The Little Academy Day Nursery

The Little Academy Day Nursery Tillotson Road, Off Headstone Lane, Harrow, Middlesex, HA3 6PS

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 16 November 2017 16 July 2014

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This inspection: Good 2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

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This provision is good

 All babies and children benefit from a welcoming and inclusive environment. They settle well into daily routines and play together in harmony. Children's behaviour is good.  Managers and staff check children's progress to address any gaps in their learning. All children make good progress in relation to their individual starting points. Staff prepare children well for the next stages in their learning, including for starting school.  Babies have space to develop their physical skills ably. They learn to crawl and walk in a safe environment.  Partnerships with parents are strong. Staff have detailed information about the progress individual children make. Overall, they keep parents fully informed about their children's progress and well-being and involve them in planning for their children's next steps.  Parents are delighted with the good progress their children make and appreciate the good support they receive from this caring team.

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This provision is good

 Managers continually monitor and evaluate the quality of the provision to help ensure that children receive good care, learn and develop well.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Occasionally, staff do not provide enough opportunities for older children to practise their early writing skills.  Staff miss some opportunities to offer further experiences for children to access and develop their skills in using everyday technology.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

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

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

 provide more opportunities to help older children develop their early writing skills  increase access to information and communication technology to help children to use technology and develop their skills more effectively.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities in all parts of the nursery, including the outdoor provision.  The inspector spoke to some members of staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection, and held meetings with the management team.  The inspector carried out joint observations with the manager.  The inspector took account of the views of parents spoken to during the inspection and reviewed parents' written comments and suggestions.  The inspector looked at children's records, planning documentation and the nursery's policies and procedures, including those related to the suitability of staff.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. The provider conducts the vetting checks on all staff to ensure that they are suitable to work with children. Managers and staff have reviewed their safeguarding policies and procedures. They are clear about the steps to follow if they have any welfare concerns about a child or a member of staff. Managers observe staff and offer them specific feedback to help them improve the quality of their work. Staff attend additional training and share their knowledge with other staff to benefit children's learning. For example, they help children to use creativity in their play and encourage them to talk about the resources they used and the work they created. This area has shown improvement since the previous inspection. Managers seek the views of staff, parents, children and others to improve their service continually.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff gather relevant information from parents about what their children know, can do and need to learn next. They use this information along, with their ongoing observations, to establish children's starting points in their learning. Staff provide interesting activities and resources to motivate children to learn. They explain activities well to children and show them how to handle resources with care. Children have positive attitudes to learning. They thoroughly enjoy their learning. For example, they build models purposefully and show their work to staff who praise them for their good work. Staff introduce children to stories. Children confidently talk about their favourite pictures and characters. Staff liaise effectively with outside professionals to seek further support for children. They work well with other early years providers when the time comes for children to move on.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff are good role models for children. For example, they support children's social and emotional skills to good effect. Staff share their policies and procedures with parents and children so that they know what is expected. Children learn to share toys, take turns fairly and respect the views of others. Babies learn to socialise with others. Staff help children develop good healthy eating habits. For example, children know that milk and fruit are good for them and learn to serve themselves. Staff undertake regular and thorough checks of the premises and for outings to keep children safe and secure.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children make good progress and any gaps in learning are closing. Babies learn new words and explore resources safely. Children are confident to climb the apparatus and coordinate well on the stepping stones. Older children count objects, recognise numerals and develop good mathematical skills to solve problems. Children enjoy investigating natural resources, such as compost, while using digging tools.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY306769 Local authority Harrow Inspection number 1070677 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 0 - 5 Total number of places 60 Number of children on roll 51 Name of registered person The Little Academy Ltd

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 16 July 2014 Telephone number 020 8421 2128

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reference number

The Little Academy Nursery registered in 2005. It is situated in Hatch End in the London Borough of Harrow. The nursery is open Monday to Friday from 7.30am to 6.30pm and operates for 51 weeks of the year. The provider receives funding to offer free early education for children aged two, three and four years. There are 15 members of staff. Of these, one holds qualified teacher status and 12 staff have relevant qualifications ranging from level 2 to level 5.

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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

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reference number

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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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