Little Pumpkins Nursery

Inspection of Little Pumpkins Nursery 48 Sydenham Road, Croydon, Surrey CR0 2EF

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Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

The quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement Personal development Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not applicable

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The provision requires improvement

Children happily arrive at nursery. Staff help them to settle well and children demonstrate they feel safe. New babies are supported and comforted to play with their peers. Children build strong relationships with their key person and other staff, who are kind and nurturing towards them. Babies develop some communication and language skills, as staff read stories and talk to them. Older children are supported to develop their confidence as they climb. For example, they manage their own risks as they climb rope ladders on the climbing equipment. However, not all children's learning is consistently well supported, to build on what they already know and can do. The provider has not fully developed an ambitious curriculum for children across the setting. Staff do not always recognise how to support children's learning to help them to make good progress. Activities planned are not always suitable or challenging for children.

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The provision requires improvement

Children behave well. They respond to staff reminders to be kind and take turns. However, at times, interactions and the deployment of staff do not facilitate children's learning and meet their individual needs. Some children in the younger room wander and do not show an interest in resources and experiences offered.

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need to do better?

n The newly appointed manager is committed to developing the curriculum across the nursery. She has recently introduced new methods for planning and teaching. However, these are in their infancy and are not yet embedded in practice. Experiences for children do not provide appropriate challenge to build on their prior knowledge and skills, helping them to know more and remember more across all areas of learning. n The support and coaching provided to staff is not yet effective in helping staff to improve the areas of learning they teach and how children learn. Staff are not always deployed effectively during activities to help children to become curious, confident and motivated learners. n Parents comment that there has been a great improvement in communication since the new manager joined. They say she is welcoming, and communication has improved. However, parents are not yet informed about what their children

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need to do better?

are learning at nursery and how they can support this further at home. n Children's speech and language development is supported well by staff. Staff speak clearly and model how to have a two-way conversation. They introduce new words as children take part in water play. Staff model words such as 'scoop', 'pour', 'empty' and 'full' as children use these actions. This helps children to understand their meaning and develop their vocabulary. n Children who speak English as an additional language are supported well. Staff use children's home languages to support them to settle at the nursery. They

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need to do better?

14 April 2022 gain familiar words from home and use these, together with pictures and gestures, to support children's language development. n Children are confident to talk with staff and enjoy their time with them. Older children sit together with staff to listen to a story. They join in with key phrases that they remember. n Children enjoy playing outdoors. They have good opportunities to develop their physical skills. Younger children develop their large-muscle skills as they crawl up and down slopes indoors, and use balls when outdoors. Older children enjoy climbing and using slides and ride-on tricycles. n Staff support children's early mathematical language well. Children count as they work together to fill pots and when playing games, such as 'What's the time, Mr Wolf?', in the garden. n Staff support children to develop their independence with dressing and undressing. Children develop their self-help skills well. Younger children eagerly

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need to do better?

find their shoes for outdoor play and also competently use cutlery to feed themselves. Older children help to tidy toys away and use their cutlery with increasing control.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager and staff understand their responsibilities to keep children safe. They demonstrate a sufficient understanding of the possible signs that indicate a child may be at risk of abuse. All staff know the procedures to report concerns about children's welfare, including if an allegation is made against a colleague. Recruitment procedures are robust. Thorough background checks ensure that staff are suitable to work with children. Routine checks are made in the environment to ensure that it is safe for children to attend.

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Due date

ensure the setting's curriculum is implemented consistently so that all staff plan challenging experiences for children that builds on and extends their learning to a higher level. 20/06/2022

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should:

14 April 2022 n enhance ongoing supervision and coaching arrangements for staff to understand how to deploy themselves effectively and improve their teaching skills n strengthen communication with parents so they know what their children are learning and how they can support them further at home.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2597518 Local authority Croydon Inspection number 10237103 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 96 Number of children on roll 34 Name of registered person Little Pumpkins Nursery Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 0203 489 4880 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Little Pumpkins Nursery registered in 2020. It is situated in the London Borough of Croydon. The nursery opens Monday to Friday, from 7.30am to 6pm, all year round. The nursery employs seven members of staff; all hold a level 3 childcare qualification, including the manager. The nursery offers funding for children aged three and four years old.

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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 their evaluation of the setting. n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together and discussed how the early years curriculum is implemented. n The inspector observed the interactions between staff and children. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of an activity with the manager. n The inspector spoke to parents to gain an understanding of their views. n The manager provided the inspector with a sample of key documentation on request.

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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

14 April 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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