Little Characters

Little Characters Brimington Methodist Church, Hall Road, Brimington, Chesterfield, Derbyshire S43 1GH

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Inspection date 13 August 2019 Previous inspection date 10 December 2015

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This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Good 2 Effectiveness of leadership and management Good 2 Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2 Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2 Outcomes for children Good 2

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This provision is good

n The manager and her deputy monitor the quality of teaching carefully. They provide staff with effective support to help develop further their already good teaching skills. n Children are happy and enjoy being at the nursery. They forge positive relationships with the staff, who are sensitive and caring in their interactions with children. Staff enjoy their work and morale is high. This helps to provide a welcoming and happy environment for the children. n Staff carry out regular checks of the environment to ensure it remains a safe place for children. They maintain the required adult-to-child ratios at all times to keep children safe. n The manager, who is also the owner, is ambitious and experienced. She evaluates the setting well and is working hard with staff to implement change. For instance, recent developments provide more opportunities for children who prefer to learn outdoors. n Staff build good links with other professionals, such as health visitors and the

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This provision is good

Reception teachers of local schools. This helps provide consistency in children's care and learning. n Parents speak highly of the nursery. They say that staff are welcoming and caring and get to know their children well. They appreciate the high quality of care and the wide variety of learning experiences provided. n Staff do not provide babies with enough opportunities to help them to explore using their senses and to develop their curiosity and creativity. n Staff do not make the best use of some opportunities to challenge older children's thinking and reasoning skills fully.

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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

n provide more opportunities for babies to explore and investigate to develop their curiosity and creativity n increase the opportunities for children to develop their thinking skills and solve problems, to help them to achieve even further.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector evaluated learning activities and staff practice with the nursery manager. n The inspector held a meeting with the nursery manager and her deputy. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. n The inspector spoke to some parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector spoke to children and staff at various times during the inspection.

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Effectiveness of leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff are able to identify signs and symptoms that may indicate a child is at risk of harm. They understand the wider issues around child protection. Staff are fully aware of what to do should they have any concerns about children's welfare. The manager and her deputy regularly track the progress of individuals and groups of children. They use this information to identify gaps in learning and to inform their plans for activities and experiences. The managers provide the qualified staff team with a good programme of professional development, including regular supervisions and training. Staff take good advantage of these opportunities to share new ideas to strengthen the quality of provision. This has had a positive impact, for example, on the outdoor learning environment and the support provided for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff work closely with parents. They gather information about children's interests and what they can already do when children begin settling into the nursery. Staff use this information to help inform their initial assessments and to plan activities that will engage and motivate children. Staff provide activities and experiences for children that promote an understanding of the world. For example, staff plant seeds with children who are interested in flowers and talk about how they will grow. Older children paint their own pictures of sunflowers talking about the 'petals, stems and seeds'. Babies enjoy regular walks in the local environment and staff point out different sounds, such as wildlife and road traffic. Staff repeat new words that young children say and use them in simple sentences or phrases, building on their vocabulary.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff play alongside children, modelling how to use different equipment. This helps to build children's self-esteem and encourages them to join in. Children behave well and are learning to share and take turns. They receive good support to understand the routines and boundaries, to promote their sense of security and emotional well-being. Children learn ways to keep themselves safe, for example when young children use scissors for the first time. Staff explain that the scissors are sharp and show children how to hold them in the correct way. In addition, staff talk to children about the importance of drinking water and wearing sun protection on hot days. Children are independent and make choices about their learning. They serve themselves at mealtimes and help to clear the table afterwards. They take pleasure in helping staff with tasks, such as setting the table for lunch and sweeping up crumbs after snack time.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children make good progress in relation to their starting points. Children's communication, language and literacy development is effectively promoted. Babies enjoy looking at a book together and turning the pages. Young children join in with familiar nursery rhymes. Older children make up their own stories using imaginative resources. For example, a large cloth becomes a river they need to cross. They acquire skills in preparation for their next steps in learning, including their move to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY435957 Local authority Derbyshire Inspection number 10106569 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Full day care Age range of children 1 - 10 Total number of places 30 Number of children on roll 65 Name of registered person Burnand, Joanne Louise

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 10 December 2015 Telephone number 07845040533

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reference number

Little Characters registered in 2012 and is located inside Brimington Methodist Church, Chesterfield. The nursery employs 11 members of childcare staff. Of these, one holds an appropriate early years qualifications at level 2, five hold level 3 and one holds level 5. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 7am until 6pm and the nursery offers before- and after-school care. 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.ofsted.gov.uk . 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 and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, 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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