The setting employs 38 members of childcare staff. Of these, 2 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2, 25 at level 3, one at level 5, two at level 6 and one is qualified to Early Years Professional Status.

The setting opens Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 8am until 6pm. Children attend for a variety of sessions. There are currently 151 children attending in the early years age group. The setting provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. It supports a number of children who speak English as an additional language and children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. The setting is a member of the National Day Nursery Association.

What the setting needs to do to improve further






To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

All children have access to books. For example, younger children listen attentively to stories, they talk about what they see and they eagerly predict what will happen next in the story. This fosters well children's early literacy. In addition, older children are eager to write their own name and they make lists when engaging in role play activities. Children also learn about sounds and letters through fun songs and letter of the week. As a result, older children recognise letters from their names. Practitioners effectively promote children's mathematical development. For example, through fun activities children are encouraged to count. For example, younger children count how many scoops of soil they need to fill their plant pot. In addition, through rhymes and songs younger children learn about number and other mathematical concepts. For example, when singing 'Tommy thumb' they use language, such as up, down, big, small and tall. Furthermore, older children talk about number when making their clocks and they confidently name different shapes when playing with the dough.

Practitioners provide good opportunities for children to explore a wide variety of different media and textures, such as materials, ribbons, dough, sand, water, shaving foam and paint. This provides good opportunities for children to develop their physical skills. For example, babies squeeze, prod and manipulate different objects and younger children develop good hand to eye coordination as they fill and empty containers in the sand and water. In addition, older children use a wide variety of tools and equipment with skill and control. For example, scissors, pencils, cutters and construction materials that they have to twist, slot and push together. All children enjoy taking part in physical activities. For example, older children thoroughly enjoy throwing and kicking balls and they confidently climb and balance on small apparatus. Practitioners provide the space and freedom for babies to roll, crawl and shuffle as they start to explore their environment. For example, as babies start to take their first independent steps they provide low-level equipment so that they can pull themselves up. In addition, by using the indoor hall as well as outdoors, younger children crawl through tunnels and they enjoy playing with the push-a-long toys and trikes. This means all children are physically active. Practitioners provide plenty of opportunities and activities to effectively promote children's development in expressive arts and design. For instance, all children enjoy exploring musical instruments and they enthusiastically join in rhymes and songs. Through a wide variety of arts and crafts, such as paint, sticking, dough and shaving foam, children are able to express their own ideas and thoughts. For example, older children design and build their own models with the dough and construction bricks.

Children have good opportunities to use their imagination. For example, they access a wide range of role play experiences, such as playing shops and pretending to make tea. They put the baby to bed and use their hospital set to make their dolls better. Children are effectively learning about the world in which they live. All children go on outings in the local community, for example, they visit the local library and parks. In addition, they invite different people into the setting, such as the fire service and police. This supports children in learning about the occupations and ways of life of different people in their community. Through resources, posters, books and activities that celebrate different cultural events and festivals, children are developing positive attitudes and respect towards others. Practitioners actively involve children in planting and growing activities and they talk to them about seasonal changes, the days of the week and weather. In addition, children learn about simple technology through accessing a wide variety of resources. For example, babies access toys that they need to press buttons and lift flaps to make them work and older children are competent in using the computer. In addition, when playing with the 'computerised bee', younger children understand they need to press certain directional buttons to make the bee move. These activities effectively promote children's progression in understanding the world.

Children are effectively supported in becoming independent learners. For example, children of all ages are able to make their own choices in play and practitioners consider their likes when planning for their learning. This results in children being happy, enthusiastic and motivated learners. Through effective planning and meeting children's individual needs, practitioners prepare children well for their next stage in learning, such as starting school. For example, through role play and dressing up, children pretend to play at schools. This provides good opportunities for them to talk about their fears and expectations. In addition, children have their lunch in the hall. This mirrors practice in school because children get used to leaving their learning environment to have their lunch.

Practitioners fully understand the importance of involving parents in their child's learning. For example, they receive good information on how the Early Years Foundation Stage is delivered. In addition, daily dairies for babies and younger children ensure parents know how their child's day has gone. For example, how long they have slept. Practitioners hold yearly parents' evenings so that they can share and discuss children's individual progress. In addition, parents are able to access their child's progress records at any time. Practitioners are always looking at ways to improve these records. This means they have introduced additional forms to provide more information to parents, such as progress summary records and activity plans and evaluations. As a result, some practitioners are still working out what to include in these documents. This means there is a little inconsistency in the balance of information they are currently sharing with parents. For example, some practitioners are recording what activities parents can do to support children's learning. Whereas others are recording children's next steps, but less information on ways for parents to support this. This means practitioners are not providing maximum opportunities for some parents to support their child's already sharply focused learning. Practitioners work very well with parents if there are significant emerging concerns or if children have an identified special educational need or disability. For example, they regularly share information and they work together to agree plans so that individual learning is targeted and tailored to each child's specific needs.

