Little Owls Day Nursery

Little Owls Day Nursery Swimsmart House, Bradley Lane, Standish, WIGAN, Lancashire, WN6 0XQ

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 31 January 2017 5 September 2013

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:

 There are weaknesses in some staff's understanding of how to assess children's progress. Some staff do not use assessment information effectively to plan activities that challenge children in their learning. This means that some children do not make consistently good progress from the time they start at nursery.  Arrangements for staff supervision are not effective enough. Managers do not routinely check staff's understanding of any new procedures introduced, such as systems to track children's progress. This means that inconsistencies in practice have not been recognised and acted upon quickly to ensure all children make good progress.  Occasionally, during group play, some staff overlook younger, quieter children when extending their thinking and problem-solving skills.

p.1

It has the following strengths

 Children are happy and settled. They build strong emotional attachments to the nurturing staff, who are always on hand to offer praise and reassurance. This promotes children's confidence and self-esteem.  Clear procedures are in place to keep children safe. Managers carefully monitor adult- to-child ratios throughout the day to ensure children are well supervised at all times.  Staff ensure children have access to a wide range of different resources and activities, both indoors and outside, each day. Children enthusiastically choose what they would like to play with.  Parents speak highly of the care their children receive. Staff talk with parents on a daily basis about their children's routines and activities.

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

 ensure all staff understand how to effectively assess children's progress and use this information to plan challenging activities that help children to make good progress in all areas. 28/02/2017

p.2

Due Date

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

p.2

Due Date

 improve staff supervision arrangements that include assessing their understanding and consistent implementation of new procedures  ensure staff are attentive to the needs of younger children and challenge them to develop their thinking and problem-solving skills as they play.

p.2

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 spoke with staff and children during the inspection.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the deputy manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the deputy manager, area manager and provider. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.  The inspector spoke to a number of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

p.2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

Despite having systems in place to supervise staff practice, managers have not swiftly identified aspects of staff's teaching which require improvement. This means not all children make good progress from the time they first start at nursery. However, managers are committed to making further improvements to the quality of practice. They consult with parents when making changes to the nursery. The procedures for safeguarding are effective. Staff can identify the signs of possible abuse and are clear about who to contact should they have concerns about the welfare of a child. They ensure that any minor accidents are dealt with appropriately by staff with a first-aid qualification. Information is shared with parents when their child has an accident in nursery.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

Not all staff understand and use the nursery's systems for assessment and planning well. Some staff focus intently on ensuring any gaps in children's learning are addressed before planning challenging activities to extend their learning in other areas. This limits the progress some children make from the time they start at nursery. That said, staff play alongside children, providing effective support as they carefully introduce new resources and activities. They introduce new words to help extend children's vocabulary. For example, staff use words, such as sparkle and shake, as babies play with musical instruments. Older children learn to count and talk about how colours change as they mix paint. Staff use a range of strategies to support children who speak English as an additional language. However, some staff in the recently developed room for children aged two to four years overlook quieter and younger children. They do not consistently

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

use opportunities to develop younger children's thinking and problem-solving skills.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare require improvement

Weaknesses in some staff's understanding of planning challenging activities mean that the learning needs of some children are not being consistently met. For example, children sometimes lose interest in activities which they do not find challenging enough. However, staff are good role models and manage children's behaviour well. They effectively encourage children to develop their independence skills. For example, children serve their own food at lunchtime and pour their own drinks. Staff ensure that care practices are tailored to each child's needs. They work in partnership with a range of outside agencies when supporting children who have special educational needs or disabilities.

p.3

Outcomes for children require improvement

Some children do not make enough progress over time. Inconsistencies in the use of assessment mean that some children, such as those who receive additional funding, are not effectively supported to make the best progress possible. However, overall, children are curious and confident learners. They learn to share, take turns and negotiate with their friends. These skills help to prepare children for what they need to learn next, including their eventual move to school.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY445849 Local authority Wigan Inspection number 1083310 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 - 5 Total number of places 101 Number of children on roll 82 Name of registered person St Bede's Childcare Limited

p.4

reference number

Date of previous inspection 5 September 2013 Telephone number 01257423606

p.4

reference number

Little Owls Day Nursery was registered in 2012. The nursery employs 15 members of childcare staff. Of these, 10 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above, including one with early years professional status. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded 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