Little Characters

Little Characters Brimington Methodist Church, Hall Road, Brimington, CHESTERFIELD, Derbyshire, S43 1GH

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 10 December 2015 20 May 2015

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This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Requires Improvement

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This inspection: Good 2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

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This provision is good

 The key-person system is well established and effective. Children develop close relationships with staff. They develop high levels of confidence and a strong sense of emotional security.  Children enjoy a good range of interesting and enjoyable activities. Staff accurately assess their stage of development and effectively use this information to support them in moving forward. Children make good progress, are motivated, persevere in their learning and show curiosity about the world around them.  Staff listen attentively to children as they play and encourage them to talk about what they are doing. This helps to promote young children's communication and language skills.  The manager and staff are reflective practitioners. They all demonstrate an eagerness to improve and strengthen their practice. There is effective management of staff's performance and clear and appropriate support is given. Children benefit from good

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This provision is good

quality learning experiences and a safe and secure environment.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not plan enough rich experiences for children who to prefer to learn outdoors.  Staff do not provide enough opportunities for older children to practise their early writing skills.  Staff do not give parents enough support and encouragement to share their observations of what their children are achieving at home.

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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

 enrich learning opportunities for children who prefer to learn outdoors  provide more opportunities for older children to practise their early writing  help parents to share more information about their children's learning and development at home.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities inside and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the manager of the nursery.  The inspector looked at a sample of children's assessment records and discussed the systems for planning children's play experiences.  The inspector held a meeting with the manager and looked at a sample of policies, including risk assessments. She discussed the manager's procedure for self-evaluation and viewed the suitability, qualifications and recent training of staff working in the nursery.  The inspector spoke to a small selection of parents and children during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The manager and her team have worked hard to drive improvement since the last inspection. Previous actions have been successfully addressed, which have improved the outcomes for children. The nursery improvement plan is appropriately challenging and demonstrates a clear motivation to improve the quality of the provision. The manager undertakes frequent monitoring of children's progress and has high expectations that any gaps in learning should be narrowed as quickly as possible. The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. All staff renew their understanding of child protection issues on a regular basis. Staff are qualified and regularly attend mandatory training, such as first aid. An established system of frequent supervisions and staff meetings ensures they are valued and supported. This support has a positive impact on the quality of staff's practice. Staff work closely with other professionals. They understand, assess and meet all

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

children's individual care and learning needs well.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff are enthusiastic and motivate children to concentrate, persevere and to enjoy success. Children are helped by staff to make lots of decisions in their play. They help themselves to toys and young children move confidently between the two rooms. Staff help extend children's learning by using words, such as, squishy, wiggly and scrunch when talking about the different textures of cotton wool, foam shapes and glue. Children develop their understanding of numbers as they excitedly play number games outside. Older children have opportunities during the day to learn about colour, shape and size, for example, as they press, pull and squeeze dough to create a monster. Staff have improved how they assess and plan for children's individual learning. Staff engage well with parents when children first start. They find out what children already know and can do. Parents express satisfaction in the service provided. They comment on the homely and very

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

welcoming environment within the nursery.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff are very friendly. They create a warm, welcoming atmosphere for all children and their families. Effective settling-in procedures help children build close relationships with staff and other children. Children behave well and respond positively to the high expectations from staff. Staff support children to develop good friendships with each other, play well together and build confidence in their own abilities. Individual needs are met well. Children are supported to be independent within the nursery. They are encouraged to put on their own coats and wellingtons before going out to play. Babies are encouraged to feed themselves, and older children serve their own food at mealtimes. Children learn about food that is good for them, and how to keep themselves safe through the activities and routines of the day.

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Outcomes for children are good

All groups of children make good progress from their starting points. The manager works closely with staff to monitor and close any gaps in children's development. This supports children to make good progress in their learning, in preparation for school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY435957 Local authority Derbyshire Inspection number 1015923 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 0 - 10 Total number of places 30 Number of children on roll 122 Name of provider Joanne Louise Burnand Date of previous inspection 20 May 2015 Telephone number 07845040533

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Setting details

Little Characters was registered in 2012. The nursery employs 10 members of childcare staff. Of these, six hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 and three hold level 3. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 7am until 6pm and the nursery offers a before and after school care. The nursery provides funded early education for 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

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Setting details

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