Little Stars Day Nursery

Little Stars Day Nursery Buchanan Centre, Capper Road, Waterbeach, Cambridge, CB25 9LY

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 3 March 2015 20 March 2014

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This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Requires Improvement How well the early years provision meets the needs of the range of children who attend Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the early years provision Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

The setting meets legal requirements for early years settings

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This provision is good

 Children develop their language and communication skills well because staff model clear language. They make story time fun, and encourage the children to join in and use rhyming words.  Staff recognise opportunities to extend children’s learning and promote their curiosity. They interact skilfully with children to question and challenge their thinking.  Children develop secure attachments to adults who care for them because staff are warm, welcoming and caring.  Partnership working with parents is strong. Parents are happy with the service. They speak highly of the staff and the opportunities to take part in their children’s learning.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The procedures for greeting parents and visitors at busy times often disrupts staffs time with the children, as they have to leave the room to answer the door.  The quality of teaching is not consistently of a very high standard throughout the nursery.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

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

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

 Review the procedures in place for greeting parents and visitors at busy times to ensure that staff’s work with children is not disrupted  Continue to strengthen the quality of teaching.

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Inspection activities

 The inspectors observed activities in the three play areas inside, as well as the outside play space.  The inspectors spoke to members of staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection and held meetings with the owner/ manager of the provision  The inspectors carried out a joint observation with the manager.  The inspectors took account of the views of parents spoken to on the day of the inspection.  The inspectors looked at children’s records, planning documentation, evidence of the suitability of staff working in the provision and a range of other documentation, including policies and procedures

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who attend. This is good

Teaching is good throughout the nursery and helps children to progress towards the next stage of their learning. Staff working within the pre-school room are highly skilled and provide rich learning experiences for children. For example, a planned activity of creating and writing their own rhyming words, soon became a valuable child led activity. They were well supported by staff to take the play in their own direction which sustained their interest. Staff working within the toddler and baby rooms support children well. Their sound knowledge of the way in which children learn, means that they can support their learning and development and provide a varied range of stimulating and challenging experiences for them. Staff know the children well, they are familiar with the next steps in their learning and plan for these effectively. Children have access to a broad range of resources and activities that are fun and inviting. They are also able to freely access

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who attend. This is good

outdoor play at different times throughout the day. This supports them to make good progress in their learning.

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good

Children behave well, they are provided with clear routines and consistent boundaries, which helps them to feel secure. The settling in process for new children is flexible. Staff work closely with the parents so that they can fully meet children’s individual needs and care routines. Children are encouraged to be independent at meal times which are a social occasion as staff sit with the children to eat and chat. Staff have a clear understanding of their duty to keep children safe, thorough risk assessments are carried out and regular fire drills are practiced to help children learn about keeping themselves safe.

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provision is good

The manager has a good understanding of the learning and development requirements and how to keep children safe. Systems to evaluate what is working well and what needs to be improved are effective. The actions from the last inspection have been successfully addressed. Robust recruitment practices ensure that staff are suitable to work with children. Regular supervision and monitoring of staff’s performance ensures that any weaknesses in their practise can be swiftly addressed. Staff have received safeguarding training. They have a clear understanding of the procedures to follow if they were concerned about a child in their care or the behaviour of another adult. This ensures that children are protected from harm. The required adult to child ratios are met. Although on, occasions, the procedures for answering the door to parents or visitors at busy times disrupts staffs time with the children as they have to leave the room to answer the door.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY469586 Local authority Cambridgeshire Inspection number 1008937 Type of provision Full-time provision Registration category Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 62 Number of children on roll 25 Name of provider Little Stars Day Nursery inc Ltd Date of previous inspection 20 March 2014 Telephone number 07877317361

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Setting details

Little Stars Day Nursery was registered in 2013 on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. It operates from purpose built premises in the village of Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire. Children play in three playrooms and there is direct access to four enclosed outdoor areas. There are currently 55 children on roll, who attend for a variety of sessions. There are 16 members of staff who work directly with the children, including the owner/manager. Of these, 10 hold early years qualifications at level 3 and 4 at level 2. Two members of staff are currently working towards qualifications. There is also an administrative member of staff and a cook. Opening times are Monday to Friday for 51 weeks of the year from 7.30 am until 6pm. The nursery is a member of the Pre-School Learning Alliance. The nursery offers early years funding to eligible two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Setting details

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the Early Years Register. The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children’s learning, development and care, known as the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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Setting details

procedures set out in the guidance ‘Complaints procedure: raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted. If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Setting details

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Setting details

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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