Little Learners Day Nursery & Youngstars Creche

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

The setting provides a stimulating and nurturing environment. This means children are eager to join in with play as soon as they arrive. Children are confident and motivated to learn and explore the range of activities on offer.

They develop secure emotional attachments with staff. Staff are caring and sensitive to children's needs, supporting their emotional well-being effectively. Babies seek out staff to support them in their play.

Older children discuss how they have missed a staff member who has been on holiday. Children's progress is monitored effectively to ensure all children are developing well in their learni...ng. Children behave well and show consideration for each other.

Staff are positive role models and are consistent in their approach to children's behaviour. Children are confident in sharing their thoughts and feelings as they learn to manage their emotions. Staff encourage young children in an appropriate way to work together and share as they use large bricks to build towers.

Staff place high priority on promoting children's independence throughout the setting. Younger children are supported by staff to pour their milk and put their own coats and shoes on. Older children are extremely independent in their toileting.

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

The managers and the staff team have made significant improvements since the last inspection to raise the quality of the setting. They are a highly reflective passionate team who share a vision.Staff know children well.

They make effective use of the information they gather from parents about their child when they start. Staff use this information to plan interesting experiences for children that support their learning and development. As a result, children make good progress.

Partnership with parents is good. Parents speak highly of the setting and staff team. They have a good knowledge of how their children are developing.

Staff provide practical examples of how parents can support children's learning at home. Parents comment that this is useful.Staff are keen for children to develop their communication and language skills.

Some staff are particularly skilled in narrating children's play, for example, commenting on the colours and marks children make when drawing. However, at times, some staff ask children too many questions which does not give them enough time to think and respond.Children gain good physical skills through a range of both indoor and outdoor opportunities.

For example, babies climb over large soft bricks and access a ball pit. Older children play large-scale games and use a small trampoline.The managers undertake regular observations and supervision of staff practice, providing staff with opportunities to improve their skills.

As a result, teaching has improved since the last inspection.As children develop and move rooms, children and their parents are given the opportunity to visit the room and meet the new staff to build relationships. This ensures children feel safe and secure, preparing them well for the next stage of their learning.

Staff interactions are positive and encourage children in their play. Staff ask some meaningful questions to test children's understanding. However, at times, children are asked questions which are too challenging.

Children's mathematical skills are actively promoted. For instance, younger children are encouraged and supported to count during their play. Older children sing songs about the shapes they make using their hands.

Staff are skilled in providing teaching that builds on what children know. They provide activities that follow children's interests and what they need to learn next. For example, children create fire engines by painting and sticking shapes on large boxes.

Staff then encourage children to use them in the garden to put out imaginary fires with water.Younger children have plenty of opportunities to explore textures. For example, they mix water and glitter using pots and brushes.

At other times they use feathers, glue, felt-tip pens and wax crayons to make marks on large paper.Staff skilfully support children who speak English as an additional language. They use pictures to prompt children's understanding of the setting's routines.

Staff learn words in children's home languages and provide songs and stories that are familiar to them.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.All staff have good knowledge of their responsibilities to keep children safe.

They are aware of the signs of abuse and know who to contact should they have concerns. Managers make swift referrals to the relevant agencies to ensure children's welfare. Staff undertake regular safeguarding training to keep their knowledge up to date.

Managers have robust procedures in place for the vetting and induction of staff to ensure their suitability. Staff complete daily checks to ensure the safety of the environment.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: further develop staff teaching strategies, in particular the use of questioning, to ensure it is appropriate for the children's level of understanding and development build on arrangements for the professional development of staff, to ensure they provide children with time to reflect and respond to questions.