Little Potters Childcare Services

Little Potters Childcare Services Little Potters Day Nursery, Littleworth Road, CANNOCK, Staffordshire, WS12 1JD

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 27 September 2017 6 August 2014

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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:

 Although overall staff are appropriately deployed, the key-person system does not fully support children's emotional development. Key persons do not always spend quality time with their key children. As a result, some children, particularly those who are new to the setting, become upset at times.  Despite the well-qualified staff team, the quality of teaching is variable. Not all staff use their knowledge to provide experiences that fully engage and motivate children to learn. Children do not always make good progress in their learning.  Staff do not consistently teach children effective hygiene routines and help them to understand how these contribute to maintaining their good health.  Staff do not organise some elements of the daily routine effectively. At times, children become restless as they are kept waiting while staff prepare activities or carry out daily tasks, such as preparing lunch.

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It has the following strengths

 Robust recruitment procedures and ongoing checks are in place to make sure that staff are suitable to work with children.  Children have plenty of opportunities to develop their physical skills. Staff provide a suitable range of resources that helps children to develop small- and large-muscle skills.  Parent partnerships are sound. Systems have been established to keep parents informed about children's care and learning. Staff work well with other professionals, including staff at other settings children attend.

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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

 implement an effective key-person system and ensure that every child's care is tailored to meet their individual needs and offers a settled relationship for the child 08/11/2017

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Due Date

 raise the quality of teaching to a consistently good level so that staff interactions challenge and extend children's learning effectively. 08/11/2017

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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

 improve the organisation of daily routines so that children are not left sitting for too long without being occupied  help children to develop a better understanding of appropriate hygiene procedures that fully promote their good health.

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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 a senior member of staff.  The inspector held a meeting with the nursery manager. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.  The inspector spoke to parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

There are some arrangements in place for the performance management of staff. However, these have not resulted in the quality of teaching being raised to a consistently good level. Nevertheless, managers supervise staff and they benefit from meetings and access to some training to develop their overall practice. The manager and staff reflect and evaluate on the overall effectiveness of the provision. For example, plans are in place for staff to attend more training to help develop their knowledge and skills further. Safeguarding is effective. Risk assessments are robust. The manager and staff implement a range of effective policies and procedures to underpin the safe and efficient running of the nursery. This includes, the security of the premises and the storage of confidential information. The manager and staff have a secure understanding of child protection procedures. Staff know the procedures to follow should they have a concern about a child

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

Staff are generally aware of children's current learning needs. However, the quality of teaching is inconsistent. Staff do not always interact well with children. Although staff sit with children as they play, they do not always give them enough support and challenge to extend their learning. Staff spend some time supervising children rather than engaging them in purposeful play. Staff make precise assessments of children's abilities and managers monitor children's progress well. These help to ensure any significant gaps in children's attainment are narrowing to some extent. Children have opportunities to gain different skills in their learning. For example, staff encourage children to use and recognise numbers as they play.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare require improvement

Most children settle well and are eager to play and learn. However, staff do not always support children to develop close bonds with their key persons. Children are not always supported by a familiar member of staff and key persons do not always spend enough time helping new children to settle in. At times, some children, including babies, are unsettled and upset. Staff do not always help children to understand or follow good hygiene routines, such as effective handwashing before meals. Staff help children to understand and follow the simple nursery rules, for example, they remind them to use 'kind hands'. Children behave well.

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Outcomes for children require improvement

Weaknesses in the overall quality of teaching mean that children are not consistently supported to reach their full potential. Children are gaining the basic skills to help prepare them for the next stages of their learning, including their eventual move on to school. Babies are beginning to take first steps with confidence. Early writing skills are emerging. Toddlers enjoy making marks with pencils and crayons. Pre-school children choose books independently, they turn pages and talk about what they see.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY448885 Local authority Staffordshire Inspection number 1114043 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 1 - 4 Total number of places 35 Number of children on roll 63 Name of registered person Claire Elizabeth Wigley

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 6 August 2014 Telephone number 01543428484

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reference number

Little Potters Childcare Services registered in 2012. The nursery employs 13 members of childcare staff. Of these, two hold qualifications at level 6 and 10 hold qualifications at level 3. The nursery opens Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6.30pm. 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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reference number

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

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