Little Explorers Day Nursery

Inspection of Little Explorers Day Nursery 382-384 Werrington Road, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire ST2 9AB

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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 made to feel exceptionally welcome by staff who greet them at the door on their arrival. They form very close bonds with the extremely caring and nurturing staff, who attentively and meticulously provide high levels of exceptional care which meets all children's individual needs. This makes children feel tremendously safe and secure.

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The provision is outstanding

Young children have a wide range of activities to access, encouraging them to explore and to also capture their imagination. They investigate metal shining balls which are rolled to encourage children to move and crawl. When babies look at their reflection in them, staff respond by providing mirrors and talking about their eyes and ears. Every child's uniqueness is provided for. Staff recognise that young children explore and place things in their mouth. Using this knowledge, staff make and prepare edible sand. Children are excited by its feel and smell. They laugh and gurgle as they find hidden objects, such as mushrooms.

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The provision is outstanding

Children seek out their key person and indicate they want to sing action songs. Staff respond and sing, 'Row, row, row your boat' while holding children's hands and pulling the children close towards them. This helps to secure those relationships between young children and staff. Children have access to a fully secure outdoor area. Older children thrive outdoors with a large variety of activities, which ignites their thirst for learning. They investigate sponges in soapy water. They hold them up, watching the water drip off, and squish them to see and hear the bubbles forming; they use paintbrushes in foam looking for hidden animals. Children have confidence to invite adults into their world of play and imagination. Knives and forks become 'flavoured ice lollies'. Children discuss which flavours are the best while pretending to lick and enjoy the taste. Opportunities to play and learn are in abundance and first-time experiences are gained, such as

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The provision is outstanding

children feeling sand between their toes. Children who do not talk say their first words.

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need to do better?

n The provider and her staff team devise and implement an exceptionally well thought-out curriculum. This enables each child to access the awe and wonder of the world around them. Activities are planned and provided which follow the child's interest and provides immensely rich and exciting experiences for children to encounter. All children make excellent progress in their learning. They gain skills for their next stage of learning. n The curriculum places particular importance on developing children's social and emotional development, as well as early communication skills. Staff use local authority initiatives to ensure all children are regularly screened to assess their

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need to do better?

20 September 2021 communication skills. Staff provide exceedingly good activities which enable children to become confident in developing and extending those early communication skills. Children are consistently invited into conversations with staff. Those children who have less confidence are reminded to use their 'big words' and receive praise for when they do. n The provider ensures staff well-being is considered and their workload is manageable. All staff are given time for continuous professional development. This has had an enormous impact on the setting as staff are motivated and well qualified. They are currently receiving training on how racism affects children, to give them a better understanding of how they can support the diverse community and teach this to children. n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are very well catered for. Staff liaise with outside agencies and go above and beyond to

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need to do better?

provide reports on children with SEND and the progress they make. This ensures they receive the very best support and any gaps in learning are swiftly identified and appropriate support is given. n Children are able to recall and sequence information they have learned. Playing in the role-play area, they remember that eggs are needed when you are making cakes. Early literacy skills play a pivotal role. Children are developing an excellent love of books. They can choose to go and listen to a story, using technology in the reading corner. Staff also bring stories alive. Children show sustained levels of interest as they listen to staff reading 'The Gruffalo' while finding items in a tray, which link back to the book. n Staff recognise when children become less interested in an activity. For example, when looking for frogs, one child demonstrated an interest in jumping. Staff encouraged this as they 'jumped' like a frog. This was further extended by

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need to do better?

making noises like a frog and talking about where frogs live. The provider ensures, through robust observation and supervisions with staff, that each and every interaction with children is meaningful and positive. This results in exceptional teaching practice, and all children are completely engaged and their behaviour is exemplary. n Partnerships with parents are outstanding. The provider ensures every child receives their full funding entitlement by working flexibly with parents. Parents report that 'communication is excellent' and that they have 'never doubted' their child's safety or happiness. Following the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, parents have not been allowed in the setting. However, the provider now allows parents inside to collect their children, as they follow stringent hygiene practices. n Children learn exceptionally good habits to help lead healthy lifestyles. They are reminded to put their hand to their mouth when they cough. Staff are extremely

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need to do better?

attentive and wipe the runny noses of children. Children are encouraged to wash hands regularly. Homemade hot lunches and healthy snacks are provided. Children develop self-care and independence skills.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

20 September 2021 Children's well-being and safety are given upmost priority. Staff have an exceptional understanding of how to keep children safe. They are all fully aware of the procedures to follow should they have any concerns about children in their care. Each child has a 'red book' that is unique to the child. It documents everything about the child to ensure their safety is monitored. Extremely robust safer recruitment procedures are followed and a full induction to all staff and apprentices is given. There is a designated staff member who is responsible for health and safety and risk assessments within the setting. This helps ensure children's safety.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2654974 Local authority Stoke-on-Trent Inspection number 10206184 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 50 Number of children on roll 31

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Name of registered person

Little Explorers Children's Day Nursery Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01782273285 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Little Explorers Day Nursery and Pre-school re-registered in 2021. The nursery employs nine members of childcare staff. Of these, eight hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 7 to level 2, including one with early years teacher status. The nursery opens Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 7.15am until 6pm. 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 setting received since the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the setting and has taken that into account in the evaluation of the setting. n The provider, manager and inspector completed a learning walk together to discuss the setting's curriculum, how this is implemented and its impact. n The inspector carried out a joint observations with the provider and evaluated the quality of teaching. n The inspector spoke with children, staff and parents at various times of the inspection. The inspector also received written feedback. All views given have been taken into account. n A sample of documentation was reviewed by the inspector. This included risk assessments, staff supervisions, staff suitability, staff qualifications and evidence of paediatric first aid.

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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

20 September 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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