Little Explorers

Little Explorers Future House, 25 Pomona Street, LIVERPOOL, L3 5TL

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 4 May 2016 22 September 2015

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Outcomes for children Requires improvement

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This provision requires improvement. It is not yet good because:

 New systems for assessment are not yet effective in monitoring children's progress or identifying gaps in their learning.  Information about children's progress and development is not always shared with parents.  Staff do not always use opportunities to effectively extend and challenge children's thinking and learning.  Self-evaluation and actions for improvements are not as sharply focused as they could be.

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It has the following strengths

 Children are happy and settled in the nursery. They have established good relationships with adults and are supported to develop positive friendships with other children. Their behaviour is good.  The management team displays a commitment to improving the overall quality of the provision and outcomes for children. It has worked hard to address all actions raised during the last inspection.  Older children are provided with good opportunities to develop their curiosity, investigation skills and understanding of the world.  Children are provided with a broad range of experiences outdoors that supports their learning across the seven areas.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To meet the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage the provider must:

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Due Date

 improve systems for assessment to ensure gaps in children's learning are swiftly identified 08/07/2016

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Due Date

 ensure information relating to children's progress and development is shared consistently with parents. 08/07/2016

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Due Date

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

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Due Date

 develop staff's questioning skills and provide more opportunities for children to be sufficiently challenged during activities  enhance self-evaluation to ensure all aspects of the provision are fully considered and that actions and improvements are sharply focused.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the manager. She looked at relevant documentation, such as the nursery's self-evaluation and evidence of the suitability of staff.  The inspector spoke to a small selection of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

Since the last inspection, there have been several changes implemented by the manager and some new additions to the staff team. The managers have begun to support staff more effectively through peer observations, supervision sessions and training. The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The provider and manager ensure robust recruitment procedures are now followed. Staff have been supported to develop their knowledge of safeguarding policies and procedures, including allegations against adults. Training has been identified to help develop the knowledge and teaching skills of staff. Changes to the outdoor environment have increased the learning opportunities available for children. The manager has reviewed the quality of the provision and identified some key priorities for improvement. However, systems for self-evaluation are not yet fully effective in ensuring all improvements are sharply focused.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

Staff have a variety of qualifications and experience. Some staff are more effective than others at extending children's thinking and learning. The manager has identified inconsistencies in staff's practice and is using different methods to support and coach staff. Observations of children's learning are completed regularly by staff and used to identify next steps in development. However, these are not shared consistently with parents to keep them well informed about their child's progress. Staff plan a suitable range of activities for children, considering their developing needs and emerging interests. Older children enjoy learning about life cycles and living things. The manager has recently introduced new systems for assessing and monitoring children's progress. However, these are not yet fully effective in identifying children who may require additional support. The new deputy manager has begun to identify some children who may be making less

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

progress than expected in their learning. She has worked with other professionals to secure interventions and put actions into place.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare require improvement

Children have regular opportunities to access the well-resourced outdoor area. This helps to support children's learning and promotes their physical development. Younger children have opportunities to explore the environment and engage in sensory activities. They experiment with water and find toy bugs that have been hidden in the sand. Staff encourage children to be independent and promote their self-help skills. Children enjoy serving themselves at lunchtime and discuss with staff the benefits of healthy eating. The key-person system supports children to settle into the nursery and feel secure. Staff collect information from parents to help understand children's personal routines and support their care needs.

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Outcomes for children require improvement

Overall, most children make steady progress in their learning. They are happy and engage in self-chosen activities. Staff support younger children to develop communication and language skills. Older children take part in phonics sessions and mark-making activities. These help to provide children with some of the key skills required for future learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY375074 Local authority Liverpool Inspection number 1032683 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Age range of children 0 - 11 Total number of places 52 Number of children on roll 75 Name of provider Aigburth Training Opportunities Date of previous inspection 22 September 2015 Telephone number 0151 708 7868

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Setting details

Little Explorers was registered in 2008. The nursery employs 20 members of childcare staff. Of these, six hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 and 11 at level 3 and above. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday for 51 weeks a year. Sessions are from 7.30am to 6pm.

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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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