Heaton Lodge Children’s Nursery Ltd

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children are curious learners and make good progress in all areas of learning. They engage in activities that help to strengthen their exploratory skills. For example, children pretend to stomp toy dinosaurs through foam and cereal.

Staff offer support to children and introduce descriptive words. They encourage children to make sounds and develop their imagination. This helps to promote children's creative skills.

Staff play alongside children. They model how to use toys and equipment. This helps to maintain children's engagement in activities for long periods of time.

Children show close attachments to the ad...ults who care for them. They settle well and show high levels of confidence. Children complete tasks with determination and take part in all activities on offer.

They learn counting skills. For instance, children dig for hidden shells in the sand tray and count with excitement how many they have found. Older children immerse themselves in conversations with others about matters that interest them.

They talk with eagerness about their favourite trains and exciting adventures that they have been on at home.

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

Babies watch with fascination as staff blow bubbles in the air. They lean forward and attempt to grasp the bubbles before these pop.

Staff are animated and copy how babies react. They encourage babies to crawl forward and reach up high. This helps to promote their good physical development.

Staff provide children with healthy and nutritious meals. Children talk with enthusiasm about the different fruit and vegetables that they help to grow in the outside area and show visitors some onions that they have collected. Older children learn to serve themselves during mealtimes and help with age-appropriate tasks.

They develop high levels of independence. Children develop a good understanding of how to lead a healthy lifestyle.Parents state that they are happy with the service that they receive.

They comment on the positive relationships that their children develop. Staff provide parents with regular information regarding what their children learn during their time at nursery. They build on children's experiences at home.

For example, staff introduce dolls and equipment for a child who has a new sibling at home. This helps to provide a consistent approach to children's learning.The manager has a clear vision for the setting.

She has worked very hard with her staff team since the previous inspection. They have revised the environment for children and have made significant improvements. The manager provides regular coaching and supervision sessions for the well-qualified staff.

She observes practice and works with them to identify any training needs. This has had a positive impact on staff's teaching skills.Children behave well.

They form strong friendship groups and are listened to. Staff provide regular praise as children play.Staff observe children during play and provide activities that help to engage children in their learning.

For instance, they watch how children respond and follow their lead. However, staff require further time to embed their new approach to planning activities across all age groups.Children develop good literacy skills.

They have an excellent array of resources and materials to choose from. Children talk to others about what they are drawing. They use crayons and make marks in the sand during outdoor games.

Children sit close to adults and share well-loved story books. In addition, they join in with repeated words and phrases.Children learn about the natural world around them.

They engage in activities, including looking for insects in the garden. Children shriek with excitement when they discover a woodlouse. They talk about the different things it could eat.

Children engage in conversation and talk about the other insects they find.Children engage well in their play. However, transition times throughout the day are sometimes disorganised and children become distracted from their learning.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Staff have a good understanding of child protection concerns and wider safeguarding issues. They are alert to changes in guidance and what this means for their setting.

For example, staff receive regular training and understand how to record, and report, concerns that they have about children's well-being. Staff understand how to ensure that technology is safe for children to use. They know the importance of reporting any concerns about staff practice.

Staff work well with other professionals and share necessary information that helps to promote children's safety and well-being. The manager has implemented clear policies and procedures.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: review transition times throughout the day, particularly before and after mealtimes, to help to maintain children's interest and engagement in learning nembed ways to provide a consistent approach to planning activities for all children.