Blue Skies Private Day Nursery

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision requires improvement The nursery is a happy and safe environment for children. The new manager has created stability and made improvements. She has also enabled greater learning opportunities for children than previously.

This has helped children to have a more positive attitude to learning. The manager and staff work well as a team. They have introduced a curriculum which is helping children to gain lots of knowledge and skills.

This is most notable in their communication and language. However, the curriculum is not fully embedded, which means some children do not achieve as well as they could. Despite gaps, children are beginning to benefit... from some exciting opportunities that help them to become curious and inquisitive learners.

For example, pre-school children experience the joy of holding and feeding baby lambs. Toddlers and babies develop confidence as they approach and stroke the lambs with gentle hands. These meaningful experiences help children to respect and care for living things.

However, opportunities to learn about the wider world, such as similarities and differences between themselves and others, are not as strong. This does not help children to understand what makes them unique and appreciate the diversity of life in modern Britain.

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

The leadership and management team knows the quality of provision is not good enough.

However, the new manager has made some rapid improvements in a short space of time. She has embraced outside help, such as support from the local authority advisers. This is helping most staff understand what children need to achieve and in what order.

As a result, children are beginning to acquire more knowledge and skills.The manager knows more support is needed, so that all staff are confident to teach the curriculum. At present, there is some variability in staff practice.

For example, some staff are not clear on what children need to learn. As a result, activities are not consistently planned with focused learning intentions. This affects how well some children learn.

Since the previous inspection, staff have completed lots of training. Staff have used knowledge from training to make a difference. For example, they now use effective questioning techniques, such as asking open-ended questions, to help children think, listen and respond.

Staff model words clearly and also help to widen children's vocabulary by introducing new words in the correct context. For example, as children enjoy the story about a hungry caterpillar, they learn exciting words, such as 'cocoon'.Children are well behaved and are beginning to learn the routines.

They arrive happily and remove their dummies without any hesitation. This approach is positively encouraged by staff, so that children are ready for a busy day of chatter. This is evident in practice.

For example, as the babies and toddlers venture to the park to feed the ducks, they sing 'Five Little Ducks'. They also name what they see on route, such as dogs and a 'purple flower'. Children's communication and language are developing very well.

Children eligible for additional funding through the early years pupil premium get the support they need. For example, funding is used to give disadvantaged children additional sessions. This helps to provide continuity in their learning and gives them the additional help they need to succeed.

Aspects of children's personal development are promoted well. For example, all children are now assigned a key person, which helps them to forge positive relationships with a familiar adult. However, children have limited opportunities to develop positive attitudes about differences.

For example, children do not learn about cultures, religions, families and communities that are different to their own. This limits opportunities for them to develop a greater awareness of the wider world.Partnership with parents has greatly improved.

Staff keep parents abreast of their children's development and progress via the online app. They also share ideas with parents to help encourage their children to talk at home. Parents are very positive about the nursery and the 'massive' improvements made.

The view of one parent was that staff 'focus more on the children'. This view is also shared by staff. They are excited about the curriculum and understand the important role they play in promoting children's early education.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Children's safety is fully assured. Staff are knowledgeable on child protection matters and understand the procedures to follow if they have any concerns.

They are also aware of issues, such as domestic abuse and the impact this has on children. As such, one member of staff takes the lead for 'operation encompass'. This involves close partnership working with the police, to help ensure that children affected by domestic violence get the support they need.

Leaders and managers monitor children's attendance, which promotes children's safety. It also ensures that children in receipt of government funding receive their full entitlement of early education.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: help staff to further improve their knowledge and expertise in supporting all children's individual learning nembed all aspects of the curriculum to help children further develop their knowledge and skills provide opportunities for children to learn about similarities and differences between themselves and others.