Learning Stars Nursery

Inspection of Learning Stars Nursery St. Margarets Methodist Church, Montrose Avenue, Luton, Bedfordshire LU3 1HT

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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 happy and settled in this welcoming nursery. They have a positive attitude to learning and are eager to join in the activities. Children relish playing with the play dough. They use their fingers and hands to roll and pat the dough, and add natural objects, such as sticks, to create their own masterpiece. Children enjoy listening to stories and looking at books. They build a wide vocabulary as staff give them time to talk about what they see in pictures. Meaningful activities help to develop children's understanding even more. For example, children enjoy a story about a stick man. They develop their thinking skills as they choose which sticks to use and decide how to break them to make their own stick figures.

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The provision is good

Children behave well. Staff give children clear and consistent messages that help them to understand what is expected of them. Children build good relationships with their key person and with the other staff. These effective relationships help children to feel safe and secure. Children are learning how to develop healthy lifestyles, for example the importance of exercise and healthy food. They enjoy being outside where they ride on bikes and successfully jump around stepping stones. Children are keen to do things for themselves, such as peeling fruit. Tasks such as these help them to build strong independence skills.

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need to do better?

n Staff have been proactive in supporting children and families through the COVID-19 pandemic. They delivered resources and activities to children when they were required to stay at home. Doorstep visits helped children to stay familiar with their key persons. When children returned to the nursery, staff quickly identified where gaps in their development had emerged. Staff have a consistent approach to supporting children's learning, and children are catching up quickly, especially in their language and social skills. n Staff provide children who speak English as an additional language with excellent support. Many staff speak the same languages and know when children need to hear familiar words, for example to explain who visitors are. This has a positive impact on children's well-being. Children are developing into confident talkers and express their ideas and emotions clearly. n Children are gaining a good understanding of mathematics. They quickly collect

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need to do better?

the right number of objects to correspond with the numbers they are looking at. Children thoroughly enjoy looking for numbers in the environment. They use a pencil and pad to record their findings. Children's early writing skills are developing well. This is evident as they hold pencils well and write numbers correctly. n Staff take time to get to know children and their families well. They gain detailed information on what children can already do when they start to attend the

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need to do better?

12 November 2021 nursery. Staff plan effectively to help their individual key children successfully build on their existing knowledge and skills. n The provider has rigorous recruitment procedures in place to help ensure staff are suitable to work with children. She has good systems to support and review staff's practice and to help them develop further. Staff speak very highly of the provider and say they have many opportunities for continuous professional development. n Parents speak very positively about the nursery and staff. They state that their children are happy and eager to attend. Parents feel well informed about their child's day and the progress they make in learning. They know how to support children's ongoing learning at home. n The managers and staff regularly reflect on their practice and look for ways to continually improve. They think carefully of how their ongoing plans will be of benefit to children. For example, they are aware that many children have little

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need to do better?

access to outdoor space at home and so are looking at ways to further develop the outdoor learning area. n Staff provide a bright, welcoming environment with high-quality learning opportunities. Children are excited to explore and they engage in effective play. Staff know children well and follow their lead in play. However, at times, when there are less children present, staff interact with children too much. This results in children's thought processes and independent learning being interrupted.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The provider ensures that all staff receive regular training and updates about child protection and safeguarding issues. Staff know the possible signs of abuse and neglect. They understand what to do should they have any concerns about a child's welfare. Staff have a strong understanding of wider safeguarding issues, such as children being exposed to extremist views or female genital mutilation. Managers continually reflect on their policies and procedures in line with local area intelligence. They make effective use of risk assessments and daily checks to ensure that the premises are safe and secure.

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should:

n provide children with more time and space to develop their independent learning and to build playful relationships with each other.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2496791 Local authority Luton Inspection number 10191163 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Sessional day care

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inspection

Total number of places 43 Number of children on roll 13 Name of registered person Ghani, Zarina Nahid

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reference number

Telephone number 07588711652 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Learning Stars Nursery registered in 2018. The nursery employs three members of staff, all of whom hold early years qualifications at level 3. The nursery opens from 8.30am until 3.15pm during term time only. It 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 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in her evaluation of the setting. n The provider, deputy manager and inspector completed a learning walk across all areas of the nursery to understand how the early years provision and the curriculum are organised. n A joint observation was carried out and discussed between the inspector and provider. n Staff, children and parents spoke with the inspector at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector looked at a sample of the nursery's documentation during a meeting with the provider and the assistant manager. This included reviewing information about safeguarding, staff suitability and training.

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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

12 November 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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