Practitioners are friendly and they provide a welcoming environment for children. For example, they display children's work and photographs of their family around the setting. This provides familiarity for children and a sense of belonging. Children's behaviour is good. This is because practitioners are positive role models for children. In addition, they provide consistent routines and boundaries so that children know what is expected of them. For example, practitioners effectively praise children's achievements and they calmly explain to them the consequences of their behaviour. This results in children having confidence and high self-esteem. In addition, children know that it is kind to share and take turns. This results in them having cooperative and harmonious relationships with their peers. Overall, children's personal, social and emotional development is effectively promoted and their transitions to other settings are supported.

Children are cared for in a safe and clean learning environment. Practitioners manage this effectively through their regular safety checks, detailed risk assessments and close supervision of children. As a result, good safety precautions are in place to minimise hazards and accidents. Through play and routines, children have a good understanding of ways in which they can keep themselves safe. For example, practitioners ensure babies have the space and freedom to freely explore their environment, while being under their close supervision. In addition, older children talk about road safety on outings and younger children are reminded about how to use equipment safely. For example, how to hold scissors and why they must toys away so that they do not trip over them.

Practitioners effectively promote the all-round development and health of children. For example, they implement a wide range of policies and procedures, such as managing illness, administrating medication and dealing with infectious illness. In addition, through regular cleaning routines, effective nappy changing procedures and sterilisation of babies' equipment, they effectively minimise the risk of infection and illness. Children also benefit from eating a healthy and nutritious diet. For example, the setting menus incorporate all food groups, including plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables so that children have good opportunities to make healthy choices. Through walks, making use of the park and daily access to outdoor play, children have ample opportunities to access fresh air and to be active. This effectively promotes their physical development and encourages them to lead a healthy lifestyle. All children from an early age are encouraged to practise good hygiene routines so that they learn about keeping themselves well. For example, all children wash their hands at appropriate times throughout the day and older children talk about how germs can make them ill. Older children understand that by covering their mouths when they cough, they are not spreading their germs.

Practitioners' commitment, drive and ambition to promoting improvement is good. Through reflective practice, regular staff meetings, self-evaluation and detailed action plans, the setting is proactive in bringing about positive change for children. For example, their detailed actions plans outline the ongoing refurbishment of the environment to enhance children's learning. Also individual room action plans means that practitioners are effectively monitoring the educational programmes. For example, the recent enhancement of additional resources that promote diversity contribute to younger children learning about differences, people and communities. Practitioners have successfully addressed recommendations made at the last inspection. For example, by carrying out more evacuation practices children have a better understanding of what they need to do in an emergency. In addition, practitioners have a good understanding of their roles and responsibilities because they are now involved in the reviewing and updating of policies and procedures. This contributes to effectively safeguarding children. Through questionnaires parents are actively involved in self-evaluation and following their feedback positive improvements have been made. For example, all practitioners now wear name badges and their photographs and qualifications are displayed in the entrance so parents know who everyone is. This promotes good communication and information sharing with parents.

Practitioners are encouraged to complete an early years qualification and as a result, a high proportion of them have gained a qualification at level 3 or above. In addition, there are some good arrangements in place to manage performance. For example, through inductions and appraisals, practitioners fully understand their role and they have good opportunities to discuss their personal effectiveness. Some practitioners have recently completed a degree and through their research they have gained a wealth of knowledge on how young children learn. For example, schemas and the characteristics of effective learning. Management recognises this knowledge is invaluable and very beneficial in supporting less experienced practitioners. However, ways to disseminate and share this knowledge to support others is not yet fully embedded in practice in order to enhance learning opportunities for children.

Practitioners have good relationships with parents and because of effective communication and information sharing children's needs are met. For example, the use of daily dairies promotes continuity in children's care. Information from parental questionnaires establishes that parents are happy with the care and education their children receive. For example, they express how the atmosphere of the setting if happy and friendly and that practitioners are caring towards their children. Practitioners work very well with other professionals and agencies involved in children's learning and care. They have strong links with the local children centre and other professionals use the premises to hold groups and meetings. For example, local health visitors hold weaning sessions and breast feeding groups at the setting. This builds strong links with the community. In addition, practitioners seek their advice on current practice, such as weaning so that they can implement this in the setting. This contributes to effectively promoting children's' health and well-being. Practitioners have regular discussions with any other professionals involved in children's learning, such as physiotherapists or speech and language therapists. This means all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities or English as an additional language are effectively supported in their learning.

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