Bluebells Nursery

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children are very happy in this warm, welcoming and friendly nursery.

They arrive cheerfully and separate well from their parents. Children form strong bonds with staff. Highly effective settling-in procedures enable new children to quickly feel safe and secure.

They are given plenty of reassurance and support. This positively enhances their emotional well-being and ensures they settle swiftly. Overall, children behave well.

Staff understand how young children learn. They use their observations and knowledge to plan and provide a broad range of fun and engaging activities for children to extend their learning.... Children eagerly explore the environment.

For example, younger children excitedly transfer water, and older children join in with a painting activity, mixing colours and printing shapes. Parent partnerships are very strong. Parents speak very highly of the nursery.

They feel that their children are well looked after, and they, as parents, are very well supported. Parents are kept up to date about their children's progress, special events and the nursery's policies. For instance, they talk with enthusiasm about the parent workshops that help them understand about different areas of children's learning, such as the importance of rhymes and songs for young children.

Leaders have high expectations and constantly reflect on ways to improve the nursery. They make the most of training opportunities and working with other professionals to enhance their teaching. Overall, staff are responsive to children's learning needs.

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

Staff work exceedingly well together to ensure the smooth running of the nursery. They are well qualified and experienced. They have a clear vision for the nursery and ambitious plans for the future of the nursery and children.

They regularly review and reflect on their practice and setting. They use feedback from other professionals and parents within this evaluation. For example, they have recently changed the environment to create more space and room for children to move around, see the resources and make choices about their play.

Parents are extremely happy with the nursery. They state their children enjoy attending and children's communication skills have increased. Staff keep parents updated on their children's progress and share next steps and ideas to continue learning at home.

Staff are caring and kind and support children's individual needs. They are positive role models and work enthusiastically with the children. They engage fully with children and make learning fun.

However, at times, staff do not use questioning as effectively as they could to challenge children further and build on their thinking skills.Staff have access to a wide range of training opportunities to build on the quality of their practice.Staff have high expectations for all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

They know children well and find out what they understand and can do through observations and assessments. Staff track children's development and plan for their next stages in learning. All children make progress and develop skills for the future.

Staff use a range of methods to support children's physical development, both inside and outside. For instance, children benefit from developing their muscles and skills during daily play outside where they use scooters and practise their ball skills. They use the large indoor play equipment with skill, negotiating space well and adeptly climbing and sliding.

Children are active learners who confidently move around the nursery and select from the wide range of open-ended activities. They make choices about their play and are growing in independence.Staff work effectively to develop children's communication skills.

They carry out regular small-group activities that help to promote children's listening and attention. Staff play alongside children and talk about what they are doing. They encourage children to repeat new words and express their needs.

Early literacy skills are well supported. Children intently listen to stories and enthusiastically join in with a music session. They are beginning to have favourite songs and join in with actions and know some of the words.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.The manager and staff have a secure understanding of child protection, including wider safeguarding issues, and can identify when a child may be at risk of harm. They understand their roles and responsibilities to swiftly make referrals to the relevant agencies should they have a concern about children or the conduct of others.

Staff are vigilant about children's safety and carry out comprehensive risk assessments. Safer recruitment procedures are in place for all staff and volunteers. The manager provides effective support to promote professional development to enhance staff knowledge and skills and ensure staff workloads are manageable.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: maximise staff's questioning to extend children's learning inside and outside