Little Lambs Ltd

Little Lambs Ltd St Mary's Parish Rooms, 201 High Road, LOUGHTON, Essex, IG10 1BB

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 15 January 2018 4 November 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

 The manager supports her staff to develop their professional practice well. She achieves this by providing regular supervision meetings, training opportunities and reading materials that help them keep up to date with current childcare practice.  Very good attention is given to supporting children's language and thinking skills. Staff engage them in a wide range of conversations that interests them. For example, they ask the children why they think the chickens have not laid any eggs today. Staff extend children's vocabulary by introducing new words, such as 'thyme' and 'dill'.  Record keeping and monitoring of staff practice is very good. The manager ensures that policies and procedures are consistently updated in line with current legislation.  Children develop firm relationships with their key person, other staff and their peers. They show good levels of confidence and interact well with visitors. Children clearly

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This provision is good

explain that their favourite thing to do at the setting is the 'cupcake matching game'.  Parents describe the manager and her staff as 'professional and caring'. They are happy with the service provided and feel supported. Parents appreciate the information sheets that are sent to them each week.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 On occasion, some staff do not always help children to understand the consequences of their actions on others.  The manager has not found highly successful ways to involve all parents in supporting their children's learning at home.

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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

 explore further ways to support children's developing social skills consistently, reminding them of the consequences of their actions on others  find further ways to involve all parents in more focused support of their children's learning at home.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector completed a joint evaluation of an activity with the manager.  The inspector held a number of discussions with the manager, staff and children.  The inspector looked at relevant documentation, including evidence of the suitability of persons working with children. The inspector discussed with the manager and staff how they reflect on their practice.  The inspector took account of the views of parents through discussion provided at inspection.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. The manager assesses all risks to children and takes action to put measures in place to minimise potential hazards. Staff are supported to regularly refresh their knowledge and understanding of child protection. They know how to recognise possible signs of abuse and understand the procedures for reporting concerns about a child's well-being. There is a secure entry system and good staff deployment helps to ensure that children are unable to leave the building unsupervised. Staff recruitment procedures are robust. The manager ensure that all staff are subject to suitability checks. New staff are required to undertake an induction programme. This helps to support an understanding of their role and the settings policies and procedures. The manager carries out detailed ongoing evaluation of the service provided. She uses feedback from children, parents and staff to help her to identify future improvements effectively.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff make good use of planning to ensure that the indoor and outdoor environments provide a wide range of interesting and exciting activities. Children show high levels of confidence as they explore, investigate and make decisions about their learning. Those taking part in forest school are excited to learn how to make a paintbrush using natural materials. They are encouraged to use their senses to smell herbs and show good levels of determination as they work with staff to secure these to a twig. Children hold up their creation and proudly show others what they have achieved. They enjoy plenty of opportunities to develop their physical skills. For example, they use felt pens to draw a picture of a rainbow and spend prolonged periods of time precisely sticking a wide range of materials onto card. Children develop their imaginations well. They submerge a toy dinosaur in mud and tell those standing nearby that it is having a bath. When it is time to

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

tidy away, children put the dolls into bed and cover them with a blanket.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children are encouraged well to learn about and care for living things. They enjoy plenty of outdoor play. Children develop balance and coordination. They use their feet to propel themselves along in a sit-and-ride car and competently steer around obstacles. Children are encouraged to learn about and adopt good hygiene practice. They learn how to keep safe and respond well to staff who talk to them about being careful while walking down the stairs.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children, including those in receipt of funding, make good progress in relation to their starting points. They take part in craft activities that help to develop the small muscles in their hands needed for writing. Children are challenged effectively. They demonstrate good levels of perseverance and problem-solving skills. They are developing the range of skills needed to ensure that they are well prepared for their next stage in learning and move on to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY379912 Local authority Essex Inspection number 1104833 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 35 Number of children on roll 53 Name of registered person Little Lambs Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 4 November 2014 Telephone number 0208 5023893

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reference number

Little Lambs Ltd registered in 2008. The setting employs 15 members of childcare staff. Of these, 13 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above. The setting opens from Monday to Friday, during term time only. Sessions are from 9.15am until 2.45pm. The setting 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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