Little Smarties Academy Limited

Little Smarties Academy Limited 218 Hamstead Road, Handsworth, Birmingham, B20 2RE

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 28 June 2018 2 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 promote equality and diversity very well. They have used parents' suggestions gathered through evaluation to provide opportunities for children and their families to come together at the nursery for celebrations, such as Eid. This helps children to share the customs of their own celebrations with other children who have different beliefs.  Staff quickly identify children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities. They discuss children's development with parents and swiftly seek additional help for children from other professionals. This helps to close gaps in their learning.  Staff plan effectively for children's interests and next steps in learning. The activities staff provide are innovative and children enjoy them. Staff support younger and older children to develop the skills they need for the next stage in their learning, including school.  Children's behaviour is good. Staff manage it effectively, such as introducing simple

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This provision is good

boundaries to young children, to help them understand the meaning of 'no'.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Leaders' monitoring is not fully robust. They do not identify and tackle minor inconsistencies in staff practice, specifically how effectively staff involve all parents in the assessment of their children's starting points.  Staff are not as highly skilled in supporting less able and less confident children to participate fully in group activities.

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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

 enhance the monitoring of staff practice to help tackle minor inconsistencies, especially in how well staff involve parents in identifying what their children know and can do when they start  strengthen teaching to skilfully support the less able and less confident children to increase their levels of engagement and motivation throughout activities.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact on children's learning.  The inspector spoke with staff and children during the inspection.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the manager and deputy manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the manager and deputy manager. He looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.  The inspector spoke to 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. The manager and provider follow safe recruitment procedures to help check staff are suitable. Staff effectively implement and understand all procedures relating to children's health, safety and welfare. They receive training and coaching to help them understand how to identify and report concerns for children's welfare. Any risks on outings and on the premises are minimised. Leaders monitor children's progress. They identify ways to reduce any differences in groups of children's learning, such as boys. For example, staff have attended training and used the knowledge and skills gained to reorganise resources and routines to better support boys' learning preferences. Staff have established effective partnership working with teachers at local schools to help share information and support continuity in children's future learning.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff working with babies provide interesting activities that encourage them to play and explore using their senses. For example, staff provided water and soil for children to explore in, and they encouraged children to make marks in the soil. Staff sang to children while they were playing in the water and children listened to the songs. Toddlers develop good speaking skills, including those who speak English as an additional language. Staff precisely focus their teaching to help these children to learn how to say single words and two-word sentences. They encourage children to be expressive in the garden, especially boys who prefer to learn outside. For example, staff provided children with instruments that they used to make sounds to songs. The staff working in the pre-school room focus strongly on helping children to develop skills for school. They provide daily opportunities for children to practise their early writing skills. Staff introduce simple concepts to children,

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

such as printing their paint marks from cling film onto paper.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff promote children's healthy lifestyles to a good standard. The home-cooked food provided to children is nutritious and varied. Each day children play outside to get exercise and fresh air. They particularly enjoy water play activities on a sunny day where they squeal with delight showing their great enjoyment. Staff carefully plan for when children start, move up to the next room and start school. At each stage they help children to feel secure about the move. The standard of care is good. Children have strong attachments to their base room staff. Attentive staff meet young children's needs particularly well. For example, they help and encourage children to feed themselves.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children make good progress in their learning. Older children are developing a secure understanding of time and the sequence of events, such as the life cycle of a frog. Babies develop good physical skills. They can grasp items, such as balls between their thumb and finger. Toddlers show an increasing awareness of the colour of different objects.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY467307 Local authority Birmingham Inspection number 1095463 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 47 Number of children on roll 60 Name of registered person Little Smarties Academy Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 2 February 2015 Telephone number 01216791355

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reference number

Little Smarties Academy registered in 2013. It is run by Little Smarties Academy Limited and is one of two nurseries operated by the same provider. The nursery opens Monday to Friday from 8am until 6pm all year round, except for bank holidays and one week at Christmas. There are eight members of childcare staff employed. Of these, one member of staff holds a relevant degree and seven hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. The nursery receives funding to provide free 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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