Your Co-op Little Pioneers Nursery & Pre-school Lanesfield

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children are happy and settled at this nursery because staff are kind, caring and respond well to their individual needs.

When children start at the nursery, staff take the time to gather important information from parents about their child's likes, dislikes and home routines. This helps them to meet children's individual needs from the very start. Children behave well because staff offer them frequent praise and encouragement.

There is a strong focus on helping children develop their communication and language skills. Staff sing songs, read stories and engage children in meaningful conversations and discussions throug...hout the day. Staff have high expectations for children's learning.

They provide individual and challenging play opportunities that children readily engage with. For example, staff support babies to develop their physical skills as they negotiate the indoor climbing and balancing equipment. Toddlers are encouraged to mix coloured paints to make a new colour.

Pre-school children are supported to make friendships and play cooperatively with others. As a result, all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), make good progress in their learning. They are gaining the skills they need to prepare them for their eventual move to school.

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

Staff have a good understanding of how young children learn and develop. They plan a good range of activities and experiences that help children to make good progress in their learning. Staff interact well with children as they play.

This helps children to enjoy their learning. However, at times, staff do not always manage group activities to ensure all children can actively join in. For example, during a group yoga session in the pre-school room, staff do not ensure children have enough space to join in with the actions.

This results in some children losing interest.Children are familiar with the daily routines of their room. They follow requests from staff when the daily activities or routines change.

For example, when staff tell babies that it is time to go outside to play, they all excitedly make their way to the doors. However, sometimes children are expected to wait for longer than necessary because staff are not always prepared to manage this transition. This means that some children become unsettled.

Managers work in partnership with staff to ensure that children are provided with good experiences to help them build secure foundations for their future learning. Staff benefit from ongoing support, training and supervision sessions to help build on their current knowledge and skills. Staff's well-being is a priority.

Time is taken to ensure staff fully understand all aspects of their roles and responsibilities. Staff express how well supported they feel in their roles. This helps to improve the overall outcomes for the children attending.

Managers and staff are passionate about providing an inclusive service. They work closely with parents and other professionals to coordinate support for children with SEND. Suitable plans and targets are set to help children make the progress they are capable of.

Children's health is supported well. They are provided with a range of healthy meals and snacks. Children have daily opportunities to be active in the garden, where they benefit from fresh air and exercise.

Younger children's care needs are met well. Older children are reminded of the importance of washing their hands after independently accessing the toilet. Children have access to fresh drinking water throughout the day to ensure they stay hydrated.

Parents speak highly of the staff. They know who their child's key person is and appreciate the regular updates and information that gets shared with them. Parents express how happy their children are to attend.

Effective recruitment procedures are in place to ensure staff are checked for their suitability to work with children. Managers ensure the correct staff-to-child ratios are maintained. Staff supervise children well to ensure their safety.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: review the organisation of whole-group activities to ensure all children are able to join in and remain engaged in their learning refine transition times within the day to ensure that children are not kept waiting unnecessarily.