Little Learners Nursery School

Little Learners Nursery School Inside Total Fitness, 53 Liverpool Rd, Chester, Cheshire, CH2 1AQ

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 22 February 2018 17 October 2016

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Inadequate 4

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Inadequate 4

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This provision is inadequate

 Leaders do not ensure all safeguarding and welfare requirements are met in relation to space requirements and staff deployment. This compromises children's safety and welfare.  Some care routines are not organised well enough to meet children's needs and ensure their safety and well-being.  Records relating to daily registers do not always include children's full names when children move between rooms or planned activities. This compromises children's well- being.

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It has the following strengths

 Leaders show the capacity to address weaknesses and put things right.  Teaching is strong. Staff accurately assess children's skills and devise individual plans to support children to achieve their next steps in learning. Children enjoy the wide variety of stimulating activities on offer and make good progress in their learning.  Staff work particularly well with parents and other professionals to make sure children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities get the support they need.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To meet the requirements of the early years foundation stage and the Childcare Register the provider must:

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Due Date

 ensure indoor space requirements are met at all times and rooms are organised to meet children's needs 08/03/2018

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Due Date

 ensure staff are consistently well deployed to supervise children and ensure their safety and well-being 08/03/2018

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Due Date

 take all reasonable steps to ensure children are not exposed to risks, particularly during meal and sleep routines 08/03/2018

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Due Date

 ensure an accurate daily record of children being cared for is maintained at all times 08/03/2018

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Inspection activities

 This inspection was carried out as a result of a risk assessment, following information Ofsted received about the provider.  The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector spoke to staff and children and completed a joint observation with the deputy.  The inspector held discussions with the leadership team. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.  The inspector spoke to some parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

Safeguarding is not effective. Leaders do not always ensure that space requirements and maximum room occupancy levels are adhered to. They do not ensure staff are consistently well deployed to supervise children and meet their needs. At times, some rooms become overcrowded with too many children for the available space. Daily registers do not consistently show children's full names when they move between rooms or planned activities, such as football. That said, leaders know how to manage any safeguarding concerns about children's welfare. They show a strong commitment to supporting staff's ongoing professional development, for instance, through regular supervision, reflective practice and online training. Systems for self-evaluation are in place. Leaders robustly monitor the quality of teaching and children's learning. This has a positive effect on children's development and progress.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Several members of staff are highly qualified. They model skilful teaching and mentor new staff to help them develop their skills. Staff make good use of their ongoing training, for instance, in autism, to increase their skills and improve experiences for children. Staff facilitate children's play and learning well. For instance, during water play activities, they give children plenty of opportunities to work together, think for themselves and problem solve. Staff use effective ways to communicate and engage with parents and keep them well informed. Parents share positive feedback, particularly about the staff. Parents say, 'Children have a great time and enjoy lots of messy activities'.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are inadequate

Weaknesses in leadership and management have a significant impact on children's safety and well-being. Poor practice during lunch and sleep routines expose younger children to risks. For example, staff put some children to sleep with a bottle. They do not closely supervise children when they eat food and they let children wander around drinking from a beaker. Children have positive relationships with staff. They enjoy free access to outdoor play and engage in physical activities in the sports centre, such as swimming and football. Staff manage children's behaviour well. They remind children to be polite and patient and they praise them for showing good listening skills.

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Outcomes for children are good

Most children, including those who receive funding, make good progress from their individual starting points. They develop a range of skills to support their eventual move to school. For example, babies develop their exploratory skills when they play with the musical instruments. Toddlers show excitement when they dance to music and learn to balance. Older children begin to develop their understanding of mathematics, using simple calculation to work out how many cubes they have when they add one more. Children of all ages practise mark-making skills and have many opportunities to enjoy sensory experiences, for instance, using paint, flour and oats.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY490294 Local authority Cheshire West and Chester Inspection number 1125623 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 - 5 Total number of places 82 Number of children on roll 172 Name of registered person Nursery Schools Europe Ltd

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 17 October 2016 Telephone number 01244 421564

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reference number

Little Learners Nursery School registered in 2015. The nursery employs 30 members of childcare staff. Of these, 27 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above, including five with level 6 qualifications, one with early years professional status and two with qualified teacher status. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 7am until 6pm. 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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