Little Gems Nursery

Little Gems Nursery Unique Enterprise Centre, Belfield Road, ROCHDALE, Lancashire, OL16 2UP

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 28 November 2016 24 January 2013

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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:

 The observations and assessments made of children's learning in some cases are not accurate enough to identify their next steps. Therefore, the manager and staff do not always have a clear picture of the progress children are making.  Staff supervision is not effective. Managers do not consistently monitor staff's practice to ensure their teaching is effective.  Teaching does not always ensure that children's learning is challenging enough. This is because some staff miss opportunities to use questioning to extend children's thinking during activities.  Staff do not consistently offer the same level of learning opportunities to children who prefer to play and learn outdoors as they do for those who prefer to be inside.

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It has the following strengths

 Staff are warm and welcoming. They form positive relationships with parents and they work well together to support children's emotional well-being.  Children have good opportunities to carry out a variety of personal care tasks and to become independent. For example, they enjoy helping to prepare their own snack and tidying away toys.  All staff are trained in first aid, contributing positively to promoting children's health and well-being.  The management team has begun to identify some strengths and weaknesses of the nursery and have a clear commitment to continuous improvement.

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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 the use of information gained from observations and assessments to target the next steps in children's learning 28/02/2017

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Due Date

 ensure that managers provide effective supervision of staff that helps them improve their practice. 28/02/2017

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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

 strengthen questioning skills that challenge children and help them think through new ideas and concepts  plan and provide more high-quality outdoor learning opportunities that enable children who prefer to play outdoors to learn in their preferred environment.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities in the play areas inside as well as the outside play space.  The inspector spoke to members of staff at appropriate times during the inspection and conducted a meeting with the manager.  The inspector carried out joint observations with the manager.  The inspector looked at children's assessment records and planning documentation.  The inspector took account of the views of parents spoken to on the day of the inspection.  The inspector looked at relevant documentation, such as the self-evaluation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

Managers have not put in place effective supervision for staff. This means managers do not oversee staff's performance to ensure their teaching is good. Safeguarding is effective. The manager and staff have a secure knowledge of the safeguarding and welfare requirements and regularly review any risks in the environment. Policies and procedures are implemented well. Managers ensure that all staff are trained in child protection procedures. The use of mobile telephones is not permitted. Risk assessments are completed and safety gates and secure doors prevent children from accessing unauthorised areas, such as the onsite cafeteria. Staff are deployed effectively and ratios are maintained at all times. This helps to keep children safe.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

Staff do not consistently provide sufficient challenge for children. They do not consistently question them to help extend their thinking during activities. This impacts on the overall quality of teaching and what children learn. Observations and assessments are not accurate enough to effectively identify the next steps in children's learning. This means staff are unclear about the progress some children are making. However, children benefit from a range of resources and activities which covers all areas of learning. Staff provide learning experiences for children that encourage them to play as soon as they arrive and to engage independently in their favourite activities. For example, children enjoy building a train track with their friends.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare require improvement

Staff do not plan effectively, so that children who prefer to learn outdoors have enough opportunities to learn in the environment. However, children are self-confident and enjoy their time at the nursery. The key-person system is effective. Children form secure attachments with their key persons. This helps them to settle well and contributes towards their emotional security. Staff are good role models. They play alongside children and actively encourage good behaviour. They manage children's behaviour positively through the use of praise. Staff help children sensitively to understand when some behaviours are not appropriate. Staff in the baby room sensitively support their needs by soothing them to sleep. Older children are encouraged to be independent, such as when they prepare their own snack. They ensure that children have healthy meals and are encouraged to understand and implement good hygiene practices. Staff support children's healthy

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare require improvement

lifestyles well. Staff have developed very good relationships with parents who speak positively about the care their children receive.

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Outcomes for children require improvement

Children do not make enough progress from their starting points. However, they are developing independence and self-confidence, as well as enjoying working with others. Overall, they are learning some of the skills needed in preparation for their move on to school. For example, children develop early literacy skills when supported to write their own names. Children are also supported and encouraged by caring staff to enjoy counting and to use mathematical language as they play.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY339580 Local authority Rochdale Inspection number 1064910 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 - 3 Total number of places 37 Number of children on roll 42 Name of registered person Kashmir Youth Project

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 24 January 2013 Telephone number 01706 516 609

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reference number

Little Gems Nursery was registered in 2007. The nursery employs nine members of childcare staff. Of these two hold an appropriate early years qualification at level 2, five at level 3 and one at level 5. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 8am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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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.

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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.

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

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