Little Stars Nursery

Little Stars Nursery Unit 3 Centurion Park, Caesars Way, Folkestone, CT19 4AH

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 10 June 2016 Not applicable

p.1

3

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

p.1

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

 Leaders do not always provide good supervision for staff. They do not monitor staff practice well to enable them to develop their skills and knowledge, and improve the overall quality of teaching to a consistently good standard.  There are occasions where staff are not deployed appropriately to ensure older children's learning needs are met in full. Staff interactions with older children are inconsistent.  Some staff supporting older children do not always engage them fully in activities that interest them, or hold their attention and motivate them to learn.  Staff plan few experiences that help children learn about their own and others' similarities and differences, and the diversity in their community.

p.1

It has the following strengths

 Children form close relationships with the staff that look after them. Staff are sensitive in supporting each child's personal care needs.  Children under two years of age benefit from good-quality teaching and assessment.  Management and staff have a sound knowledge of the procedures to follow if they are concerned about a child's welfare.

p.1

What the setting needs to do to improve further

To meet the requirements of the early years foundation stage the provider must:

p.2

Due Date

 provide individual staff with the supervision and coaching that they need to deliver consistently good-quality teaching 24/07/2016

p.2

Due Date

 ensure that staff are deployed effectively to meet older children's individual learning needs well, and to provide them with the support that they need to make good progress in readiness for school. 24/08/2016

p.2

Due Date

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

p.2

Due Date

 provide a wider range of experiences that reflect diverse backgrounds positively, including people with disabilities, to support children's understanding and respect of the differences between themselves and others  monitor children's progress closely to ensure that staff plan challenging activities that motivate all children to learn.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector had a tour of all areas of the nursery used by children, and checked safety.  The inspector observed the daily routine and practice, and discussed the nursery's organisation and management with its manager and owner.  The inspector read a sample of documents including the safeguarding policy, accident records and children's learning and development information.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector held discussions with the children, staff, parents and owner.

p.2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

Safeguarding is effective. The owner has recently appointed new staff and has secure recruitment procedures to check the suitability of staff. The manager takes some steps to monitor staff practice, such as through induction, support sessions and appraisals. However, these are not fully effective in ensuring that all staff have the knowledge and skills to extend children's learning and development. Staff are not deployed effectively to make sure that all children are purposefully involved throughout the day. Leaders are aware of these areas for improvement in the nursery. For example, they are in the process of changing to an electronic system to more accurately track children's progress to check that it is at least good. Staff carry out regular observations and identify next steps. However, activities for older children are not always sufficiently challenging to aid good progress. The manager has forged strong links with parents and other professionals to

p.3

Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

provide children with continuity of care.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

Staff encourage children to 'have a go' and they praise their achievements, for example, when they use a variety of puzzles. Staff help children to develop their language and communication skills. They ask them questions that aid them to think about what they are doing and predict what will happen next. Children have opportunities to explore using their senses. For example, they enjoyed listening to the sounds that the saucepans made when tapped with a spoon. Children have good opportunities to develop their interest in literacy, such as listening to stories. However, they have few resources or opportunities to help them to learn about different people and their local community.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare require improvement

Children learn about the importance of exercise and a healthy diet. Children enjoy outdoor play. They learn how to be kind to their friends. Children are confident to communicate their needs. For instance, younger children tell staff when they need to use the toilet. Staff collect information from parents to help children to settle in and to meet children's physical needs. Young babies move with confidence around well-organised play spaces; resources are within easy reach for them to make decisions about their play. Babies respond well to the individual attention they receive, for example, when learning to use the slide safely to support their physical development.

p.3

Outcomes for children require improvement

Children, including those who have special educational needs or disability, make suitable progress from their starting points. However, due to the variable quality of teaching, the older children's learning is not consistently extended to help them be well prepared for school. Nevertheless, children manage their personal care, so gain some appropriate skills.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY484432 Local authority Kent Inspection number 1005041 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 0 - 4 Total number of places 67 Number of children on roll 82 Name of registered person Kidz Planet Limited

p.4

reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 01303 277773 (option 3)

p.4

reference number

Little Stars Nursery registered in 2015 and operates in Folkestone, Kent. It is open Monday to Friday from 8am until 6pm, for most of the year. The nursery receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years. The nursery employs 17 members of staff, of whom 16 hold childcare qualifications at level 2 or above.

p.4

reference number

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.

p.4

reference number

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.

p.4

reference number

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/, write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.5

reference number

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our website for news, information and updates at www.ofsted.gov.uk/user.

p.5

reference number

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

p.5