YMCA Nursery at the Village

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision requires improvement Children are greeted warmly by staff when they arrive. They show secure attachments with staff as they seek them out for comfort and reassurance when needed.

Staff provide additional support for new babies to help them to settle. For example, they take babies to designated areas, such as a sensory room, to provide distraction, comfort and a calm space. This is effective in helping them to settle quickly.

Staff support babies to follow embedded routines. For example, when they ask children what is next during the day, children respond by collecting a song bag for group time. However, there are inconsistencies across the nu...rsery in how staff help children to manage their behaviour.

For example, when toddlers and pre-school children display unwanted behaviour, staff are not quick to respond and to help them understand the implications of their behaviour on themselves and others.Staff provide opportunities for children to develop the small muscles in their hands. For example, children copy staff as they poke, roll and make shapes in play dough.

However, staff's interactions with children are variable. They do not always support children's learning and development effectively. For example, when staff observe children as they play in a water tray outdoors, other children move around lacking engagement.

This means that not all of staff's interactions support children to engage and build on their learning.

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

The leadership team and staff are passionate about providing positive outcomes for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. This includes identifying and implementing targeted support with other agencies to help children to progress over time.

Furthermore, funding is used effectively to purchase specialist equipment to enhance children's experiences, such as to promote their emotional development.When pre-school children participate in activities, staff give them a sticker that they proudly wear. This sticker signals to other staff to ask them about their achievements.

This encourages children to talk about and share their experiences with others.Babies display positive attitudes as they respond promptly to requests from staff. For example, staff provide them with gentle reminders to share the toys.

However, across the nursery, not all staff manage children's behaviour consistently. They do not help all children to understand what is expected of them. These inconsistencies confuse children.

For example, when staff give children lots of instructions, children are unsure of what they need to do first, and so do nothing.Staff provide parents with a wealth of information through daily discussions and via the nursery's app. This gives parents an insight into children's care, development and learning needs.

Staff invite parents and family members into the nursery to join in with open events and to share their children's learning. For example, the nursery hosts a beach day in the garden.Staff support children's language and communication skills.

For example, babies show delight as they hop up and down like rabbits when staff sing a song. Children sit with staff to listen to stories. However, the quality of teaching throughout the nursery is variable.

Not all staff make the most of opportunities to support and build on children's learning. Therefore, children do not make the progress they are capable of making.Staff offer children opportunities to try new experiences.

This includes taking them to visit a care home for the elderly to develop their social skills and to form positive relationships with the residents. Staff offer children opportunities to develop their imagination and physical skills. This includes children taking part in dance classes, musical theatre and climbing in the gym.

Staff are supported to complete training courses to help secure their knowledge of how to promote children's safety, such as child protection and first-aid training. However, although the leadership team provides some support and coaching to staff, this has not been successful in supporting all staff to develop their skills to implement the curriculum.Children are encouraged to follow consistent hygiene routines and to be independent.

For example, they are asked to wash their hands before snack time and mealtimes. Children are asked to get tissues to blow their nose with and to put them in the bin afterwards.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To meet the requirements of the early years foundation stage, the provider must: Due date ensure that staff manage children's behaviour appropriately 07/11/2024 provide children with interactions and routines to support their emerging needs.21/11/2024 To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: provide staff with regular opportunities for coaching and mentoring from leaders and managers to develop skills on implementing the curriculum.

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