Little Stars Nursery

Inspection of Little Stars Nursery Fairchildes Children's Centre, Fairchildes Avenue, Croydon CR0 0AH

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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 Requires improvement

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The provision is good

Children enjoy the time they spend in this welcoming setting. They make good progress from their starting points because staff plan activities that support children's next steps in learning, including those of children with additional needs. Children settle quickly to their chosen activity. Children form strong bonds with caring staff. Staff promote children's communication and language skills well. For instance, they involve children in personal and engaging conversations and questions. However, staff are not as skilled as developing children's mathematical language and concepts. Children are happy, confident and motivated to learn. Children arrive with a smile on their face. They greet staff warmly and instantly begin to play and explore the resources on offer. Younger children are keen to be with their key carers as they sit together for breakfast. Children like to explore and develop their interests outside but, on the day of the inspection, older children's

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The provision is good

access to the outside area was limited. Children are happy when staff join them at their play, engaging in conversations. Children manage their feelings and behaviour well. They share, take turns and play harmoniously together. Staff have high expectations of children. They have a firm but fair approach to behaviour. As a result, children show respect to staff, visitors and their peers.

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need to do better?

n The manager provides the staff team with strong leadership. Procedures to evaluate and strengthen the quality of the nursery are well informed by assessment of children's achievements and observations of teaching and learning. Staff benefit from good-quality training. This helps them to improve their practice, such as in the promotion of children's communication skills and the use of sign language. The manager and staff team have made significant improvements since their last inspection. n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities benefit from targeted education plans and appropriate support. Staff work closely with parents and other professionals to meet children's specific needs and interests. n Staff observe children's interests and provide them with a range of stimulating activities. For example, younger children engaged in a 'what's in the bucket' activity to support their listening skills and enhance their communication and

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need to do better?

language development; older children engaged in conversations while working together in the construction area. Children confidently make decisions about their play; they can choose to select toyboxes that are clearly labelled with print and pictures. n Staff ensure children of all ages have opportunities to develop their early writing skills, making marks in a variety of media to develop their fine motor skills and to support their pencil control. n Staff strongly encourage the development of language and early reading skills.

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need to do better?

17 December 2019 Babies excitedly join in with action songs and rhymes. Toddlers anticipate words and phrase endings to familiar stories, which they repeat with staff. Older children enthusiastically share stories with their friends and staff and enjoy using books to find information about their interests. For example, children excitedly shared books about planes with staff and visiting adults, showing which was their favourite. n Staff's interactions with children are positive and effective overall. However, staff do not consistently support children to deepen their learning in some areas, particularly to extend children's early interest in mathematical language and concepts. 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 good communication with staff, and the resources in the lending library to support children's learning at home.

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need to do better?

n The manager gives high priority to promoting staff's well-being and the monitoring of their workloads. Room leaders have also attended training and are therefore able to support their team's well-being. n Children have access to a secure outdoor space. Younger children enjoy their time outdoors where they develop their physical skills, climbing on the slide and exploring natural materials. However, older children were not allowed to play outside because of rain, even though there is a suitable covered area. n Staff support children to acquire the skills they need for their future learning, including making a successful start to school life. For example, children develop confidence and resilience, they learn to listen well to others and follow instructions.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager and the staff team understand how to identify the signs and symptoms that could indicate a child is at risk. They clearly understand how to report any concerns about children's welfare or the behaviour of another adult. They have a broad understanding of wider safeguarding issues and how to identify and report any concerns. Robust recruitment procedures ensure that all staff are suitable. Thorough induction and ongoing support from the manager ensure staff remain alert to their responsibility to keep children safe. Staff are vigilant in their supervision of children. Continual risk assessment of the play areas, inside and outside, promotes children's safety.

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should:

n develop staff's knowledge and understanding of how to extend children's early

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should:

17 December 2019 interest in mathematical language and concepts n provide older children with opportunities for outside play during inclement weather, making use of the covered area.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY449944 Local authority Croydon Inspection number 10102527 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 69 Number of children on roll 98 Name of registered person Singers, Collette Mary

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reference number

Telephone number 01689 809365 Date of previous inspection 25 March 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Little Stars Nursery registered in 2012. It operates from the Fairchildes Children's Centre, in New Addington, in the London Borough of Croydon. The nursery opens each weekday from 8am to 6pm all year round, except for two weeks at Christmas. There are 19 members of staff, including the manager. Of these, the manager has a childcare qualification at level 4, other staff hold qualifications at level 2 and 3, and two staff are unqualified. The nursery provides funded early education to children aged two, three and four years.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector had a tour of the premises during a learning walk and observed the impact of teaching on children's enjoyment and development. n The inspector spoke with parents to gain an understanding of their views. n A joint observation of an activity was carried out by the inspector with the manager. n A meeting was held between the inspector and the manager. n The inspector spoke to staff and children and viewed their activities.

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Inspection activities

17 December 2019 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

17 December 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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