Little Tots Academy

Inspection of Little Tots Academy 25 - 27 Sherburn Terrace, CONSETT, County Durham DH8 6ND

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Overall effectiveness Inadequate

The quality of education Inadequate Behaviour and attitudes Inadequate Personal development Inadequate Leadership and management Inadequate Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Good

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The provision is inadequate

Children's safety is compromised, as leaders demonstrate a poor understanding of safeguarding practices. This includes referring concerns about children's welfare to other agencies and managing allegations against staff. Children do not benefit from the setting's curriculum. They are not fully supported to develop skills and knowledge for future learning. For instance, although leaders comment that they need to focus on children's mathematical development, staff do not embed this into practice. Staff do not use regular mathematical language or develop children's mathematical awareness of number, shape or measure. Children are not provided with enough challenge. They become distracted from learning when staff interrupt or limit their play. For instance, during gluing and sticking activities, staff take brushes from children to complete the activity themselves. Children wander off and lose interest. Furthermore, some staff interrupt children's play when taking them

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The provision is inadequate

away from activities to complete routine tasks, such as nappy changes.

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The provision is inadequate

Children benefit from regular exercise. They have daily access to the outdoor garden. Older children participate in suitable music and movement sessions. They use pieces of material and move their bodies in different ways and in time with the music. This helps to develop children's physical skills. Children behave well and show confidence when greeting visitors.

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need to do better?

n Leaders and staff do not ensure that transition arrangements prepare children for what they need to learn next. For instance, plans to move children to the next room are made due to children's age rather than developmental ability. Children are not prepared in advance towards the end of activities. For example, some children become upset when staff tidy activities away. Older children are moved downstairs at the end of the day to join younger children. However, leaders and staff do not prepare children for this transition. This means that children do not have appropriate activities and resources to support their learning. Some children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, become disinterested and do not engage in play. n Leaders complete supervision sessions with staff. However, they do not recognise the burden of the additional work staff have. For instance, staff take

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need to do better?

on additional roles and responsibilities, which do not promote an effective work balance. n Leaders do not review the quality of interactions. Training is ineffective. Staff do not role model clear language and build on what children know and can already do. Children, including those who speak English as an additional language, do not develop good communication skills. Children play and walk around with dummies in their mouths. They are not encouraged to join in with stories, songs

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need to do better?

18 March 2022 and rhymes. This hinders children's development. n Parents are provided with daily feedback. This includes the activities that children have been doing throughout the day and care practices. Staff keep parents informed of events at the nursery through social media and newsletters. This means that there are some arrangements for parents to be able to continue children's learning at home. n Children are provided with a range of suitable healthy foods during mealtimes. The nursery cook ensures children with allergies are provided with appropriate foods. Children are provided with fruit and drinks during snack time. n Children are beginning to develop social skills and form friendships with one another. For instance, they give each other cuddles when they see their friends arriving at nursery. Staff are caring towards children. They offer children reassurance if they become upset. n Babies explore edible paints. They feel different textures using their whole

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need to do better?

bodies and show enjoyment in these activities. Furthermore, they play with interactive toys and smile as they press buttons to create different sounds. This helps to develop children's sensory awareness.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff show a basic understanding of the possible indicators of abuse. Staff understand their responsibility to report any concerns about other staff's practice to the manager, who is responsible for reporting safeguarding concerns. However, leaders do not show that they understand their own safeguarding policy. They do not demonstrate a good understanding of safeguarding practices, including who to contact in the event of a concern about the welfare of a child. Furthermore, they do not know the process to follow in the event of an allegation against staff. This does not ensure children's safety and well-being are prioritised.

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Due date

improve leaders safeguarding knowledge and understanding, particularly in relation to allegations against staff 31/03/2022

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Due date

develop an ambitious curriculum that provides challenge to children's learning and keeps them engaged in activities 31/03/2022

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Due date

18 March 2022 improve interactions between staff and children, including modelling clear communication and language skills and helping children to prepare well for future learning 31/03/2022

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Due date

develop transition arrangements for children, particularly in relation to the end of the day and in preparation for children to move rooms 31/03/2022

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Due date

implement effective supervision arrangements for staff and help reduce the burden of additional workload, as well as identifying targeted training needs. 31/03/2022

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY497602 Local authority Durham Inspection number 10230737 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 70 Number of children on roll 39 Name of registered person Little Tots Academy Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 07802790066 Date of previous inspection 23 November 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Little Tots Academy registered in 2016. The setting employs seven members of childcare staff, including the manager. The majority of staff hold childcare qualifications at level 2 and above. The setting opens Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm, for 51 weeks of the year. 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 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 deputy manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector spoke to children, to find out about their time at the setting. n Staff spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector spoke with the registered individual about the leadership and management of the setting. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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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

18 March 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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