Little Stars Day Nursery

Inspection of Little Stars Day Nursery Kilmarnock Road Resource Centre, Community Resource Centre, 44 Kilmarnock Road, HARTLEPOOL, Cleveland TS25 3NU

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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's well-being and feelings are at the heart of the nursery. They feel safe and cared for through strong relationships with the staff. Children are happy and enjoy their time at the nursery. They are friendly, chatty and confidently share their learning experiences with their friends. For example, pre-school children are excited to explore what happens when they take turns to pour water down drainpipes and laugh as it splashes them. Dedicated staff are very responsive to children's needs and ensure that they receive good-quality education and care. They provide a warm and welcoming learning environment where children thrive. This is particularly strong in the baby room, where the knowledgeable and nurturing staff provide the youngest children with carefully planned experiences to help them to make progress. For example, babies are excited to pull themselves up to explore a sensory tray that is filled with oats, pasta, toy farm animals and

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The provision is good

diggers. They are encouraged to make animal and vehicle sounds and feel the different textures as they investigate.

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The provision is good

Children are familiar with established routines. Staff have high expectations of behaviour. Children are encouraged to be independent and take care of the nursery. This helps to ensure that children feel secure as they know exactly what is expected of them. For example, pre-school children tidy up their games and toys before putting their own coats on to go outside.

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need to do better?

n The manager and staff have an ambitious vision for all children to achieve through a carefully planned curriculum. This builds on what children already know and can do. For example, staff skilfully teach children to name colours through playing a game. They are deeply engaged and excited in the activity. Children are asked to find objects around nursery to match each colour. This helps to further extend their learning. n Children have regular access to an engaging and well-organised outdoor area. The natural resources and carefully chosen equipment provide children with a wide range of learning opportunities. Children's physical and social skills are particularly well supported outdoors. For example, children learn how to behave safely, take turns and wait as they practise their physical skills on the slide and bicycles. n Staff provide mathematical-themed resources and activities for children to make

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need to do better?

independent choices in their play. However, they do not encourage children to develop their mathematical skills. They do not maximise opportunities to help to teach children what they need to learn next. The manager recognises this is an area for development and is taking steps to enhance the mathematics curriculum.

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need to do better?

27 April 2022 n Children learn about the world around them through caring for plants and small creatures outdoors. They regularly go out of the nursery on visits in their local community. They also learn about the wider world. For example, they are excited when they receive letters from a sponsored child in Tanzania. n Well-established care practices are in place to help to prepare pre-school children for full-time school. Children confidently manage their own needs. For example, they use the toilet, wash their own hands and find their own drinks independently throughout the day. Babies are sensitively cared for as staff follow consistent routines and follow parents' wishes. n Staff feel well supported by the manager, who prioritises their well-being and training to further develop their knowledge and skills. Recent participation in the Early Years Professional Development Programme is having a positive impact on

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need to do better?

children's communication and language development. For example, a display showing 'what we are reading' and 'word of the day' helps staff to focus on children's intended learning. n Parents speak highly of the nursery. They say that staff know their children well and are well informed about their children's learning. They feel that their children are making good progress in their learning, particularly 'counting, letters and sharing'. All children enjoy home-cooked meals, and parents are complimentary about the menu. One parent praised the chef for going 'above and beyond' to support their child's allergies and specific dietary requirements. n The nursery has good relationships with external agencies to support children with any additional needs. They value working in partnership with local schools and work hard with teachers and parents to ensure smooth transitions for children moving on to full-time school.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Safeguarding is effective. The manager has a secure knowledge of safeguarding policies and procedures. These are shared with all staff and parents. The manager is extremely efficient and organised and ensures that all staff receive regular training to maintain their knowledge of how to keep children safe in their care. All staff know the procedures to follow if they are concerned about a child's safety or well-being. The nursery has a rigorous recruitment process in place to ensure that staff are suitable to work with children. Staff keep children's physical environment safe in the nursery and carry out regular checks both indoors and outdoors.

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should:

n enhance the mathematics curriculum further to help to support older children with the skills and knowledge they need for their next steps in learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY494247 Local authority Hartlepool Borough Inspection number 10229755 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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Name of registered person

Belle Vue Community, Sports and Youth Centre Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01429 868008 Date of previous inspection 24 January 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Little Stars Day Nursery registered in 2015. The nursery employs five members of childcare staff. Of these, four hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am to 5.30pm. 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 the nursery 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 nursery. n The manager and the inspector had a learning walk to discuss the curriculum and the learning environment and how these shape teaching and learning across the nursery. n Children shared their learning experiences with the inspector. n Parents shared their views of the nursery with the inspector. n The inspector observed teaching and learning indoors and outdoors. n Staff spoke to the inspector about what they want children to learn in the nursery. n The manager and the inspector held a meeting to discuss leadership, and the inspector reviewed relevant documentation. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the deputy manager to evaluate the quality of education and 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

27 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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