Little Sprouts

Inspection of Little Sprouts Aylmerton Village Hall, Church Road, Aylmerton, Norfolk NR11 8QE

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Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

The quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement Personal development Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not applicable

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The provision requires improvement

Children have variable experiences at the nursery. Some younger children in 'Buttons' room do not always engage well in what is, at times, an uninspiring indoor learning environment. Some staff do not have high enough expectations of children. They do not enthuse children or provide them with rich and challenging learning opportunities that help them to develop a wide range of skills.

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The provision requires improvement

However, children thoroughly enjoy their time when playing outdoors. They are happy, busy and play imaginatively. They explore rolling balls down gutters and filling buckets with water. Older children in 'Brussels' room show high levels of interest in writing and sit in the role-play area writing lists. Staff follow children's interests well and encourage them to follow their ideas. This keeps children engaged for prolonged periods, for example, children make Santa sleighs and 'fly' them around the room, introducing a storyline as they play. This enhances their communication and language skills.

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The provision requires improvement

Children behave well and are kind to their friends. Older children help their friends to find resources they need to add to their play. Younger children are supported well by staff to learn how to share. Children show they feel safe and secure and build close attachments to staff.

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need to do better?

n Older children are enthusiastic learners. Staff support them well and provide a wide range of opportunities to help them to develop many skills. However, staff who work with the younger children do not challenge them consistently well when they play indoors. Some children engage only briefly, as staff do not seek to enhance or extend their learning. At times, children do not answer staff's questions, which are too advanced for their level of development. Despite this, when outdoors, teaching and learning is much more successful, as there are more interesting and enjoyable opportunities for children to immerse themselves in. n Staff do not plan the learning environment in 'Buttons' room well enough to capture children's imagination or curiosity in exploration. There are limited stimulating resources for children to access independently. Instead, staff choose what resources to get out when children show they are bored. This hinders

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need to do better?

children's independence and keen interest in a wide range of learning. n At times, staff do not follow rigorous good hygiene practice or teach children about the importance of good hygiene. Staff wipe younger children's hands after playing in messy play prior to them having snack, rather than encouraging them to wash their hands. When they eat, children sit on a rug which is dirty and marked. Some younger children drop food on the rug and then pick it up to eat.

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need to do better?

3 January 2020 Other children crawl on the floor while continuing to feed themselves with finger food. However, at lunchtime, all children sit in chairs and good hygiene procedures are followed. n Older children listen and respond to staff's requests, such as to tidy away their toys. Staff teach children to use appropriate strategies to manage sharing and turn taking for themselves. Children independently use a sand timer and wait patiently for popular resources. Younger children follow staff's suggestions as to how they can play cooperatively alongside their friends. For example, one child moved a water container closer to another child so that they could both use it. n The manager and deputy manager support staff well, some of whom are new to the nursery. The managers follow rigorous induction procedures so that staff are fully aware of the nursery policies and procedures. They have a cycle of regular

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need to do better?

meetings with staff to support their ongoing professional development. They give less qualified staff specific guidance and support to help them to improve their knowledge of how children learn and develop. n Staff provide children with healthy and nutritious food. They have secure procedures in place to manage children's special dietary requirements and allergies. Children have opportunities to be physically active outdoors, including going for walks in the local community.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff understand their responsibilities to report any concerns they have about children's welfare. They know the signs they must be alert to that may indicate a child is at risk of harm. The manager knows the procedures she must follow to report her concerns to the appropriate professionals. She checks on staff's understanding of safeguarding policies and procedures to ensure they keep their knowledge up to date. The manager follows safe recruitment procedures and ensures appropriate checks are completed on all staff so that only those suitable to work with children do so.

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Due date

improve planning of activities and the learning environment in 'Buttons' room, so that all children remain engaged, motivated and interested in challenging learning experiences 03/04/2020

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Due date

3 January 2020 improve the quality of staff's interactions with children, so that teaching is precisely targeted to children's individual needs and abilities, and supports their growing independence 03/04/2020

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Due date

ensure children's good hygiene is always promoted, with particular regard to the organisation of snack times and the spaces where children eat. 17/01/2020

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY550005 Local authority Norfolk Inspection number 10111306 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 34 Number of children on roll 34 Name of registered person Garratt, Rebecca Louise

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reference number

Telephone number 07775971420 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Little Sprouts registered in 2017. The nursery employs seven members of childcare staff. Of these, four hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above, including one with qualified teacher status. The nursery opens from 7.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, for 51 weeks a year. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector had a tour of the nursery and made observations throughout the inspection of children's experiences. n The inspector spoke with staff, children and parents at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the nursery owner, who is also the manager. n The inspector held a meeting with the nursery owner. n The inspector looked at a sample of nursery documents, including evidence of staff's suitability and training.

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Inspection activities

3 January 2020 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

3 January 2020 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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