Little Explorers Nursery

Little Explorers Nursery Derby College, Broomfield Hall Campus, Broomfield Estate, Morley, ILKESTON, Derbyshire, DE7 6DN

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 25 November 2016 4 September 2013

p.1

This inspection: Outstanding 1

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Outstanding 1

p.1

This inspection: Outstanding 1

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding 1

p.1

This inspection: Outstanding 1

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding 1

p.1

This provision is outstanding

 The manager and leaders are extremely passionate, inspirational and committed to achieving and maintaining an outstanding provision. They and the staff team share an exceptional drive to support continuous improvement.  Children settle extremely well. Staff treat children with care and warmth at all times. They work superbly with their key children to provide excellent support. Children show very strong emotional security that reflects in their high motivation to learn.  Staff provide a vibrant learning environment. Children have exemplary learning opportunities to be active which significantly helps to enhance their physical and problem-solving skills. They participate in and enjoy an excellent range of outdoor activities, such as visiting places of interest and exploring the woodlands.  The strong focus on helping children to acquire excellent communication and language skills means that children are superb communicators and exceptionally confident. They

p.1

This provision is outstanding

are extremely well prepared for the next stage in their learning and school.  Staff give the utmost priority to children's safety. They have created a culture of vigilance. Staff use every available opportunity to help children develop an excellent awareness of their own safety and how to take calculated risks.  Children's behaviour is exemplary. Staff are calm and consistent in their expectations. They provide gentle but firm reminders when necessary to reinforce the clear boundaries. Children demonstrate highly advanced social skills and are kind and considerate of the feelings of others.  Partnerships with parents are remarkably strong. Staff work exceptionally well to include them in their children's learning. This very successful collaboration contributes to meeting children's needs and promoting very positive outcomes.

p.1

What the setting needs to do to improve further

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

p.2

What the setting needs to do to improve further

 continue to build on and enhance young children's already excellent hygiene skills and monitor the impact this has on helping them to extend their personal skills even further.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector held meetings with the management team and talked to the staff and children throughout the inspection.  The inspector gathered the views of parents through discussion on the day and by reviewing written comments.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector observed the quality of teaching and the impact on children's learning.  The inspector sampled children's learning records and planning.  The inspector checked evidence of suitability and qualifications of staff working with the children. She sampled and looked at some of the policies and procedures and the nursery's action plan.

p.2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

Leadership is inspirational and visionary. An accurate and well-targeted programme of professional development focuses on teaching and the impact on children. The manager uses self-evaluation extremely well to identify and maintain exceptionally high-quality improvements. She has fully addressed the recommendations raised at the last inspection and continually monitors and evaluates the outstanding practice. Safeguarding is effective. The manager has fully embedded the efficient and robust processes that help ensure all staff are suitable to work with children. All staff complete safeguarding training and have an excellent understanding of how to deal with any concerns about a child's welfare. The manager monitors individual and groups of children's progress meticulously and quickly identifies and addresses any learning gaps. For example, she has found that even though all young children who attend the nursery have good personal skills, some of the boys in

p.3

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

the toddler room could improve these even further. Wide-ranging partnerships with other professionals are well established.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

Staff track children's progress precisely and have an in-depth knowledge of their abilities. Children are extremely motivated learners who demonstrate high levels of curiosity and interest. They eagerly explore and engage in highly stimulating activities. For example, babies relish the experience of exploring pictures using an overhead projector. They giggle and laugh as they see the animals appear on the wall. This inspires them to sing songs about the animals and play with the farm. Staff plan superb activities that encourage children to investigate and solve problems, such as how to make leaf wands in the Forest School. Staff give children an excellent grounding in early mathematics. Children confidently use numbers for counting and recognise patterns in their play. Staff extend these skills in exceptional ways. For example, children in the pre-school learn about halves and quarters and use their skills to make zig-zag patterns.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Staff pay meticulous attention to meeting children's care needs. Children thrive in the affectionate bonds they create with the dedicated staff. They develop excellent self- esteem and flourish under the praise and encouragement they receive from staff. Staff promote healthy lifestyles extremely well. They provide activities, such as using real fruit in the role play and encourage plenty of outside play. Staff implement excellent procedures to maintain continuity for children as they transfer throughout the nursery and on to school.

p.3

Outcomes for children are outstanding

All children make excellent progress in their learning, including funded children. They are highly motivated, eager to explore and develop a real keenness for learning. They are extremely confident and independent learners who concentrate and persevere during activities. For example, they show incredibly high levels of concentration as they retell favourite stories and look at books independently. Children develop a range of skills which helps them be extremely well prepared for their next stage of learning and school.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY423778 Local authority Derbyshire Inspection number 1065662 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 54 Number of children on roll 108 Name of registered person Derby College

p.4

reference number

Date of previous inspection 4 September 2013 Telephone number 01332836620

p.4

reference number

Little Explorers Nursery was registered in 2011. The nursery opens from 7.30am until 6pm Monday to Friday, all year round except for bank holidays. The nursery employs 14 members of childcare staff. Of these, 11 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above, including two with level 4, four with level 5 and two with level 6. One member of staff has early years professional status. The nursery receives funding for free early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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