Three Bears Nursery

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children thrive in all areas of their development. They arrive confident and are happy to separate from their parents. This shows that they feel safe and secure.

Children form close friendships and show respect for others. They interact with one another during role-play games. For example, children use accessories to style each others hair.

They offer hats to each other to help finish their look and compliment one another on their appearance. Children join in with music sessions and show good understanding of the difference between quiet and loud, and fast and slow. They listen and sing along as staff play musical inst...ruments, such as a ukulele.

Children learn about the different elements of the instrument, including the number of strings and how they help create different sounds. Children join in singing lullabies while some of their younger friends fall asleep. Children demonstrate that they are curious learners and solve problems as they play.

Babies explore a range of sensory resources and equipment. They smile at visitors and play peek-a-boo games, hiding behind different textured materials. Babies show fascination and wonder as they listen to the crinkle sounds of shiny paper, and smile at their reflection in mirrored surfaces.

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

Leaders provide a highly supportive environment for staff. They place a strong emphasis on staff well-being. For instance, they complete supervision sessions and offer training to help staff build on their knowledge and skills.

Leaders recognise staff's achievements and celebrate this during staff meetings and celebration evenings. Staff, children and parents can nominate staff to receive rewards and certificates for their excellent work. Leaders role model practice and work closely with staff to share ideas for improvement.

Partnership working with parents is a real strength of the nursery. Leaders and staff build on parents' views. They encourage them to share a wealth of information from home and use this to provide quality experiences for children at nursery.

Staff celebrate children's diversity and invite parents to share activities and photographs from home to help children to develop an awareness of other cultures and traditions from around the world.Leaders have a clear vision of what children need to learn. The setting's curriculum is implemented well.

There is a strong emphasis on promoting children's communication and language skills. Children show an interest in books and share stories with staff. Staff build on children's interest and use puppets and toys to help bring more animation to story times.

Children show excitement as they engage with repeated words and phrases. They guess what is coming next, as their favourite stories are read repeatedly. Furthermore, young children, including those with special educational needs, are supported to communicate their wants and needs through the use of picture cards.

Staff help children to understand what comes next in the daily routine.Children are encouraged to take risks as they play. Babies have access to indoor climbing equipment and staff support children to take their first steps.

Older children run, jump, climb and balance during exciting outdoor games. They move and shake their bodies as they dance along to music. Furthermore, children are encouraged to follow good hygiene practices and are provided with healthy choices during mealtimes.

Older children participate in large-group activities, including baking. There are sometimes not enough resources for all children to participate in. This leads to some group activities not being fully prepared and well organised.

Children show a willingness to have a go. They behave well and show that they listen and respond to requests. Staff provide an abundance of praise as children play.

However, they do not extend children's understanding as to why they are receiving the praise.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Leaders and staff demonstrate good understanding of the safeguarding procedures and policies.

They are vigilant and supervise children well. Leaders are aware of their responsibility to keep children and staff safe from harm. They understand how to manage allegations against staff and the procedure to follow in the event of a concern about the welfare of a child.

Leaders monitor children's attendance and ensure staff understand how to recognise the signs and symptoms of any potential abuse. Leaders and staff understand the process to follow should they be concerned that a child or family may be at risk of being exposed to extreme views or behaviours.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: refine group activities to ensure that they are well planned and organised to reduce children's waiting times and to support all children to participate nextend children's understanding of why they are receiving praise.