Hammersmith Day Nursery & Pre-School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Staff have developed close and secure bonds with the children. As a result, children are settled in this welcoming environment.

Children smile as they arrive and are eager to explore the many exciting activities. They are confident to approach staff when they feel upset or unsettled, and they receive the support and care they need. Staff are good role models for children's behaviour.

They clearly demonstrate the rules and boundaries of the nursery and offer gentle reminders to children. As a result, children behave well because expectations for their behaviour are clear. The manager and staff work hard to build good re...lationships with parents.

This supports children's educational experiences. Staff plan the curriculum effectively with a good variety of indoor and outdoor learning experiences that help children to make good progress in their learning. Children have built strong friendships and look forward to playing with one another.

Staff are caring and praise children as they learn new knowledge and skills. Staff interact warmly during care routines, such as nappy changes, rest times and washing hands. This supports children to feel safe and secure.

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

The curriculum is ambitious and challenging. Staff know children well and tailor learning to their individual needs. The manager and staff have a strong focus on supporting children to be confident and independent in their learning and being able to make decisions about their play for themselves.

Staff join in children's play at appropriate times to extend and challenge their thinking.Young babies enjoy singing songs and joining in with the actions. Toddlers listen to familiar stories and anticipate what is going to happen next by looking at the pictures.

Older children have meaningful conversations, and staff promote their thinking by asking purposeful and relevant questions and giving children sufficient time to consider and respond. All children, including children who speak English as an additional language, make good progress in their communication and language development.Children behave well and are curious to learn.

They persevere at tasks and activities even when they become difficult, and they receive huge praise from staff. Babies enjoy looking at books. They point to familiar objects and make relevant sounds.

Toddlers enjoy rolling, squashing and pinching clay. Older children develop their large-muscle skills by placing wooden beams together and balancing on them. However, on occasions, the learning environment can become noisy, and some children find it difficult to concentrate and focus on chosen activities.

Children have a wide range of opportunities to develop their independence and self-care skills. At mealtimes, older children serve themselves their food and pour their own drinks. Younger children are encouraged to try and feed themselves.

Additionally, staff teach children how to put their coats on, wash their hands and put on their shoes independently.Group and circle-time activities support children's language development well. They provide opportunities for staff to introduce new words and vocabulary.

However, there are times where there are too many children in the activity. This means that some children are less focused on the activity because they are distracted by the larger group size.Parents speak highly of the setting.

They have access to their children's online records and have opportunities to contribute to their children's learning in the setting and at home. The manager has recently introduced activity bags for parents to share with their children at home. Parents who have used these say that they help them to support their children's learning.

Leaders and managers support staff in their practice well. There are lots of opportunities for professional development that support staff's teaching skills. For example, staff have completed recognised childcare qualifications.

Supervision arrangements are used effectively to identify and support staff's needs. This has a positive impact on children's learning and staff's well-being.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Leaders and managers ensure that staff understand their responsibilities to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm. All staff receive regular training to ensure they are familiar with possible indicators that a child may be at risk and understand the correct procedures to follow. Staff support children to learn how to keep themselves safe.

For example, they remind children to walk inside and how to use cutlery safely at mealtimes. Staff carry out daily risk assessments to ensure the premises and resources are suitable for children to use.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: create an environment that supports children's ability to concentrate and focus on their chosen activity, with specific regard to managing noise levels consider the use of smaller groups at circle times to further support children in being more engaged in the activity.