Little Lights Nursery

Inspection of Little Lights Nursery Rock Church Ministries, 336-338 High Street, Rochester ME1 1BT

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Overall effectiveness Good

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

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The provision is good

The manger and new staff team have made significant improvements in the nursery since the last inspection. They work closely with other professionals, follow their advice and guidance, and are committed to the ongoing improvement of the nursery.

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The provision is good

Children are confident and friendly. They hold conversations with visitors and encourage them to join in with their play and read stories. Children are kind and caring towards their friends. They notice when they are upset and independently seek solutions to make them happy. Staff offer regular and meaningful praise to children, which is helping children to develop positive self-esteem. Staff value children as individuals and ensure that diversity is celebrated. For instance, children take part in different cultural celebrations and festivals. This helps children to develop an understanding of the world around them.

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The provision is good

The manager and staff develop positive relationships with children, which contributes to children's well-being and helps them feel safe and secure at the nursery. Babies who are settling at nursery seek out staff for reassurance when they become upset. Children are developing their independence and self-care skills well. For example, they lay out plates and cups at snack time and scrape their plates after meals. Babies and young children sit with older children, who are positive role models, at mealtimes.

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need to do better?

n The manager and staff team understand how children learn and develop. Staff believe that children learn best from real experiences. For example, they know that enabling children to peel oranges at snack time will help them to develop the small muscles they need for when they are ready to learn to write. n Staff know the importance of promoting children's literacy. Children enjoy singing and dancing to familiar songs and sharing stories with staff. Some children are able to identify letters and the sounds they make, and they share this with staff as they read books together. n Older children are developing a good understanding about numbers and shapes. Staff include counting as part of everyday routines; children count cups at snack time, imaginary ice lollies and real potatoes in the home corner. Staff know when to provide additional challenge to children's learning as they encourage children to think about what number came before or what comes next. However,

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need to do better?

at times, not all staff ensure that younger children's interest is maintained and learning extended. This means, on occasion, young children leave the activities and wander to explore other areas. n Children are curious about the world around them. For example, outside, babies

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need to do better?

13 November 2019 explore the texture of leaves they have found, and older children investigate how to use real tools to 'fix' a bicycle. Staff are on hand to provide encouragement and assistance to children and ask appropriate questions to encourage children to think and find solutions. n The manager and staff team are aware that some children need extra support in developing their communication skills. The newly appointed special educational needs coordinator is aware of this and has plans to provide targeted support to help these children catch up in their learning. Staff hold significant conversations with children about what they are doing as they play with resources. Staff know how to extend children's language skills and introduce new words, such as 'crunchy' and 'gritty', as older children use their senses to explore dry couscous. n Parents are complimentary about the nursery. They feel informed about how

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need to do better?

their children are learning and developing. Staff have regular meetings with children's parents and provide them with ideas of what they can do at home to support their children further. n The manager has put in place effective induction procedures to ensure the members of the new staff team understand their roles and responsibilities. Staff feel that they are well supported by the managers and share their views on what improvements can be made with them. Staff have regular supervisions to review their practice and training needs.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager and staff team understand their role in protecting children. They are able to identify when a child may be at risk of harm and what action they need to take. They have recently completed training to ensure their knowledge is up to date. The manager and staff demonstrate an understanding of the wider safeguarding aspects and the impact this may have on children or their families. There are thorough procedures in place to check the suitability of new staff and to ensure they remain suitable to work with children.

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should:

n ensure that the needs of young children are considered in the planning of activities in order to increase their engagement and extend their learning further n focus teaching more precisely to support those children who need extra support in their language development.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY494219 Local authority Medway Inspection number 10112336 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 39 Number of children on roll 22

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Name of registered person

The Word House Christian Ministries Trustees

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reference number

Telephone number 01634829765 Date of previous inspection 24 May 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Little Lights Nursery registered in 2016 and operates in Rochester, Kent. It is open Monday to Friday from 7.30am until 6.30pm for most of the year. The provider receives funding for free early education to children aged two, three and four years. There are seven members of staff working at the nursery. Of these, six hold relevant early years qualification at level 3 and above.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector and manager completed a learning walk of the nursery to discuss how the manager ensures the curriculum meets the needs of the children attending. n Observations of children were completed by the inspector in the indoor and outdoor environments. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager to assess how well the quality of teaching is monitored. n The inspector spoke to parents, staff and children at suitable times and took account of their views. A leadership and management discussion was held between the manager and the inspector, during which the inspector sampled documentation, including evidence of paediatric first-aid training and staff suitability records.

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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

13 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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