Little Munchkins Nursery & Pre-School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children arrive confidently and settle quickly.

Staff warmly welcome children to the homely and nurturing environment. Children choose from a wide range of activities and resources that encourage them to explore and develop their imaginations. For instance, babies explore paint and making marks, and older children use everyday objects that help to develop their ideas and role play.

The environment is inviting and well planned to encourage children's learning and development, with a strong focus on communication and language skills. Staff know children well and purposefully provide resources that reflect children's emer...ging interests and individual stage of development. Children are happily engaged in purposeful play.

Babies beam with excitement as they splash water and bathe dolls. Children listen to staff, showing interest and positive attitudes. Children behave well.

Staff act as good role models. They give children clear and consistent messages that help them to understand what is expected. Children hear and use courteous language.

They see staff act respectfully towards each other and the children. Staff give children lots of praise and encouragement. Children are happy and show that they feel safe and secure.

They build strong bonds with staff, who provide them with reassurance should they feel upset.

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

Since the last inspection, the nominated individual has taken prompt and decisive action to raise standards in the nursery. She has sought guidance and support from the local authority and made significant improvements, including changes in staffing and appointing a new manager.

She has established a clear ethos and vision for the nursery. Her staff team is committed to drive improvements to create a safe and stimulating environment that inspires children to learn and achieve well.Staff work well in partnership with parents.

They establish an effective two-way flow of information that helps to provide children with consistency in their care and learning. Parents are positive about the nursery and the changes that have been made. They state that they feel well informed about their children's day and what they need to do next in their learning.

They share that their children feel safe and that their needs are well met.Staff are well qualified and understand how children learn and develop. They take the time to get to know children well, and plan effectively to help children build their knowledge and skills securely.

There is a strong focus on supporting and developing children's communication and language skills and helping them to build a rich vocabulary. Staff use a variety of strategies effectively, including support for children who speak English as an additional language. Staff carefully prepare the environment and resources to encourage children to explore and communicate their ideas and thoughts.

Children have good opportunities to explore and be active inside and outside. Staff talk to children about how to keep themselves safe. For instance, they encourage children to think if a muddy area is safe to play in.

Children develop good independence skills. They learn to put on their coats and boots when they choose to play outside. They serve themselves at mealtimes, thoroughly enjoying the freshly cooked food and varied menu.

Staff working with babies are calm, reassuring and attentive to their needs. They work closely with parents to support babies' home routines. Babies have plenty of space to explore and gain control in their physical development.

Staff support babies' early speech and understanding well. For instance, they repeat sounds and utterances back to babies, naming objects and actions as babies explore. Staff read stories and sing songs, encouraging babies to join in.

Babies show that they are familiar with the songs, for example they anticipate the scream when they hear 'Row, row, row your boat'.Sometimes, staff working with older children do not recognise how to provide them with enough challenge to help them achieve at the highest levels.The manager ensures that staff understand their roles and responsibilities.

She has good systems in place to review practice and coach staff to help them develop further. Staff state that they feel well supported and that their workload is manageable to help them achieve a good home and work balance.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Staff receive regular training and updates about safeguarding and child protection matters. They know the possible indicators that a child is being abused. They know what to do should they have any concerns about a child's welfare.

Staff have a good knowledge of wider safeguarding issues, including the risk to children of being exposed to extreme views and behaviour. Leaders follow robust recruitment processes to help to assure the suitability of adults working with children.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: build further on the existing supervision arrangements for staff to enhance the quality of teaching to the highest level and provide children with higher levels of challenge in their learning and development.