Little Learners Nursery School

Inspection of Little Learners Nursery School The Old Manse, 14 Lumley Avenue, SKEGNESS, Lincolnshire PE25 2AP

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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 eagerly arrive, excited to learn at the well-presented setting created by staff. They confidently share their ideas with their friends and make choices in their play. Children work together to build rockets out of three-dimensional shapes, happily sharing resources. Children laugh hysterically as staff joke, 'Don't crash the rocket'. They pretend to stick the shapes together with 'icky, sticky, super, duper glue that never comes off', and enjoy practising with other rhyming words. Children develop their imagination, finding objects to pretend to be 'stinky glue', charging staff £2 to purchase it. Children learn a range of new words with staff as they talk about things, such as making a 'batch' of glue and they can explain what this means.

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The provision is good

Children have strong bonds with staff and can go to any member of staff for guidance or reassurance when they need it. They are highly engaged in their chosen play and curious about things they have not experienced before. Children are highly motivated by staff's praise and are, therefore, keen to try things for themselves. They listen to staff and follow their instructions while making snacks to toast on the fire pit. They cut banana independently and solve how to stop the tin foil blowing in the wind. Children behave extremely well and understand what staff expect of them during the day, including using their manners. Children say goodbye to their friends as they go home and develop their social interaction skills throughout the day.

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need to do better?

n Staff know the children well and talk about their individual personalities and what interests them. They assess what children know and can do, supporting them with what they need to learn next and addressing any gaps in their learning. This includes children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. n Staff support children to feel a sense of responsibility and understand further about helping the world around them. For example, staff take children on trips to the beach, where they learn about sustainability and how to look after their community and local wildlife. n Staff plan a wide range of activities for all children. Younger children enjoy making play dough with staff. They imitate key words that staff repeat, including 'shake', as they practise tipping flour into a bowl. Staff support children to develop their hand muscles using different spoons to stir the ingredients and pouring water from jugs. Occasionally, some staff only support children with

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need to do better?

what they want them to learn from an activity and narrow the learning opportunities children have. This means some children do not make the progress they are capable of during some activities. n Staff interact well with children to develop their communication and speech.

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need to do better?

25 May 2022 From a young age, children listen carefully as staff read books to them. Children clap and smile while copying the animal noises staff make when reading. Staff encourage children to point at different pictures while talking to them about what they can see, supporting children to associate words and pictures. n Staff encourage children to serve their own dinner, while being courteous and making sure there is enough for everyone. Children know to wash their hands before eating and staff talk to them about why this keeps them healthy. Children are praised when they invite others to join in with their play. They tell each other rules, such as not getting water on the floor as it might make it slippery. n Leaders and managers support the staff team and take care of their well-being. They reflect on the experiences of children and provide a wide range of training opportunities for staff to develop their skills. Leaders sourced communication

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need to do better?

training for some key staff. This has been shared with the full staff team, so that all children benefit from this new staff knowledge. n On the whole, parents and carers are happy with the service provided by staff. They feel 'confident and relaxed' with all staff and feel well supported with children's dietary and medical needs. Some parents and carers comment that communication from staff about how they are supporting children with what they need to learn is not strong enough for them to make sure they can consistently support children's learning.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff and leaders have a thorough knowledge of how to keep children safe from harm. They understand their responsibilities in monitoring and reporting any signs and symptoms that a child may be at risk of harm. Staff and leaders are mindful of concerns relating to the local area. They are confident in how to escalate any concerns to the relevant professionals. Safeguarding policies and procedures are kept up to date and staff attend regular safeguarding training. The environment is checked regularly to ensure it is a safe place for children to play in. There is a clear procedure for visitors and the site is secure. Leaders have a robust recruitment process and continuously monitor the suitability of all staff.

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should:

n improve the use of information sharing between key people and parents and carers to strengthen the consistency of support provided to children n provide staff with further support to be able to recognise and make the most of learning opportunities during activities.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY553835 Local authority Lincolnshire Inspection number 10174391 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 65 Number of children on roll 114 Name of registered person Little Learners (Skegness) Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01754765158 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Little Learners Nursery School registered 2017. The nursery employs 16 members of childcare staff. Of these, 14 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, 8am until 6pm, all year round, closing for bank holidays and one week at Christmas. The nursery provides funded early education for two- and three-year-old children.

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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 setting and has taken that into account in the evaluation of the setting. n The manager and inspector conducted a learning walk together, discussing the learning intention for children and how the environment is arranged. n The manager and inspector observed and evaluated an activity. n The inspector observed staff and children of all ages through the setting. n The inspector held discussions with staff and leaders regularly during the inspection. n Parents' and carers' views were taken into consideration. n A sample of documents was reviewed, including paediatric first-aid certificates, suitability checks, and safeguarding policies and procedures.

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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 May 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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