Little Sneakers at Lodge Park

Inspection of Little Sneakers at Lodge Park 15 Lodge Pool Drive, Redditch, Worcestershire B98 7LH

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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 Outstanding

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The provision is good

There is a calm, happy and welcoming atmosphere at this nursery. Children thrive in an environment centred around their interests. They confidently choose the activities they wish to participate in. Babies demonstrate high levels of natural curiosity as they explore musical instruments. Toddlers are very imaginative. They create a 'birthday cake' using play dough and pretend to blow the candles out. Children in pre-school learn about life cycles through planting and growing seeds.

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The provision is good

Staff are committed to helping every child succeed and are attentive to their needs. Children behave really well and show positive attitudes towards learning. They play cooperatively with each other and respond well to the routines and boundaries in place. Children flourish on the praise they receive from staff for their efforts and achievements. This helps to build their self-esteem and confidence.

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The provision is good

Staff promote children's communication and language skills well. They ensure children of all ages have many opportunities to hear spoken words through meaningful conversations, reading books and singing songs. As a result, all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who speak English as an additional language, make good progress from their starting points.

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need to do better?

n The curriculum is broad, well sequenced and ambitious for all children. Planning is focused on children's current interests and needs. Children are motivated in their play and enjoy their self-chosen activities from the well-resourced environment. However, the organisation of group activities and deployment of staff do not support all children to maintain high levels of engagement in their learning. n The manager sets a clear direction for continual improvement and implements ongoing action plans to achieve this. She uses well-researched initiatives and supports staff to build on their professional development. For example, staff attend regular training, supervision sessions and staff meetings. Staff well-being is high. This has a positive impact on developing staff practice. n The quality of teaching is good. Staff provide children with a range of exciting and interesting opportunities that develop their curiosity for learning. For

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need to do better?

example, pre-school children build an ant house and learn about how to look after them, toddlers find treasure boxes in sand and babies explore rolling balls down a ramp. n Staff make good use of assessment to plan for individual children's needs and next steps. They provide activities that follow the interests of all children. Children who speak English as an additional language are included effectively.

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need to do better?

22 July 2022 Staff take time to get to know some words in children's home languages and include these in the planning and experiences provided. Children make good progress from their starting points. However, staff do not adapt their teaching enough during activities to help the most able children build on their skills even further. This means that occasionally, some children are not fully challenged during their learning. n Children develop good communication and language skills. The setting supports children's early language development through fostering a love of books, songs and rhymes. Staff take every opportunity to extend language, introducing new words and engaging children in meaningful conversations. For example, they talk with children about the size of a brontosaurus' neck and tail. n Staff use everyday opportunities to develop children's mathematical skills. For example, when making enclosures for animals, staff talk to children about how

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need to do better?

many animals they have and the shapes they have created for their enclosure. n Staff are good role models for children. They encourage children to talk about how they are feeling, which helps to promote emotional development. Older children know and understand the simple nursery rules. Staff offer clear and consistent reminders to help children learn about expectations and boundaries. n Inclusive practice is a strength of the setting. Children who need extra support are quickly identified. Staff work with outside agencies and share any concerns promptly. This helps to ensure that children receive any additional support needed to help them make good progress. n Relationships with parents are positive. Staff gather information from home about children's achievements, interests and routines on an ongoing basis. They use what they find out to provide a personalised experience for all children.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager and staff understand their roles and responsibilities in ensuring they provide a safe environment for children to learn and develop in. This includes taking effective steps to ensure that those they recruit are safe to work with children. They have robust systems in place to recognise when children are at risk of harm and take the necessary steps to keep them safe. For example, they liaise and share information where needed with other professionals. Staff are vigilant in recognising possible risks in the environment when children are playing and take appropriate action to keep them safe. Most staff have a first-aid qualification.

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should:

n improve the organisation of group activities and staff deployment to help children remain focused and engaged in their learning

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should:

22 July 2022 n adapt teaching more consistently to ensure all children, particularly the most able children, are challenged to the highest level during activities.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY217547 Local authority Worcestershire Inspection number 10116272 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 42 Number of children on roll 69 Name of registered person Sneakers Childcare Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01527 523279 Date of previous inspection 4 March 2014

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Information about this early years setting

Little Sneakers at Lodge Park registered in 2002. The nursery employs 11 members of staff. Of these, one is qualified to level 6, six are qualified to level 3 and two are qualified to level 2. The nursery opens from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, all year round, except bank holidays and one week at Christmas. 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 provider 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 provider. n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want children to learn. n Staff spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector observed the quality of teaching and the interactions between staff and children, and assessed the impact on children's learning. n The inspector and the manager carried out two joint observations of a group activity. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n The manager shared relevant documentation with the inspector.

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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

22 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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