Little Explorers: Rainford

Inspection of Little Explorers: Rainford United Reformed Church, Higher Lane, Rainford, St. Helens, Lancashire WA11 8AL

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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 enjoy coming to nursery. They are greeted by friendly staff and arrive happily. There is an effective key-person system in place which allows staff to build strong bonds with their key children. Staff are extremely responsive to children's needs. As a result, children are independent, friendly and confident. Children follow routines and demonstrate good behaviour.

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The provision is good

Staff know the children well and provide opportunities that meet their individual needs. For example, children develop their physical skills as they engage in physical activities. Risk assessments are conducted effectively, which helps to ensure children's safety at all times.

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The provision is good

Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are supported well and make good progress from their initial starting points. Staff work closely with parents and other agencies to ensure that strategies are put in place to support the needs of each child. As a result, children blossom.

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The provision is good

Children enjoy lengthy periods of time outdoors in the large spacious play area. They also benefit from outings in the community, which widens their experiences. In particular, they thoroughly enjoy being collected by a tractor to visit the local farm. Children also visit Crawford Park, where they explore the forest environment and make hammocks to relax in.

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The provision is good

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, parents continue to drop off and collect their children from the door. Staff talk to parents about their children's day and share photos on the nursery app. This provides parents with reassurance and enables them to be aware of what their children are learning.

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need to do better?

n Leaders are ambitious and strive to provide high-quality care and education for all children. They work alongside staff so that children get the best start and thoroughly enjoy their time at the nursery. n There are some minor gaps in practice. For example, staff do not always understand what the children need to learn and why. Although staff interact with children as they play and explore, they do not always build on what children already know and can do. This does not fully promote children's learning. n Mathematical concepts have been identified as an area for improvement and these are currently being developed. For example, as children pour water from different-sized vessels, staff seize the opportunity to extend children's mathematical thinking. They talk about the water 'overflowing' and why this might be happening.

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need to do better?

28 June 2022 n Early years pupil premium funding is used well to meet the individual needs of disadvantaged children. For example, staff have purchased an 'emotions teddy' to help children to talk about their feelings. They have also arranged training sessions to enable staff to further support children's emotional well-being. n Staff have strong links with feeder schools and work in close partnership with teachers. This helps them to develop a clear vision of what they want children to learn before they go to school. n Partnership with parents is a strength which runs throughout the nursery. Strong, trusting relationships are developed with parents, who are very complimentary and particularly like the homely feel of the nursery. This supports children's emotional well-being. n Babies and young children are well cared for and have the attention and support they need. They have developed strong attachments with staff. This helps them

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need to do better?

to feel safe and secure. n Children are occupied and stimulated for most of the day, which has a positive impact on their learning. However, group-time activities, such as snack time, are a little disorganised, which disrupts children's learning. n Children accessing nursery meals are served healthy dishes, such as tomato pasta, which they thoroughly enjoy. However, packed lunches consisting of sweet or chocolate treats are brought in. This does not reflect the nursery's healthy eating ethos. n Leaders and managers are supportive of staff well-being. Their workload is kept to a minimum, enabling staff to maximise opportunities for interaction with children.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

All staff understand their responsibility to safeguard children. They have a good knowledge of the different types of abuse. They also know the signs and symptoms that may become apparent if a child is being abused. Staff are fully aware of the action to take if they have any concerns about children or staff. Leaders and managers give staff regular opportunities to refresh their safeguarding knowledge by quizzing them at regular opportunities. The manager follows a safer recruitment policy. This helps to ensure that all staff are suitable to work with children.

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should:

n enhance staff knowledge to enable them to support children to build on what they know and can do n evaluate the impact of transitions during whole-group activities to ensure minimal disruption to learning

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should:

28 June 2022 n work in partnership with parents to support the nursery's healthy eating ethos.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2544732 Local authority St Helens Inspection number 10215495 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 Sessional day care

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inspection

Total number of places 54 Number of children on roll 78 Name of registered person Little Explorers Nurseries Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01744 885057 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Little Explorers: Rainford registered in 2019. The nursery employs 14 members of childcare staff. Of these, eight hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The nursery opens Monday to Friday, with the exception of bank holidays. The nursery operates from 7.30am until 6pm. 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 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 Children spoke to the inspector about what they enjoy doing at nursery. n Staff spoke to the inspector about how they support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. 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 Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.

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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

28 June 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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