Little Footprints Day Nursery

Inspection of Little Footprints Day Nursery Thundersley Junior & Infant School, 2 Dark Lane, BENFLEET, Essex SS7 3PT

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

The quality of education Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Outstanding

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The provision is outstanding

Children are exceedingly eager to learn. They readily take on new challenges and become extremely confident and self-assured. The staff are skilled in knowing when to interact with children to enrich and add depth to their learning. Older children have superb opportunities to develop their early reading and writing skills. Babies and toddlers enthusiastically explore a variety of natural or sensory materials. They experiment and immerse themselves in trays filled with edible sand, shaving foam, play dough and spaghetti.

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The provision is outstanding

Children's behaviour is excellent. Staff support children to find ways to acknowledge and recognise strong feelings. For example, staff and children read stories, play games and look at pictures that show different emotions. Children confidently explain how they are feeling. They show great concern and kindness towards their friends. Staff expertly promote children's understanding of how to keep themselves healthy and safe.

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The provision is outstanding

Staff have the highest expectations for children's development. The learning environment is filled with stimulating and varied activities that inspire children's curiosity and desire to learn. Staff understand each child's individual character, motivation and capability. They use this knowledge successfully to implement individualised activity plans.

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need to do better?

n The utmost priority is given to ensuring that all children and babies are settled and feel completely secure in the nursery. Every child's transfer, from their home into the nursery, is carefully managed through a gradual introduction process. In addition, parents provide photographs of family members and familiar people or favourite items from home in a 'comfort box'. This gives children and babies confidence and a real sense of belonging when joining the nursery. n Children and babies experience consistently high-quality learning experiences throughout the nursery. Staff provide language-rich activities and constantly introduce new vocabulary. They use visual clues, objects and role play extremely well to help all children overcome communication and language barriers. Staff use carefully formed questions to develop conversations especially when encouraging children to recall past events in their lives.

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need to do better?

n Children are enthralled by both new and favourite stories. They act out what happens when a character flies on a 'jet-pack' and learn what it means to 'hatch a plan'. Children continually look at books for pleasure and often take storybooks home to share with their parents. n Children and babies thrive because there are superb arrangements for them to learn about healthy lifestyles. The routine allows plenty of opportunities for

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need to do better?

7 November 2019 energetic play, as well as time for relaxation or peaceful sleep. The nursery garden supports activities linked to all areas of learning. Children also benefit from the large open spaces in the school's playgrounds and playing fields. Sports instructors visit the children to help them build on their physical skills. n Managers and key persons work as a team to make sure all children learn exceptionally well. They keep an extremely close check on the progress each child makes. Children's achievements are frequently observed and assessed. Key persons use this knowledge successfully to share information with parents about their children's next steps in learning. n All staff show passion and enthusiasm for developing their teaching skills and caring for children. Reflective practice is at the core of everything that the nursery does. The managers and staff meticulously monitor and review their

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need to do better?

practice and the educational programmes. Staff continuously build on their qualifications and develop their experience. They join the school staff to develop their understanding of teaching phonics. Staff also complete training to inspire learning with the very youngest children in the nursery. This contributes to the high morale and dedication amongst the team. n Partnerships with parents are excellent. Parents are proud of the nursery and share overwhelmingly positive feedback. They say that staff are 'incredibly supportive' and 'go above and beyond to help in any situation'. Staff have forged extremely strong links with the nearby primary schools. This results in children settling into full-time education with confidence.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The directors and managers use an extensive recruitment and induction programme to ensure all staff are suitable to fulfil their roles. Staff have a thorough knowledge of child protection procedures. They take full advantage of training opportunities to deepen their knowledge. This includes gaining additional information about the potential influences on children regarding extreme attitudes and behaviour. All staff hold first-aid qualifications and can deal with emergency medical situations. Staff also have extremely close links with the local health visitors and there is a defibrillator on site, which staff are trained to use.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY447924 Local authority Essex Inspection number 10127284 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 0 to 4 Total number of places 70 Number of children on roll 102 Name of registered person Little Footprints Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01268795577 Date of previous inspection 11 April 2013

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Information about this early years setting

Little Footprints Day Nursery registered in 2012 and is run by a limited company. The nursery employs 27 members of childcare staff. Of these, three staff hold an appropriate early years qualification at level 5, 17 staff hold a qualification at level 3 and two staff hold a qualification at level 2. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. Opening times are from 7am until 7pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector and one of the managers completed a learning walk across all areas of the nursery to understand how the early years provision and the curriculum are organised. 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 carried out a joint observation with one of the managers and discussed the children's progress and achievements. n The inspector held discussions with the directors, managers, staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection. The inspector also spoke with the lead early years teacher from the on-site primary school. n The inspector looked at a sample of the nursery's documents. This included evidence about staff suitability and training. n The inspector took account of the views of parents spoken to on the day and from their written responses to surveys organised by the nursery.

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Inspection activities

We carried out this inspection 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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Inspection activities

7 November 2019 regulates and inspects to 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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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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