Little Me Day Nursery

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision requires improvement Children demonstrate that they are happy and safe at the nursery. Staff provide a warm and welcoming environment for them.

They set up the base rooms ready for the children to play and explore. Staff know how activities are used to support the learning and development of children. However, not all staff implement the curriculum learning intentions well enough to help children build on their knowledge and skills to a good level.

Despite the variable teaching, some staff are good communicators with the children, and they sing songs and read stories with them.Children access a range of creative materials throughout the nurse...ry. For example, the pre-school children explore with various materials and glue to create pictures of themselves and their family.

Toddlers enjoy exploring with paint, using 'dabbers' to create marks. Babies have fun using the foam with their hands and toy vehicles. Overall, children develop an awareness of how to behave and they receive some appropriate praise.

However, on occasions, staff are absorbed in routine tasks rather than engaging with the children. Staff have appropriate policies and procedures in place for keeping children safe and supporting their health and well-being. However, not all staff follow these procedures effectively.

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

The quality of education and children's overall experiences is variable. Staff know the children well and understand the learning intentions behind the activities they provide. However, they do not implement the teaching focus well enough to support children's learning and development.

For example, in the pre-school room, staff do not always engage with children effectively to support them in purposeful play that builds on what they already know and can do.All ratios are met, and the management team regularly checks to ensure these are consistently maintained throughout the day. Suitable policies and procedures are in place, but the staff do not always follow these.

For example, a recent event meant a child was not in sight or hearing. Suitable action has been taken to improve children's safety following this incident. However, staff still do not fully follow all nursery procedures relating to health and hygiene consistently, such as encouraging handwashing.

This does not support children to learn important skills so they can manage their own personal hygiene needs.Staff know the children well and they have good relationships with them. Children show they enjoy the attention they get from the staff, and they enjoy cuddles and comfort as needed.

However, at times, some staff spend a vast amount of time completing daily tasks over spending direct time with the children.All children have opportunities to play outside in the fresh air. They explore the various equipment which helps to support their emerging physical skills.

For example, pre-school children and toddlers learn how to balance and negotiate obstacles as they ride wheeled resources. Babies have many opportunities to move around their environment to develop their physical skills. For instance, they use climbing equipment inside to help them build on their balance and coordination.

Children behave well and show that they are making good friendships. For instance, toddlers hug each other as they play. Staff praise children for their efforts, especially in helping to tidy away.

This supports children's self-confidence. However, not all staff explain to children why rules are in place, to help them understand the reason for them. For instance, they do not talk to them about why they should use kind hands or walk inside.

Partnerships with parents and other providers is positive. Parents comment that they are very happy with the care and education provided and that they receive a good amount of information about their child's day. Relationships with other professionals are well embedded to support continuity of care.

The leadership team shows a commitment to driving improvements and enhancing the quality of education. Leaders regularly meet with the staff to talk about their practice and their key children, to ensure that children's care needs are met. Staff comment that managers are supportive and approachable.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Staff are confident in their roles and responsibilities to protect children from harm. They have completed child protection training, and this has helped them to be aware of possible indicators of abuse and/or neglect.

Staff know how to report concerns, including to the nursery's designated safeguarding lead and outside agencies. Risk assessments are in place for the environment that children use. Leaders demonstrate effective recruitment procedures and ongoing suitability checks.

This helps to ensure that those working with children are suitable for their role.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To meet the requirements of the early years foundation stage, the provider must: Due date improve the planning and implementation of the curriculum to ensure that it is ambitious, sequenced and builds on what children know and can do, in order to maximise their learning 21/11/2023 ensure all policies and procedures are fully implemented and understood by the staff to ensure that these are maintained and met.21/11/2023 To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: review and improve the organisation of daily staff routines to ensure that children remain interested and purposefully engaged develop staff's skills in helping children understand the rules and expectations and the consequences of their behaviour.