Little Explorers Nursery

Inspection of Little Explorers Nursery 34 Sheaf Lane, BIRMINGHAM B26 3HD

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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, and some of them run in without waving goodbye to their parents. The staff are there for those children who need extra support to separate from parents, to provide them with help and reassurance. Children settle quickly in a safe environment with the different toys set out for them to play with. Staff provide a wide range of activities for children to choose from. The younger children are busy as they wash babies in the water and explore the messy play in the garden. Older children play on the obstacle course to develop their physical skills. They balance on wooden blocks and soft play beams. They show respect for each other as they wait and take turns.

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The provision is good

Children develop their independence. For example, they choose their own seat at lunchtime and begin to use cutlery correctly with support from staff. Children enjoy singing songs and using the African drum to make soft and loud sounds. They practise songs and dances to perform at their graduation ceremony. Children enjoy the outside area. They enjoy water play as they investigate a fountain that is powered by solar panels. They develop their creativity and early mark making skills at they paint hero shields.

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need to do better?

n Staff have clear goals for what they want the children to learn from the various activities they provide. For example, they plan a water activity to teach children about weight and density. Children weigh the items in their hands and try to guess if they will sink or float. n The key-worker system is effective and staff have a good knowledge of their key children and how to support their learning and development. They know their key child's starting points and plan pertinent next steps that are unique to each child's learning needs. They use flashcards and emoji pillows to support children's emotions. n Staff use lots of different words throughout the day, such as soft, lumpy and heavy to help children with their vocabulary. However, some of these words are already known to the children. Staff do not consistently introduce new words to provide a rich language environment and build on what children already know.

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need to do better?

n Parents speak highly of how the staff support them with children's development, through daily feedback, parents meetings and an online journal. Parents appreciate the help they receive with sharing tips on how to potty train and how to access other agencies for support where necessary. n The special educational needs and/or disability (SEND) coordinator has a good overview of how children who are on the SEND register are developing. The paperwork to seek additional support is completed in a timely manner. This ensures support from other agencies is swiftly implemented to help children who

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need to do better?

8 July 2022 need any additional input to make good progress in their learning. n Most children are able to access outdoor activities as staff generally position themselves around the garden to provide help and ensure children's safety. However, some children do not consistently receive the support they need to enable them to access the activities. They sometimes wander around the garden without staff support and as a result, valuable learning experiences are lost. n Procedures are in place to make staff feel well supported with supervisions and peer-on-peer observations. There are training programs for staff to access, ensuring the quality of staff teaching is being consistently developed and improved. n Management have a sound overview of the curriculum and they way that children learn. They ensure that staff provide a sequenced approach to children's learning to build on what children already know and can do. For

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need to do better?

example, babies learn how to babble, move on to single words and then put two words together. This structure is implemented throughout the nursery. As a result, all children make progress in their development.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Safer recruitment is robust. Checks are completed for all staff to ensure they are suitable for the position. Inductions are in place to support new staff to be familiar with policies and procedures, including safeguarding. All staff are aware of their role and responsibilities to safeguard children. They go on the necessary safeguarding training, to identify signs they need to look out for to keep children safe and the procedures to follow if they have a concern. Management regularly ask questions to check staff knowledge and to keep them familiar with policies and procedures.

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should:

n provide children with even more opportunities to develop their vocabulary and learn new words n support children who need a little more help to access activities, especially outdoors, in order to fully maximise their learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2564138 Local authority Birmingham Inspection number 10233495 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 Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 53 Number of children on roll 85 Name of registered person Little Explorers (Birmingham) Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 0121 7432828 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Little Explorers Nursery registered in 2019. The nursery employs 17 members of staff, 16 of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 and above. The nursery is open from 7.30am until 6pm, Monday to Friday, all year round. The nursery provides funded for 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 he nursery. n The nursery manager and the inspector carried out a learning walk. n The inspector observed the interactions between staff and children throughout the day and evaluated the impact on children's learning. n A joint observation was carried out by the inspector, deputy manager and nursery manager. n The inspector held discussions with the management team, staff, parents at appropriate times during the inspection.

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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

8 July 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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