Little Learners Heanor

Inspection of Little Learners Heanor Wilmot Street, Heanor, Derbyshire DE75 7EF

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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 Not applicable

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The provision is good

Children are greeted warmly by staff as they arrive at the nursery. They separate happily from their parents and are ready to play and explore their environment, demonstrating that they feel safe and secure. Children confidently ask staff for their favourite activities. For example, children in the under two-year-old group ask for the 'Rhyme Rug' game. They cheer with joy as they join in with singing and perform the actions to their favourite songs.

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The provision is good

Children throughout the nursery show a love of stories. Babies choose their favourite story book and clamber on to a member of staff's knee to listen to it being read to them. Toddlers carefully turn the pages of their favourite books. Pre- school children show excitement as they take part in a vote to choose their story of the week.

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The provision is good

Children bring in natural items, such as pumpkins and autumn leaves, which they have collected with their families. At the nursery, they explore these in their play and use words, such as 'crispy, heavy and big', as they describe how they feel, repeating back new vocabulary modelled by the adults in the setting. This supports children throughout the nursery to develop strong language skills.

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need to do better?

n The manager has a clear intent for the curriculum for all children in the nursery. This intent is shared with staff, and most staff talk confidently about what children already know and their next steps in learning. For instance, staff provide activities such as threading and a 'buckle cushion' to support children's physical development and their fine muscle control. n Leaders and staff support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) well. For example, staff monitor children's language development closely and provide specific activities to support children with speech and language delay. Staff also work in strong partnership with parents and other professionals to ensure that children get the required levels of support they need. n Staff build good relationships with the children and can talk confidently about children's interests. They then use these interests to plan exciting activities that

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need to do better?

engage children in their learning. For example, children in the under two room share their fascination with insects and staff provide a minibeast hunt activity in shaving foam. Children enjoy sliding their hands through the foam in the tuff spot, making different marks and exploring the sensory activity to find the hidden bugs. n On occasions throughout the day, play for children in the pre-school is interrupted. For example, children are asked to leave activities they are engaged

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need to do better?

6 October 2021 in to sit together for snack, even when they are not ready to eat or drink at that time. As a result, children are not always able to engage in focused play, and staff miss opportunities to extend children's concentration and allow them choices in their learning. n The manager undertakes regular supervisions and appraisals of staff. However, these need to be developed further so that they focus on developing newer staff's knowledge and teaching skills. For example, when a three-year-old shows an interest in counting shapes, new staff do not build on what the child already knows and miss the opportunity to extend their mathematical knowledge further. n Staff recognise the value of outdoor play for all children and that not all children have access to a garden at home. They provide exciting outdoor play experiences. For example, some children play on the climbing frame, pretending it is a rocket, blasting off to the moon. Younger children use spoons to dig for

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need to do better?

uncooked spaghetti in the sand tray. This supports children to experience learning in a different environment, while benefiting from fresh air and being outside. n Staff teach children how to carefully manage risks in their own play. For example, during an activity using scissors, staff remind children about remaining seated and holding the scissors carefully to stay safe. This supports children to learn the skills needed to keep themselves safe.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff are confident in the procedures to follow in the event that they have any concerns about the conduct or practice of a colleague. They know the signs and symptoms of abuse and who to report concerns to, should they be worried about a child in their care. The contact details for relevant safeguarding agencies are clearly displayed in the nursery. All staff find out about children's medical and dietary requirements when they first start. They regularly speak with parents to check the information they hold on children's dietary requirements is up to date; this contributes to children's health and welfare.

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should:

n improve opportunities for pre-school children to concentrate, play and fully explore activities and resources without interruptions n strengthen and embed supervision, mentoring and coaching for newer members of staff to support consistency across the setting.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2510527 Local authority Derbyshire Inspection number 10207791 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 49 Number of children on roll 49 Name of registered person Kh Nurseries LTD

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reference number

Telephone number 01773 715626 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Little Learners Heanor in Heanor, Derbyshire registered in 2019. The nursery employs seven members of childcare staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. The nursery opens Monday to Friday from 7.30am until 6pm all year round, except for a week at Christmas and bank holidays. 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 manager and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the setting. n The inspector carried out a learning walk with the manager and discussed the curriculum and what they want children to learn. n The inspector held a meeting with the manager to discuss safeguarding procedures, staff recruitment and nursery development. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of an activity with the manager. n Parents' views regarding the quality of care and learning their children receive were taken account of by the inspector.

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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

6 October 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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