Little Foxes (Newton Le Willows)

Inspection of Little Foxes (Newton Le Willows) Canal Street, Newton Le Willows WA12 9XD

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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 Good

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The provision is good

Children are happy, settled and enjoy attending the nursery. They welcome adults into their play and are eager to share their experiences. Although parents have been unable to enter the nursery, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this has not affected children. This is due to the bonds children develop with the staff who support them.

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The provision is good

Children confidently select their resources. Staff re-introduce resources and help children to understand how to care for them. Children explore a range of experiences, for example, they are inquisitive and become engaged in describing how ice feels. They excitedly talk about how they can see their breath while playing outside. Children are eager to join in the activities planned for them. For example, children relish playing with the play dough they made themselves. They use their fingers and hands to roll and pat the play dough to make objects and add natural objects, such as stones, cones and shells, to create their own masterpiece.

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The provision is good

Generally, children behave well and are learning to follow instructions with reminders. Staff intervene when behaviours are not wanted. However, they do not consistently explain why some behaviour is not wanted or support children to develop the skills to resolve their own conflicts in the future.

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need to do better?

n The recently promoted nursery manager is supported in her role by the area manager and directors. Along with her staff team, the manager understands the impact that the pandemic has had on children's progress. The curriculum has been adapted to address any gaps that have arisen in children's knowledge and skills. Staff are re-establishing routines and supporting children to develop their personal, social and emotional skills, alongside their communication and physical skills. Plans for the effective use of additional funding are developed and include enhancing the garden area with new equipment for children who need to develop their physical skills further. n The manager monitors the quality of the provision. Regular training opportunities support the setting to remain up to date. Staff feel well supported by the manager and area manager, and regular supervisions support them to develop their practice. Managers provide a variety of additional opportunities,

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need to do better?

including counselling and 'treat days', to help to support staff health and well- being. n Overall, most staff, particularly those who act as a child's key person, are clear in what they intend for children to learn when engaged in activities with them. They respond to children's emerging interests well. However, newer or less- experienced staff are not consistently precise in identifying the key skills and

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need to do better?

25 November 2021 knowledge that they wish for children to learn as they support them in their free play. n Staff plan a variety of interesting opportunities, some of which help children to use the knowledge that they have previously acquired. For example, children enjoy making large pictures using a range of natural resources. They work together using branches to represent a tree. They talk about previous experiences of finding apples growing on a tree. Children make decisions about the resources that they could use to best represent apples. Staff support children to extend their growing vocabularies and communication skills. They introduce new words as children play. That said, some of the quieter activities are, sometimes, interpreted by the exuberant play of other children. n Staff work closely with families and other professionals to ensure children who need extra help have timely interventions to support their learning. They

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need to do better?

implement individual play plans and carefully assess children's progress towards their current targets. Staff share ideas that help parents to support their child's learning further at home. n Staff build good relationships with parents and communicate effectively about children's learning and development. Parents say staff are lovely and how supportive they have been, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Parents also comment that since their child started, their behaviour has improved as well as their eating habits, confidence and attention.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager ensures staff have a good understanding of the setting's safeguarding policy and they keep their training up to date. Staff recognise signs and symptoms that would cause them to be concerned for a child's welfare. They know how to report any concerns they may have about any children or the adults they encounter. Robust recruitment procedures are in place to ensure that all staff are suitable to work with children. Staff use risk assessments to help minimise potential hazards in the environment. They maintain the correct adult-to-child ratios to keep children safe.

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should:

n support staff to consistently help children to understand why some behaviours are not wanted and to develop the skills to resolve their own conflicts successfully n support new and less-experienced staff to make more precise links between the intent and delivery of the learning opportunities provided to enable them to shape more precisely the support they offer during children's free play

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should:

25 November 2021 n review the organisation of quieter activities so that children have opportunities to get the most from the learning experience.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY536714 Local authority St Helens Inspection number 10213221 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

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

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inspection

Total number of places 53 Number of children on roll 54 Name of registered person Little Foxes (Newton Le Willows) Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01925225896 Date of previous inspection 16 October 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Little Foxes (Newton Le Willows) nursery registered in 2016. The nursery employs 17 members of childcare staff. Of these, six hold an appropriate early years qualification at level 3, three at level 5 and three at level 2. The nursery opens from 7.30am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, all year round. The nursery provides funded early education for 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 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The inspector spoke with staff and children at appropriate times throughout the inspection. n A learning walk was completed with the manager to discuss the curriculum intent and how the provision is organised. n The inspector completed two joint evaluations of activities with the manager. n The inspector held a meeting with the manager, the directors and the area manager. She reviewed a variety of documents, including evidence of the suitability of staff, qualifications, first-aid certificates and policies. n The inspector observed interactions between staff and children during activities and assessed the impact of teaching on children's learning.

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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

25 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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