Little Legs Nursery

Little Legs Nursery 43 High Street, SITTINGBOURNE, Kent, ME10 4AW

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 31 August 2017 2 February 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:

 Some staff working with younger children are not as aware of what constitutes a potential hazard within the environment as other more vigilant staff.  The quality of teaching is variable. Staff do not extend older children's learning in order to challenge them and help them make good progress.  Children are not given sufficient opportunities to extend their mathematical skills and knowledge.  Self-evaluation is not effective in identifying all areas for improvement.

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It has the following strengths

 Partnerships with parents are effective. For example, parents are informed about children's activities and achievements through the use of daily contact sheets and exchanges of information. This helps parents to support children's learning at home.  Children play in a well-resourced, welcoming environment. They have easy access to a wide range of toys, inside and outside, which supports their learning, independence and interest.  Management and most staff have a clear understanding about their role in safeguarding children and are aware of the action to take and whom to contact should they have any concerns regarding children's welfare.  Children and babies have regular opportunities to develop their senses through exploration. For instance, they experiment with a wide range of creative materials, such as gluing and sticking using a range of different textured papers and sequins.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

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

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Due Date

 improve all staff's awareness of what constitutes a hazard within the nursery, especially in the baby room 01/10/2017

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Due Date

 develop staff skills, knowledge and practice further throughout the nursery, to ensure older children receive consistently good-quality teaching experiences that help them make the best possible progress. 01/10/2017

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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

 make the most of opportunities to develop children's interest in mathematics to extend their learning further  strengthen the use of self-evaluation to identify weaknesses in practice, in order to target areas for improvement and raise outcomes for children.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector sampled a range of documents, including safeguarding policies and procedures, and children's learning and development information.  The inspector observed children's play indoors and outdoors, and spoke to staff and children at appropriate times throughout the inspection.  The inspector discussed with the provider, area manager and manager about their plans for the future of the nursery.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector took into account the views of a parent she spoke to on the day of the inspection as well as written information from other parents.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

Safeguarding is effective. The management and staff are aware of any signs that may cause concerns about a child's welfare. They have written risk assessments in place. However, some staff working in the baby room are not as quick as others to identify every potential hazard that occurs during the day. The management follow thorough induction procedures to help staff taking on new roles, to ensure they are supported fully. The new manager is working closely with the provider, staff and parents to evaluate the provision and make improvements. However, she has not identified and addressed all weaknesses. For example, not all staff use their knowledge and skills to deliver good-quality teaching and learning experiences. The manager monitors children's development and progress to help identify any gaps in learning for staff to address. Suitable use is made of additional funding to help improve outcomes for children. The manager has strong links with other

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

early years professionals to provide a continuity of care and learning for children.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

Staff use observations and assessments to identify children's next steps in learning and plan activities that interest them. For example, children enjoy using paint brushes and water to make marks and develop their early writing skills. However, staff do not consistently extend all children's learning or provide challenge as they develop their mathematical skills. Staff provide children with opportunities to learn about the world around them. For instance, they explore their local community, in particular children like to visit the animals in the pet shop.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare require improvement

Staff provide children with healthy nutritious meals and are fully aware of how to meet the needs of children who have food intolerances or allergies. Children have daily opportunities to explore the outdoor environment. For instance, they play in the garden as well as visiting local play parks to use large play equipment. However, at times some staff do not sufficiently risk assess the areas used by babies to enable them to freely play and explore in an environment where all potential hazards are swiftly identified and removed or minimised,. Children's behaviour is good and appropriate for their age. Staff help children to value their own and other people's differences.

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Outcomes for children require improvement

Overall, children make suitable progress. However, due to the variable quality of teaching, older children's learning is not extended to help them make consistent progress. Children are confident and eager to develop their physical skills. For instance, babies enjoy climbing on the soft play equipment in the garden, while older children use hoops and the climbing frame to develop their movement and coordination. Children learn to manage their self- care routines in readiness for the next stage in their learning and their eventual move to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY460281 Local authority Kent Inspection number 1085971 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 - 4 Total number of places 46 Number of children on roll 54 Name of registered person Little Legs (Colchester) Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 2 February 2015 Telephone number 01795 227552

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reference number

Little Legs Nursery is owned by Little Legs (Colchester) Limited. The nursery registered in 2013. It operates in Sittingbourne, Kent. The nursery is on two floors and there are steps up to the main entrance. The nursery is open each weekday from 7.30am to 6pm for most of the year. The provider receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years. There are 11 members of staff, of whom eight hold relevant early years qualifications at level 3, one member of staff holds a level 2 qualification and one staff member holds a relevant degree. The staff team includes a cook.

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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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