Chapel Lane Nursery

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children arrive at nursery happy and they separate from their carers with ease. Children are greeted by friendly staff, and their bonds with their dedicated key person enables them to feel safe and enjoy their time at nursery. Babies benefit from familiar routines that are agreed between parents and their key person to ensure they settle and feel secure.

Children have positive attitudes towards their learning. They lead their own play with the support of staff, who follow their interests to enhance children's learning. For example, when children ask for directions while riding the tricycles, a staff member draws a road for them... to follow.

Children eagerly hunt for numbers and are proud to recognise the number they find. Staff support younger children by counting the spots on the pebbles they find and praise all children's efforts. Children are familiar with stories and enjoy acting them out.

Children take on the different roles from the book 'Three Little Pigs' and one is the wolf. Staff recite the story with the children, who all are excitedly anticipating the part where the wolf falls down the chimney. They enjoy doing this as a group, taking turns and listening to each other's ideas throughout the story.

Children's independence shines through and extends to much of their day at nursery, such as when toileting, washing their hands and using cutlery at lunchtime.

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

The manager is passionate and has a clear vision for the nursery. Staff are given the opportunity to build their professional development through online training.

Staff supervisions are held termly. However, these are overdue and, as a result, staff have not been given targets to help further improve their teaching. That said, the manager carries out checks and peer observations, and provides feedback to staff.

There are opportunities for staff to speak to the manager, should they need to, regarding any concerns that may arise. Staff report that their well-being is supported well.Babies are cared for in a large room, which is very calm.

They enjoy exploring and choose tractors to roll along the floor. They show excitement when using the sensory toys, particularly the shakers. Children enjoy selecting crayons independently and making marks.

Staff know the babies well and provide good learning experiences for them. However, they do not always provide opportunities for babies to develop their speech and language, such as introducing sounds and words to support babies' play and develop their communication and language skills.Older children's communication is supported well.

Staff model language correctly and speak to older children appropriately in line with their age and stage of development. There are books throughout the environment to support children's interests. Children are eager to tell staff about the octopus and the fish under the sea as they recall the 'Rainbow Fish' story.

Consequently, they are developing their understanding of the world.Although parents no longer enter the nursery due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they comment that their children are happy and settled. Parents say that staff share information daily with them.

They are kept up to date about their children's learning and development via an app. Termly homework is welcomed to help to prepare their children for the next stage in their learning journey, either at nursery or when leaving to go to school.Children are kind and caring.

They enjoy playing with their friends and negotiate when turn taking or deciding what they would like to play with. Children use manners without being prompted and are respectful of the resources on offer. Staff are good role models to the children and encourage positive behaviour.

The children have decided their own 'golden rules' and refer to these when resolving conflict between themselves.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.The manager ensures that staff have the relevant training, and uses scenarios and spot questions to develop their knowledge.

The staff are knowledgeable about the indicators of abuse and how to raise concerns should they arise, including those of a colleague. Staff are deployed effectively. The manager has effective recruitment procedures in place.

Staff carry out checks of the environments and premises to ensure that they are safe for children. Staff have paediatric first-aid training and are available throughout the nursery to deal with any accidents that may occur.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: strengthen the supervision systems to identify precise targets for staff to consistently improve the teaching of the curriculum to the highest levels support staff working with babies to understand the importance of communication and language and the impact they have on their development.