Little Oaks Day Nursery & Childcare @ Carcroft

Inspection of Little Oaks Day Nursery & Childcare @ Carcroft Carcroft Primary School, Owston Road, Carcroft, Doncaster, South Yorkshire DN6 8DR

p.1

Overall effectiveness Good

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

p.1

The provision is good

Managers and staff have a very strong focus on ensuring that children are happy and safe. They aim to provide a 'secure base' for children to help them to develop confidence and self-assurance in readiness for learning. Children thrive in the care of highly attentive and nurturing staff. They know children well, and value the uniqueness of each one of them. This helps children to develop a very positive self- image and to understand and respect one another. Their very good behaviour is supported well by staff, whose expectations are high and consistent. Children tell visitors, 'It's nice to be nice'.

p.2

The provision is good

Children are keen to learn. They enjoy a good range of creative activities, such as colour mixing with rainbow-coloured rice. However, staff have not considered even more effective ways to respond to children's emerging interests during play. For example, children who show an avid interest in pretend play do not have enough space and resources to support their ideas and fully extend their learning.

p.2

The provision is good

Parents are overwhelming happy with the services staff provide, which they describe as 'absolutely fantastic'. They are particularly complimentary about how staff support children at times of change, for example when moving to a new room in the nursery. They describe staff as very caring and say that they know children inside out.

p.2

need to do better?

n Evaluation of practice is robust and includes the views of parents, staff and children. This leads to effective improvements, such as stronger partnerships with parents. Staff now give them more ideas to extend their children's learning at home. n Staff are supported very well, and morale is high. This contributes to the very positive atmosphere in nursery. Staff are eager to build on their knowledge and experience. For example, they attend training and observe one another to share their strengths. This helps to enhance the quality of teaching. n The key-person system is highly effective and contributes to the detailed plans intended to help children to build on their knowledge and skills. All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), achieve well. Children who speak English as an additional language develop good communication skills in preparation for later learning. However,

p.2

need to do better?

occasionally, some activities lack a higher level of challenge to help the most able children to learn even more. n Children develop good language skills. Older children learn new words during engaging and exciting story times. Babies copy single words and animal sounds while playing with a farm activity that staff have prepared.

p.2

need to do better?

12 March 2020 n Staff use what they know about children to plan appealing experiences that children enjoy. However, there is scope for them to be even more responsive to children's interests during activities. At times, staff do not support children to fully develop their ideas during play or, occasionally, children lose the interest to participate when opportunities are limited. n Partnerships with other professionals contribute to a shared approach to children's care and learning. This is particularly effective for children with SEND. Teaching is tailored precisely to their individual needs and every small achievement is recognised and celebrated. Children develop high levels of self- esteem and successfully build on their abilities. n Children develop a very good awareness of healthy lifestyles. Staff teach them how to wash their hands thoroughly and to dispose of tissues safely. They provide plenty of opportunities for fresh air and exercise, and closely monitor

p.2

need to do better?

menus to ensure that children's nutritional needs are met precisely. n There is an effective balance of planned activities and opportunities for children to make choices in their play. Younger children choose from resources that they can access themselves. Older children plan their play during a ring game at the start of each session. Staff later help children to remember what they have learned, for example by encouraging them to share their day with their friends. n Children are supported extremely well to be kind and considerate. They spend time with adults with SEND and older people in the community. This helps them to understand and appreciate the different needs and experiences of others.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

Recruitment procedures are robust, and ongoing checks help to ensure that all staff remain suitable for their roles. Managers keep their knowledge of safeguarding legislation and guidance up to date and share information regularly with staff. This contributes to staff's good knowledge of how to identify children at risk of harm of neglect. They know what to do if they are concerned about a child's welfare. The nursery environment is safe and secure and is checked regularly to minimise and eliminate any hazards. Staff encourage children to learn how to keep themselves safe and to be confident to speak about things that worry or upset them.

p.3

should:

n respond even more swiftly to children's emerging interests to help them to extend their ideas and enhance their learning n plan even more precisely to ensure the most able children are consistently challenged to learn even more.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY430589 Local authority Doncaster Inspection number 10131616 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

p.4

Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

p.4

inspection

Total number of places 52 Number of children on roll 86 Name of registered person Little Oaks Day Nursery & Childcare Ltd

p.4

reference number

Telephone number 01302 330 899 Date of previous inspection 9 February 2016

p.4

Information about this early years setting

Little Oaks Day Nursery & Childcare @ Carcroft registered in 2011. The nursery employs 20 members of childcare staff. Of these, 19 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above, including six at level 6 or above. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round, except for bank holidays and one week between Christmas and New Year. Sessions are from 7am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

p.4

Inspection activities

n Ofsted is aware of the challenges that Covid-19 is currently posing to those we inspect. During this visit, the inspector took into consideration the impact of any measures being taken to slow the spread of Coronavirus by the setting. This has included the effect these measures have had on the current attendance of the children and staffing arrangements. n The managers showed the inspector around the nursery. They talked about how they organise their provision and about the curriculum they provide for children. n The inspector observed activities in all rooms and the outdoors. She assessed the impact of staff's teaching on children's learning and development. n The manager and deputy manager observed and evaluated an activity alongside the inspector. n The inspector spoke to staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection. She spoke to a number of parents and took account of the views of

p.5

Inspection activities

others from written feedback provided. n The managers met with the inspector to discuss matters relating to leadership. They provided a range of documents for inspection, including evidence of the suitability checks carried out on staff.

p.5

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.

p.5

Inspection activities

12 March 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.

p.5

Inspection activities

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.6

Inspection activities

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk

p.6

Inspection activities

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.6

Inspection activities

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.6