Little Tots Academy

Inspection of Little Tots Academy 25 - 27 Sherburn Terrace, CONSETT, County Durham DH8 6ND

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Overall effectiveness Inadequate

The quality of education Inadequate Behaviour and attitudes Inadequate Personal development Inadequate Leadership and management Inadequate Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Inadequate

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The provision is inadequate

Children's safety, welfare, learning and development continue to be significantly compromised in the setting. There has been little improvement since the last inspection. Not all staff have a secure understanding of the procedures to follow should they have concerns about a child's welfare. Thorough risk assessments are not completed.

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The provision is inadequate

Children's learning is minimal at the setting and they are often bored and disengaged. They do not have access to a curriculum which is exciting, and which helps them to learn. For example, songs, rhymes and stories are not built into the daily routine and this hinders children's language development. Their learning needs and any gaps in progress, are not routinely identified. As a result, some children are not gaining the skills and attitudes they need to make a successful start in the next stage of their education. Children often struggle to manage their behaviour, have poor self-control and a lack of respect for others. They shout, climb on tables and demand staff's attention. Other children copy this behaviour. This results in a chaotic and negative environment.

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need to do better?

n There have been considerable changes to staffing since the last inspection. This has meant a change in who is the key person for some children. This has not been managed well. Some staff are unsure of which children they are responsible for or what their needs are. As a result, those children's needs are not always met. Additionally, important information about these children has not been shared with school to ease their transition in September. n Children occasionally become distressed due to staff failing to work closely with parents and carers. For example, information is not shared about changes to childcare rooms so that parents and carers can prepare children for this transition. n Although supervision sessions have been carried out with staff, these have not been effective in fostering continuous improvement, particularly in the delivery of the curriculum. n Staff often struggle to meet children's needs as well as having to undertake

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need to do better?

other duties, such as cooking and managerial tasks. They are not always deployed effectively. For example, at times, on the day of inspection, the manager cared for just one child in the baby room. Consideration was not given as to how groups of children could be re-organised to reduce the demands on other staff to improve quality of care and teaching. n During school holidays children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) do not receive an appropriate level of support due to reduced staffing levels. They gain little from their time at the setting and just wander aimlessly.

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need to do better?

26 July 2022 Additional pressure is placed on staff and subsequently this has a negative impact on all children's learning. n The setting is in receipt of additional funding for some children and this has been used to purchase resources to support their learning. However, these are not readily available to children during school holidays, therefore, do not improve outcomes for children at this time. n Staff are kind and caring and children approach them and the nursery owner with ease and confidence. Most parents speak positively of the relationships their children have built with staff. They say that some information is passed on at hand over times. However, information shared about children's learning, their progress and how this can be supported at home, is minimal. n Parents are not routinely reminded about the policies for the setting, such as the procedures for managing nut allergies. This results in inappropriate food being

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need to do better?

sent in from home and children becoming extremely distressed when they are not allowed to have it because of the risk to other children.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

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Safeguarding

Although staff have an understanding of the possible indicators of abuse, not all are informed about local child protection procedures. They are unsure of who to contact if they have concerns about the welfare of a child if the designated lead for child protection is absent. The manager has increased her knowledge of how to manage allegations against a member of staff and this is now done in line with requirements. Risk assessments have failed to identify the danger posed to children from loose trailing lights in the two- to three-year-old room. This room is currently being used for most children attending the setting during the school holidays.

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Due date

ensure all staff understand the safeguarding policy and procedures so that they can take prompt and appropriate action should they have concerns about a child 10/08/2022

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Due date

26 July 2022 implement effective supervision arrangements for staff, including the manager to support and develop them in their roles including the delivery of an ambitious curriculum for all children 10/08/2022

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Due date

introduce an effective key person system to ensure every child's care is tailored to meet their individual needs and to build a relationship with their parents and carers 10/08/2022

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Due date

improve the organisation of the setting and staffing arrangements to ensure children's individual needs are met and help reduce the burden of additional workload, such as cooking and cleaning 10/08/2022

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Due date

take all reasonable steps to ensure children are not exposed to risks: this relates to strings of fairy lights in the two- to three-year-old room 10/08/2022

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Due date

put arrangements to support children with SEND out of term time and ensure additional funding is used appropriately 10/08/2022

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Due date

improve the ways in which information is shared with parents to ensure children's needs are fully met, for example, when transitioning children between rooms, to ensure information about learning is shared, and to ensure parents are fully aware of the policies of the setting. 10/08/2022

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Due date

develop and deliver an ambitious curriculum that provides challenge to individual children's learning, keeps them engaged in activities and prepares them for school 01/09/2022

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Due date

26 July 2022 implement effective systems to recognise children's progress, understand their needs and identify any gaps in their learning and use the information gained to plan activities and support. 01/09/2022

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY497602 Local authority Durham Inspection number 10237184 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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inspection

Total number of places 70 Number of children on roll 40 Name of registered person Little Tots Academy Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01207 438 900 Date of previous inspection 18 March 2022

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Information about this early years setting

Little Tots Academy registered in 2016. The setting employs five members of childcare staff, including the manager. The majority of staff hold childcare qualifications at level 2 and above. The setting opens Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm, for 51 weeks of the year. It provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed any continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the nursery. n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about the nursery's curriculum and what they want the children to learn. n Children spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact on children's learning. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of an activity with the manager. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the

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Inspection activities

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

26 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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