Apples & Pears Private Day Nursery

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children arrive happy to start their day at this nursery. Children ask staff excitedly if the diggers are still nearby because they want to see what they are digging up. They talk about 'excavating' and continue to discuss what the digger is doing.

Staff enable children to learn more about what interests them in the moment. This helps children to develop curiosity about what is happening in the world around them. Children seek out their friends as they access the activities already set up for them.

They explore sensory experiences outside. Staff encourage children to experience different textures. They use words such a...s 'squishy', 'crumbly' and 'squelch'.

This helps children to develop their vocabulary and learn more through different senses.Children have good behaviour and staff help children to understand their own and others' feelings through talking with them. Children feel comfortable with staff and have good relationships with them.

They listen to what children say and encourage conversations. Younger children settle well with staff when they become upset. Babies snuggle up with staff when having their milk feed.

Children feel safe at this nursery.

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

Staff focus on communication and language. Circle time is a positive experience where older children listen to each other.

Staff ask questions such as, 'Can you tell everyone what you did yesterday?' This helps children to feel valued as staff are genuinely interested in what they have to say. However, younger children do not always benefit from the same level of interaction. Staff are very busy with other tasks and do not always take the time to engage in meaningful play and learning.

This does not help babies to consistently build on what they already know.Staff support older children to develop their physical skills. Children ride bicycles and confidently negotiate obstacles outdoors.

Younger children climb the slide as staff support them to position themselves safely to go down it. This helps children to build confidence in what their bodies can do. Staff encourage children to wait and watch as their friends mix a mud concoction with different small-hand tools.

This helps children to learn from each other and develop concentration.Children's behaviour is good. Staff model positive interactions and expect children to show respect to others.

When disagreements occur, staff intervene to support children with regulating their emotions. This helps children to begin to understand how their behaviour can impact others.There are opportunities for children to learn self-care skills at times.

For example, older children access the bathroom and wash their hands independently. However, there are times where routines are not organised to allow children to learn to do things for themselves. Staff serve and chop children's lunch and pour drinks for them.

Babies are not able to learn to feed themselves at all mealtimes as they do not always have their own spoon or drink ready to access. Children do not have consistent opportunities to learn the skills they will need as they grow.The manager is mindful of staff workload.

She has worked hard to reduce paperwork. Staff report good levels of well-being and enjoy their time at this nursery. They say the manager is approachable and supportive.

This helps staff to feel valued.The management team has a range of experience and knowledge. They support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities very well.

Good relationships with external professionals mean children have the support they need right from the start. This includes individual practitioners who are specifically trained to provide support within the nursery. This means that all children make good progress.

Parents are very happy with the care and education their child receives at this nursery. They say they feel their children are safe here and they enjoy their time at the nursery. Parents report they are fully informed of their child's progress and know what they need to learn next.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Staff have good knowledge of safeguarding processes. They know what would make them concerned about a child's safety and well-being and if they had concerns with a colleague's conduct.

They are confident to report any issues in the correct manner. Staff update their safeguarding training regularly. The nursery is extremely well maintained and clean.

Risk assessments are done regularly to ensure the nursery is safe for children and staff. The nursery has good security and unauthorised persons are not able to enter the building to pick up children.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: nensure staff are supported to improve the quality of teaching they provide to young children and spend more time doing this help staff to effectively and consistently support children to develop independence and self-care skills consistently across all age ranges.

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