Little Jems Nursery

Inspection of Little Jems Nursery 4-5 Woodrouffe Terrace, Carlisle, Cumberland CA1 2EH

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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 form a strong emotional bond with their key person. Babies and children are confident to approach staff for reassurance and support as required. For example, babies demonstrate that they feel safe as they walk around the room with the added security of staff holding on to their hands. Older children enjoy a comforting cuddle from staff during routines, such as story time. Children are highly valued. Special events, such as birthdays, are readily celebrated by all staff and children at the nursery. Children are kind and considerate to others. For instance, when getting ready to engage in sensory play, children willingly hand their friends an apron to wear.

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The provision is good

Leaders and staff have a clear vision for the nursery. They are 'committed to caring for, teaching and inspiring every child to build on their foundations from home'. Babies are intrigued by the world around them. They enjoy looking out of the window and take interest in the people and vehicles moving around in the nearby car park. Younger children demonstrate their good awareness of the sounds that different vehicles make during play. They use more complex tools, such as scissors, to create a 'snake' using cooked tagliatelle. Older children express a sheer love for making music and gain an understanding of different concepts, such as loud and quiet. They count with numbers in the correct order to 15.

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need to do better?

n The well-qualified staff spend quality time engaging with children to find out about what they know and enjoy. During sensory play, staff quickly recognise that younger children have a desire to find out about what materials, such as flour, can be used for. They extend on this interest and involve children in experiences, such as making dough. Children use good physical skills to mix materials together. They listen to instructions and take turns without prompt. n Partnerships with parents are good. Staff exchange information with parents about children's learning and progress. They are confident to share home learning ideas, such as to read a book to children each day, to promote their early reading skills. Parents speak very positively about the nursery. They say that 'the nursery is like a second home'. n Leaders source meaningful training, such as that relating to the outdoors, to inspire staff to enhance the quality of the outdoor learning provision for children.

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need to do better?

Overall, there are established systems in place to monitor staff performance. However, since the onset of the pandemic, supervision sessions have become more infrequent and focus less intently on helping staff to extend their good practice. n Staff have high expectations for children's behaviour. They teach children to become good citizens, to be kind and considerate and to be respectful. Children

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need to do better?

8 February 2022 demonstrate their knowledge of the behaviour rules in place. For example, younger children willingly say 'please' and 'thank you' at snack time and older children gladly share resources with their friends during water play. n The innovative staff use everyday learning experiences to teach children about healthy eating. For example, during role play, staff encourage children to create a wholesome meal. Older children refer to recipe books and pretend to make a 'chicken pasta salad' using the range of available resources. They follow the instructions carefully and demonstrate pride in their achievements. n Overall, staff support children's communication and language skills well. During stories, such as 'Jack and the Beanstalk', staff encourage older children to predict how high the beanstalk will grow and children actively communicate their thoughts. However, occasionally, staff do not pronounce words precisely for

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need to do better?

babies to hear and say. Additionally, staff working with children who speak English as an additional language do not use a wide enough range of words in their home languages during play. This does not support all children to extend their early speech and language skills to the highest levels. n Staff source early help for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. They liaise with parents and other professionals to target the support that children need. Staff are responsive to the needs of children and their families, including where there are any changes to family circumstances. They make good use of the early years pupil premium funding, to promote children's emotional security and to ensure that their everyday needs are met. This is successfully narrowing any gaps in children's care and learning.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Leaders create a culture of safeguarding across the nursery. They recruit staff safely and ensure that all staff have a good understanding of their roles and responsibilities. Staff complete a broad range of safeguarding training, including that relating to the wider aspects, such as the 'Prevent' duty. They have a good knowledge of the procedures to follow to protect children's welfare. Staff take steps to keep children safe. For example, when children are climbing stairs, staff encourage them to hold onto the handrails, to help to prevent any accidents. Staff are aware that children are growing up using an increasing range of technology. They share useful online safety information with parents, to help them to keep their children safe at home.

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should:

n strengthen the established systems for staff supervision and provide all staff with more frequent and intently focused support, to help to extend on their good

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should:

8 February 2022 knowledge, skills and teaching practice n support staff to model language precisely for babies to hear and say and use a broader range of words and phrases in children's home languages during play, to help all children to further advance their developing speech and language skills.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY560116 Local authority Cumbria Inspection number 10194120 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

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

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inspection

Total number of places 49 Number of children on roll 84 Name of registered person Little Jems Nursery (Cumbria) Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01228 543964 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Little Jems Nursery registered in 2018 and operates from within two adjoining terraced houses near to the City Centre of Carlisle. The nursery employs 16 members of childcare staff. Of these, 15 hold appropriate qualifications at levels 2, 3, 4 and 6, including two members of staff who hold qualified teacher status. The nursery is open Monday to Friday, from 8am to 6pm, all year round, with the exception of bank holidays and one week over the Christmas period. 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 that 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 her evaluation of the nursery. n The manager led the inspector on a learning walk to show how the nursery is organised and to share information about the intent for the early years curriculum. n The inspector held discussions with the staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection. She held a separate meeting with the provider and manager to discuss aspects of leadership and management. n A sample of documents were viewed by the inspector. These included, evidence of the suitability of staff, a record of staff qualifications and training and some of the policies and procedures. n The inspector took account of the views from parents. n A planned activity was jointly evaluated by the inspector and the manager.

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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

8 February 2022 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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