Little Stars Day Nursery

Inspection of Little Stars Day Nursery Quadring Road, Gosberton, Spalding, Lincs PE11 4NB

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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 enter the nursery happy and with a smile on their faces. Warm and welcoming staff greet them on their arrival. Children settle well. They are keen and curious to explore the environment, and become engaged in the activities on offer. For example, children play alongside their friends with a magnetic fishing game. They show good hand-to-eye coordination as they hook a fish. Children show they feel safe and secure. Babies cuddle staff for reassurance when they wake from their sleep. Toddlers approach staff and ask them for help when using the bathroom. Pre-school children eagerly seek out staff to tell them about their learning.

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The provision is good

Children thoroughly enjoy playing in the well-equipped playrooms that offer interesting activities and resources. For example, babies show delight when they take it in turns with staff to turn the handle of a 'caterpillar' Jack in the Box and he pops out. Toddlers become totally engrossed in imaginary role play in the pretend doctor's surgery. They show their understanding of real-life experience when they use a pencil to make an appointment in a book. Pre-school children use scissors effectively to snip autumn leaves, which they then glue to paper to create a picture. Staff are close by to interact with children, but also have high expectations of what they can do for themselves. All children show readiness for the next stages of their learning.

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need to do better?

n The knowledgeable provider supports the team well. Staff report that their well- being is good and they receive support in their role. Effective systems are in place for the supervision of staff. The manager observes staff's teaching. She provides them with constructive feedback to further improve their teaching. Staff complete regular training. This helps to keep their knowledge and skills of how to support children's development current. n The curriculum is a blend of adult-led and child-led play that aims to cover all seven areas of learning. Babies develop the muscles in their fingers when they use their hands to explore autumnal dough. Toddlers develop their senses when they use their hands to explore cereals and farmyard resources. Pre-school children develop their understanding of how to use tools as they use them to excavate autumn items, such as conkers and leaves from ice blocks. When staff

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need to do better?

play alongside toddlers and older children, they ask questions about their investigations. This contributes to children's thinking skills and their natural instinct to play and explore. n Children's behaviour is good. Staff support children to manage their feelings and behaviour by setting clear rules and boundaries. They encourage children to take turns and share resources. Staff model good behaviour and respect. This

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need to do better?

11 October 2022 supports the children to develop good manners and respect for others. n Overall, the provider is keen for children to learn about the local community. The nursery has signed up to take part in the local church flower festival and children have brought vegetables from a local grower. However, since the COVID-19 pandemic there have been fewer opportunities for children to learn about people and communities beyond the nursery. n Staff provide children with good opportunities for fresh air and to engage in physical activity. Children take age-appropriate risks, enabling them to understand how to keep themselves safe. For example, children safely negotiate space and change speed and direction on wheeled toys. n Staff provide children with various opportunities to learn and develop independence. They offer babies choices in their play and encourage them to begin to feed themselves at mealtimes. Toddlers and pre-school children

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need to do better?

independently pour their own drinks and serve themselves snack, such as buttering their cracker with cream cheese. Children are confident in their play, self-help skills and choice making. n Staff encourage children's communication and language skills. Pre-school children listen well at circle time and answer questions about the seasons. They say, 'The leaves fall down and change colour to brown and yellow'. Although staff's interactions are continually good, there are times when staff do not challenge pre-school children, to extend their learning even further.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The provider and staff have a good understanding of safeguarding procedures to keep children safe. They complete regular refresher training to keep their knowledge current. Staff know the procedures to follow if they have concerns about a colleague. Staff know to refer to the nursery policies to gain information in order to keep children safe and secure. The provider has strong recruitment and supervision procedures in place to help to ensure staff working with children are suitable to do so. Staff support children to have an understanding of how to keep themselves safe. For example, they explain to toddlers to hold the handrail when walking upstairs.

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should:

n provide further links to people and the community to ensure that children experience a range of opportunities to learn about the wider world n support staff to improve their skills even further, to help them to maximise all opportunities to extend children's learning as far as possible.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2592159 Local authority Lincolnshire Inspection number 10220690 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 86 Number of children on roll 75 Name of registered person Gromett, Beverley

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reference number

Telephone number 01775 840997 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Little Stars Day Nursery registered in 2020. It is located in Gosberton, Lincolnshire. The nursery employs 12 members of childcare staff. Of these, ten hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and above, including the provider who holds qualified teacher status. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 7.45am to 5.30pm. 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 nursery. n The provider and the inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n Staff and children spoke to the inspector during the inspection. 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 The provider and the inspector carried out a joint observation together. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. n The inspector spoke to some parents and took account of their feedback.

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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

11 October 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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