's behaviour is exceptional.

This supports a good learning atmosphere for all children. Children also have consistently positive attitudes to their play and learning. They show an interest in the learning environment and resources available.

For example, children demonstrate excellent patience and take turns when playing a game with rules. They love being outdoors. The outdoor play area is well designed and promotes children's physical development, their understanding of the world and also their creativity and imagination.

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

The provider ensures that the high-quality education the setting provides gives all children, including those with SEND, the life skills that they need to succeed. Staff work very well in partnership with parents. They receive comprehensive information from parents, which forms the basis of each child's specific care and learning.

Staff also keep parents well informed about their child's development and progress on a regular basis.Staff extend children's thinking skills and ensure that children have opportunities to test out their own ideas. For example, in the pre-school room when exploring shells, children talk about and identify similarities and differences in shape, size and colour.

They then put them in order of size, which helps to promote their mathematical thinking, language and skills. Children also use clocks to help them learn about time.Staff ensure that they tailor care practices for each child.

These practices are effective and promote children's confidence and self-motivation, as well as their physical and emotional well-being. Staff are sensitive to children's needs. In the baby room, staff are aware of when babies are becoming tired and fetch their comforters for them.

In the tweenie room, staff support children well with new potty training routines. Parents also receive advice and support from staff, with ideas about extending their children's learning and development at home.Children are developing well across all areas of learning.

They participate in a wide range of activities and learning experiences. Children show an interest in books and staff use books well to promote children's language and communication. Staff also support children's language and communication through a variety of activities which boost children's speaking and listening skills.

Children's extremely positive behaviour is another particular strength of the setting. Children also demonstrate confidence and independence. For example, they decide what they would like to play with and whether they want to play indoors or outdoors.

Children learn about the local community during walks and visits, including visits to a nursing home to meet the residents. This helps to promote children's understanding of the world. Children are also involved in activities which help them to learn about their uniqueness.

For example, they use mirrors, talk about different facial features and then create self-portraits.The provider ensures that children receive a varied diet of nutritional meals and snacks. Mealtimes are relaxed and sociable occasions and children learn good hygiene routines.

However, hygiene routines are not consistently implemented effectively by some staff, which could compromise children's health.The leadership and management of the provision are strong. Staff work well together as a team and all are focused on meeting the needs of the children.

They have a positive attitude towards continuous professional development and have attended additional training since the previous inspection. There is an effective staff supervision procedure in place and staff state that they feel well supported.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

The provider and staff have taken prompt and effective action since the previous inspection. The provider has updated the safeguarding policy and procedure. Staff demonstrate good knowledge and understanding of the reviewed procedure.

They also know how to implement the procedure in a timely manner should they have concerns about a child. Additionally, staff demonstrate that they are able to identify signs of possible abuse and would act appropriately to safeguard children's welfare.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: nensure that all staff consistently implement good hygiene routines, for example when preparing and serving lunch.

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