Tops Bretonside

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children feel safe and secure in this welcoming and caring nursery. Staff greet children warmly and affectionately. Children settle quickly, choosing from a broad range of activities that interest them.

The curriculum is broad and balanced. Staff know what they would like children to learn next and support them well. For instance, staff help babies to pull themselves up on to furniture ready for their early steps.

Toddlers learn the names of facial features and can point to these when asked. Older children strengthen their finger muscles in dough, in preparation for early writing. Children's behaviour is good.

...>Staff help children to understand their emotions, for example through the use of puppets. Children have a positive attitude to learning. They are keen to explore and investigate the natural resources available, such as water and sand play.

Children understand the routines of the nursery. Staff use picture cards to support toddlers and those with additional needs. This helps children to understand what is happening 'now' and 'next'.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, parents have been unable to come into the nursery. Despite this, staff nurture all children to help them settle quickly into their environment.

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

Managers and staff strive to ensure that all children reach their full potential.

They use funding to enable children to engage in extra-curricular activities. For instance, they choose from a range of experiences, such as cooking and forest school. Additionally, the nursery provides all children with a hot, nutritious meal to benefit their overall health.

The nursery strongly advocates its passion around sustainability. Staff help children to learn about protecting the environment. Children play with eco-friendly resources, such as natural materials and recycled powder paint.

They use bamboo toothbrushes when taking care of their oral health. The nursery also works closely with nearby supermarkets to help reduce food waste. Staff distribute these to parents and members of the community.

Children enjoy exploring a good range of mathematical activities. Older children watch staff as they make repeating patterns with paint. Babies and toddlers explore pine cones and coconut shells.

However, staff do not make the best use of opportunities to enhance and challenge children's overall mathematical development.Parent partnerships are effective. Staff obtain information when children first start.

They continue to communicate with parents frequently about their children's development. Parents say that staff are responsive to children's needs and heritage. For instance, staff take children to visit shops that sell international foods to buy for their snacks.

Parents talk about how the nursery staff have built children's confidence to provide a secure and consistent environment.Staff encourage children to be independent. Children use individual flannels to wipe their face and hands after eating.

Staff adopt a 'respectful care' approach. For instance, they always approach children from the front and ask them if they can wipe their nose or change their nappy.All children develop good opportunities to develop their communication skills.

Staff frequently sing and engage in action songs with children. Babies and toddlers rock their body in time to the tune. Older ones hold hands with staff as they join in with familiar nursery rhymes.

Children learn how to be caring towards others. Toddlers mimic life experiences with staff support. For example, they wash, dress and rock toy dolls to sleep.

Older children learn how to share and take turns, for example when using the jug to pour milk at snack time.Staff encourage children to develop a love of books. All children enjoy snuggling up on the laps of staff members, listening to their favourite stories.

Staff use simple words and repeat phrases to babies and young children as they learn to develop their language. Older children show interest in illustrations and staff talk about what is happening in the story. Children develop effective literacy skills.

Staff know children exceptionally well. They plan exciting experiences around children's interests and the types of play they enjoy. For instance, staff provide children with a range of rotating toys and balls that capture their curiosity.

Children investigate how these move, hear and feel to promote their sensory experiences.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.The managers and staff have a thorough understanding in their role to protect children from harm.

They attend frequent child protection training to ensure their knowledge is up to date with any changes in legislation. The nursery is alert to signs, such as changes in children's behaviour, that may indicate they are at risk of harm. Staff carry out frequent fire evacuation processes in the event of an emergency to help keep children safe.

The premises is secure with closed-circuit television. This helps to monitor persons entering the nursery to ensure 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 staff build on children's existing mathematical knowledge and skills to help them progress even further.