Red Balloon Day Nursery

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children enjoy their time at the nursery. They happily run into the setting ready for adventures that are carefully planned and prepared for them.

These activities capture the children's interests and motivate them to learn. For example, children use shopping crates to create places from their imaginations, such as a boat to row, or a train to explore far away cities. Staff have used information gathered from parents and carers to deliver a wide variety of experiences based upon the children's interests.

Children are curious learners and eager to show their own knowledge and opinions. Communication and language are wel...l developed. For example, when exploring the 'Three Little Pigs' story, children describe the feelings and actions of each character.

Children in receipt of funding are supported through enhanced activities and equipment that matches their needs. For instance, story sacks have been purchased to help the children increase their love of books, to recall a story and build upon their existing knowledge. Children develop confidence and independence.

For example, children are able to dress themselves ready for outdoor play by putting on their own coats and shoes.

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

Leaders and staff place a strong emphasis on finding out what children already know and can do when they first start. This helps staff to plan for children's learning from the outset.

Staff build excellent relationships with parents, which helps them to understand the ongoing experiences that children have away from the setting. For example, using a parental engagement scheme, parents and their child are encouraged to go on treasure hunts and find objects that can be used in displays.Staff use assessments to provide children with a creative curriculum which considers their interests and next steps.

There are excellent systems in place to monitor children's progress and to quickly identify any gaps in their learning. Staff work closely with parents and professionals to provide effective support to help children close these gaps. For example, children who speak English as an additional language are supported through the use of flash cards to help encourage them and learn the words they need to communicate effectively.

The nursery is welcoming and inclusive. Staff value children's backgrounds and cultures. They help them learn about, and celebrate, their differences, including religious festivals and world events.

For example, staff regularly take children of all ages on trips into the local community to learn about the different roles people play, festivals celebrated, nature in the woods and history at the castle earthworks.Self-evaluation is very thorough. Managers have a good overview of the quality of the provision and use this effectively to set targets for future development aimed at continually improving the standards in the environment and teaching.

Children are well behaved, confident and polite. Staff help children to understand the rules and boundaries of the setting. A regular routine helps the children to understand what is expected of them and to know what is coming next.

For example, a bell is used to signify that it is time to tidy away. All children stop what they are doing, sing a tidy-up song and help clean away the activities.Children enjoy a good mix of child-initiated and adult-led learning opportunities.

However, at times, activities are not organised as effectively as possible to enable all children to be fully engaged. Older children are not challenged enough to deepen or question their knowledge.Children benefit greatly from the large open outdoor spaces that encourage physical activity.

For example, children have space to scoot and ride around on tricycles. There are mark-making and exploration activities outside. More could be made of these to enhance the experiences for those children who prefer to learn outdoors.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.The management team and staff demonstrate an excellent awareness of the indicators that may raise concern for a child's welfare. They know how to record and report any concerns they may have to safeguard the children in their care.

The management team ensures that staff keep their knowledge up to date and encourages ongoing training. Safer recruitment processes are carefully followed by the management when appointing new staff to ensure all are suitable to work with children.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: support staff to consider how children of different ages and abilities can be fully involved and challenged further when they are taking part in planned activities provide even more experiences for those children who prefer to learn outdoors to ensure that their learning is promoted further.