Yeovilteenies Day Nursery

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children are very happy and settled. They choose from a range of exciting activities. Toddlers enjoy using small hammers to break ice blocks containing toy sea creatures.

They strengthen their small-muscle skills needed for writing. They giggle with delight and say, 'fish' when they see the fish trapped inside.Children relish playing outside and get plenty of fresh air.

They communicate eagerly, retelling a treasured story or talking about ice cream while playing in the sandpit. Children strive to say their favourite flavour is vanilla, as they confidently practise and persevere with new vocabulary. Staff smile encoura...gingly, skilfully modelling how to say words correctly.

Babies clap enthusiastically as staff make lively sounds and actions as they sing.Staff conscientiously support all children's learning. They work methodically with other professionals and parents to help children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) to make good progress.

Children behave well, and staff have high expectations. Children line up and listen to instructions, concentrate and work cooperatively as they play board games together.The staff were keen to support families and children during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.

The nursery continued caring for children and provided learning activities and photographs to keep in touch with children who were learning at home.

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

Children learn to recognise numerals by repeating actions. They use magnetic fishing rods to catch and collect more numbered fish.

Children notice links between mathematics and their real-life experiences. They are excited when numbers remind them of the age of their siblings.Children enjoy practising how to grip paint brushes and dip them in paint.

They are fascinated by the marks they make. They develop small-muscle control in creative activities. However, there is potential to offer children more opportunities to express their unique thoughts, ideas and feelings through experimentation with a range of media and art materials.

Staff cater for children with allergies and special dietary needs. They communicate information regarding key children effectively throughout the team. They work with the cook to display children's allergy sheets prominently.

Staff are good role models for children. They show children how to take responsibility for their own actions and care for others. Older children help younger friends operate the bathroom taps.

Staff celebrate children's achievements and say, 'well done'. Children learn to have confidence in themselves. They use sign language to say, 'thank you'.

This assists children to communicate, particularly those whose speech is emerging or who have SEND.Staff challenge younger children to become more independent. Children eat healthy food using cutlery to feed themselves.

They attend to their own toileting needs and make choices about which drink they prefer.Children enjoy learning about other cultures. The naval community can be posted to other parts of the world, so this knowledge and awareness is especially relevant to the children's lives.

There is scope to significantly expand children's understanding of the diversity of communities.Children feel very secure and have close relationships with their key person. Staff have an excellent knowledge of their key children, what they can do and what they need to learn to do next.

They pay close attention to the needs of children and are keen to comfort and distract them if they are upset or tired. Staff are very attentive to children's safety. They warn children to mind their fingers when using small hammers to break ice.

Parents describe staff as 'brilliant'. Staff work to support families during big changes, such as being relocated to a new naval base. They keep parents fully informed about their children's welfare, achievements and what children will learn next.

Leaders make accurate assessments of teaching. They effectively monitor children's progress and help staff to develop the skills needed to address any gaps in children's knowledge. They nurture a culture of support and cooperation among the staff team.

This means that staff confidently share information and any concerns about children's welfare and development with leaders.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Staff feel confident about sharing any concerns about a child's welfare with leaders immediately.

The designated safeguarding lead and staff have attended safeguarding training and understand their safeguarding responsibilities. Staff can describe signs of abuse accurately. They would not hesitate to tell managers any concerns about any child or the conduct of a staff member.

Leaders have strengthened their recruitment practices and regularly review their safeguarding policy. Staff with paediatric first-aid qualifications are clear about the symptoms of an allergic reaction and what action to take to safeguard children's health.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: nenhance opportunities for children to express themselves freely and creatively with a wide range of media and art materials nextend children's understanding and awareness of the diversity of communities in modern Britain and the world.