Little Owls (Scarning)

Inspection of Little Owls (Scarning) Railway Farm, Scarning, Dereham NR19 2LJ

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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 Not applicable

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The provision is outstanding

Children are at the heart of this exceptional nursery. They are greeted personally by enthusiastic staff, who keenly find out what they have been doing with their families at home. Children delight in telling them where they have been and what they have seen. For example, children tell them that they have visited the dinosaur park with their families. Staff listen carefully and model taking turns in conversation. Children eagerly go off to find their friends and become engrossed in their play.

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The provision is outstanding

Children's behaviour is exemplary. They independently remind each other of the consistent rules when playing on electronic devices and when it is time to finish. Children recognise the feelings of others and enthusiastically invite them to join their activities. For example, when a child misses the start of a game his friend encourages him to join in and share his progress.

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The provision is outstanding

Children make rapid and sustained progress in their development. Staff have high expectations of what children can achieve. All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, are fully included in all aspects of the routines of the day. Children build extremely close bonds with staff. Toddlers and babies have wonderful, nurturing relationships with their key persons. Toddlers beam as they run to familiar adults with open arms for a cuddle. Babies are gently soothed to sleep in their sleeping pods.

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need to do better?

n Managers are highly supportive of their staff. They carefully coach and train them to reflect and build on their skills. Managers recognise staff's individual strengths and use their talents. For example, staff train to be designated literacy and yoga champions, who enthusiastically implement what they have learned for the benefit of the children. They create 'GEM' awards to recognise exemplary effort. Staff and parents nominate those that they feel go above and beyond in their care for the children and families. Staff feel valued as part of a team. n Partnerships with parents are superb. Parents report that they fully trust the staff with their children. They talk about the excellent progress their children make. During the Covid-19 (coronavirus) pandemic parents report feeling grateful to receive home learning packs to support their children. Staff recorded videos of themselves reading stories and singing. They posted these online for

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need to do better?

children to continue their learning at home. When children have been unable to see their grandparents, due to the pandemic, staff took pictures of the children and wrote letters to send to them. n Staff work extremely hard with other professionals involved in a child's care. They work closely with local schools to ensure that the children's transitions are

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need to do better?

5 August 2021 well managed. Staff work really hard to make sure that all children are fully supported to transition confidently between rooms within the nursery. n Children make excellent progress in all areas of learning. Staff gain valuable information from parents regarding their children's starting points. Children's progress is meticulously monitored to ensure that any potential gaps in their learning are quickly identified and managed. Staff make effective use of any additional funding they receive. n Staff highly value children's opinions. The nursery chefs prepare any new dishes in advance of the menu changes. The children become mini 'master chefs' and taste the new meals. They feedback on taste and presentation regarding their likes and dislikes. Menus are adapted with their views taken into consideration. n Children spend quality time in the enchanting grassy garden. Perspex windows in the fence allow the children to see working tractors in the fields. Horses come

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need to do better?

to the fence to greet the children when they hear their voices. Children sing farm songs as they watch them and look for treats to feed them. n Staff actively contribute to children's developing language and communication skills. Children have access to the lending library and take books home to share with their families. Children enthusiastically take part in sound lotto games and staff use letter sounds to help the children guess the animals. Children thoroughly enjoy mark making the letters of their names in preparation for their next steps in their learning. Young children independently point out letters on a keyboard and tell adults their sounds.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The managers have robust recruitment processes in place to ensure that those working with children are safe to do so. There are identified safeguarding leads to ensure that any concerns are reported in a timely and appropriate way. All staff have completed training in child protection and have an excellent understanding of their safeguarding responsibilities. They have a thorough awareness of the indicators of abuse and know how to report concerns. Risk assessments are fully embedded in practice. Staff are exceptionally well deployed and continually assess risk, to ensure children can play, freely explore and take appropriate risks.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY551322 Local authority Norfolk Inspection number 10143473 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 52 Number of children on roll 98 Name of registered person Little Owls Day Nursery Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01362 690777 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Little Owls (Scarning) registered in 2017. The nursery employs 16 members of childcare staff. Of these, 12 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm for 51 weeks of the year. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the provider received since the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that in to account in her evaluation of the provider. n The inspector and the managers completed a tour of the setting to understand how the early years provision and the curriculum is organised. n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact this had on children's learning. n The inspector spoke with staff at appropriate times throughout the inspection and completed a joint observation with the managers. n The inspector held a meeting with the managers and also discussed self- evaluation. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation, such as evidence of the suitability of staff working in the setting, records of children's learning, support plans and other 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

5 August 2021 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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