Little Smarties Academy

Little Smarties Academy Little Smarties Academy, 363 Rocky Lane, Great Barr, BIRMINGHAM, B42 1NG

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 12 December 2017 20 February 2015

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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

 Staff use what they know about children to challenge them effectively in their learning. They observe and assess children's progress, and planning for future learning is based on a good knowledge of each child's stage of development.  Children's emotional security is initially addressed with a gradual settling-in procedure that is agreed with parents. Changes when children move throughout the nursery are well planned. The names of new key persons are shared with parents to ensure consistency with information sharing.  Teaching is tailored to children's individual interests and next steps. Parents are involved in decisions about their child's learning, as staff share information with them to help them guide their child's learning at home.  Staff are enthusiastic role models and children enjoy their company. They understand staff's expectations, the rules of the setting and they behave well. Children

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This provision is good

demonstrate good levels of independence and self-esteem.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Occasionally, staff follow routines too strictly, which does not encourage children to explore and learn at their own pace.  Management does not seek detailed views from parents about the quality of the provision, to help focus more precisely on promoting the best possible outcomes for children.

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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

 review and improve some elements of the daily routine to minimise the disruption to children's play and learning.  refine the self-evaluation process to include the views of parents, to help focus more sharply on extending practice even further.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities and the quality of teaching, indoors and outdoors.  The inspector spoke to members of staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection.  The inspector held a meeting with the cover manager and completed a joint observation with the cover manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the management team. She looked at relevant documentation, such as policies and procedures, and evidence of the suitability and qualifications of staff working in the nursery.  The inspector spoke to a number of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. Staff have a very clear understanding of their responsibility to follow the safeguarding procedures in the event that they have a concern about a child in their care. There are five delegated staff with roles and responsibilities to lead safeguarding within the setting. They also have a good awareness of the wider issues in the care and protection of children. The manager follows effective recruitment procedures to check staffs suitability to work with children. Staff use partnerships with local schools and other early years providers effectively to ensure continuity in children's care and learning. The premises are safe and secure with electronic systems in place to monitor them. The manager provides ongoing support to staff and monitors their individual practice well. Together, they identify potential training to benefit and extend teaching standards across the nursery.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The staff ensure that effective systems are in place to gather information about children's starting points when they join the nursery. This enables staff to plan and provide enjoyable activities for the children that help them make progress and develop from the start. Children are motivated in their play and readily participate in a broad range of activities. They thoroughly enjoy creative activities. Children enthusiastically create Christmas cards and decorations for the Christmas tree. They have great fun playing with snow, exploring the texture and investigating what happens when it melts. Children observe the change as water that is mixed with food colouring is sprayed on snow. They name colours correctly, use the snow to make shapes and moulds with different shaped cutters, and talk about the snow being cold and melting. Staff provide children with opportunities to develop their listening skills. Staff encourage children to read and enjoy

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

books, and children recite familiar phrases in popular stories.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children's emotional well-being is well supported in this small, friendly setting. Staff provide a safe, well-organised and welcoming environment for children. Staff help children to adopt a healthy lifestyle. They encourage healthy eating and support children to be physically active both indoors and outdoors. Children join in daily exercise session where they dance and move their bodies to music. The relationships between staff and children are strong. Staff promote children's self-esteem through acknowledging and praising positive behaviour and by awarding them with stickers and high fives.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children make good progress and are well prepared for the next stage in their learning. Children develop good reading and writing skills. For example, they register themselves each day by finding their names and they learn about the sounds at the start of words. Children are sociable and confident learners who enjoy the challenges on offer. They recite favourite songs and rhymes, learn how to count and are developing a keen interest in books.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY152795 Local authority Birmingham Inspection number 1091305 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 1 - 4 Total number of places 26 Number of children on roll 31 Name of registered person Tasmiya Ahmed

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 20 February 2015 Telephone number 0121 358 0481

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reference number

Little Smarties Academy registered in 2002 and is privately owned. The nursery opens Monday to Friday, from 8am to 6pm, all year round, with the exception of bank holidays. The nursery employs six members of childcare staff. Of these, one holds a degree in early years and five staff hold early years qualifications at level 3. 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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