Little Learners

Little Learners 67 Stockport Road, Denton, Manchester, M34 6NB

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 5 December 2017 Not applicable

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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

 The management team is experienced, committed and extremely enthusiastic about continually raising the quality of the nursery. They have appointed a group of parents who act as ‘parent representatives’. They help to gather the views of parents and play an active role in making positive changes.  The support in place for children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities is excellent. The management team is proactive in forming partnerships with external agencies and they act swiftly on advice and support given.  Staff throughout the nursery use consistent strategies to promote positive behaviour. For example, they use picture cards displaying emotions and use phrases, such as ‘kind hands’ to help children to understand how to be gentle. Children’s behaviour is good.  Staff observe children’s play and make good use of their interests to plan challenging activities. Parents are involved in children’s assessments from the start. For example,

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This provision is good

children take bags home, such as storybooks with props and cards that inform parents of the learning intentions. This shared approach contributes to the good progress that children make.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The systems to monitor staff practice are not yet robust enough to help to raise the overall quality of practice to the highest achievable levels.  Sometimes, the organisation of large-group activities in the pre-school room result in some children being distracted and not fully engaged in their learning.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities and free play, indoors and outside. She assessed the impact this has on children’s learning.  The inspector held a meeting with the nursery manager who is also the registered person and the two deputy managers. She viewed a range of documents, including policies and procedures and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.  The inspector spoke to staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection.  The inspector spoke to a number of parents during the inspection. She also viewed written feedback from a range of external agencies provided prior to the inspection. The inspector took account of their views.  The inspector observed a planned activity and jointly evaluated it with the nursery manager.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Systems for the safe recruitment of staff are in place and staff benefit from a comprehensive induction process. The manager is committed to ensuring that staff remain suitable for their roles. She asks staff on a regular basis to confirm their ongoing suitability status. Safeguarding is effective. The safeguarding policy is comprehensive and staff are trained to understand their roles in safeguarding. Staff are knowledgeable about how to identify any signs of concern about children’s safety or welfare. They are confident in local reporting procedures. Overall, the manager supports staff well. Staff attend regular supervision sessions where they have the opportunity to discuss their professional development plans and children’s progress. The manager has developed good systems to monitor children’s progress. She highlights areas in particular that would benefit from some additional support. For example, she identified a need to extend children’s speaking

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

skills further within the nursery. She implemented a monitoring system to help to identify quieter children. This has helped staff to support these children more effectively and has had a positive impact on children’s speaking skills.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Younger children enjoy outdoor play where they make marks in foam using potato mashers. This helps them to develop their coordination and small-muscle skills. Two-year- old children concentrate as they explore water play. Staff help them to learn about different concepts, such as floating and sinking. Children become excited and are eager to test out their ideas. Staff challenge older children to hear the initial letter sounds in words, such as ‘snowman’. Children identify and think of other words that start with the same letter. This helps them to develop early literacy skills. Staff in the pre-school place a strong focus on children’s mathematical development. Children are challenged to count the steps up to their room after outdoor play. Additionally, they use weighing scales to talk about measurements and quantities of the ingredients during baking activities.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

All children are happy and settled and have formed good bonds with their key person. They are confident in their surroundings. Care practices for children are specific to the needs of the child. Parental preferences are incorporated, such as where they would like their child to sleep. Children have an excellent understanding of their bodies and how to keep healthy. They talk about the types of food that give them energy and staff teach them that milk provides them with calcium, helping them develop strong bones.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children, including children for whom the nursery receives additional funding, make good progress. Children are well prepared for their move on to school. For example, two- year-old children are already developing good pencil control as they attempt to write their names on Christmas cards. All children are prepared for their next stage in learning. Younger children enjoy listening to stories and join in with singing and rhyme sessions.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY494687 Local authority Tameside Inspection number 1029927 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 - 0 Total number of places 44 Number of children on roll 0 Name of registered person Rachel Louise Harding

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reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 07961461820

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reference number

Little Learners re-registered in 2015. The nursery opens from 7.30am until 6pm, however they offer an earlier opening time of 7am upon prior arrangement. They operate Monday to Friday all year round, with the exception of bank holidays. The nursery employs 10 members of childcare staff. Of these, three members of staff hold a qualification at level 5, five hold a qualification at level 3 and two hold a qualification at level 2. 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

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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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