Little Owls Nursery (Carlisle) Limited

Inspection of Little Owls Nursery (Carlisle) Limited 28 Portland Square, Carlisle, Cumbria CA1 1PE

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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 Good

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The provision is good

Children are very happy and settled at this warm and welcoming nursery. Parents and carers praise the nurturing relationships the well-established staff team provide. Children feel safe and secure. Staff are excellent role models. They patiently and respectfully support children's emotional well-being. Babies gently help rock other babies to sleep. Older children show awareness of rules and boundaries and are kind to each other. They learn how to share and take turns. Toddlers are captivated by their favourite stories. They listen intently and join in enthusiastically with the parts that they remember. Children's behaviour is good.

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The provision is good

Children make good progress and are confident, curious and excited explorers. Babies sprinkle autumn coloured rice from bowl to bowl, watching in awe as it pours. Toddlers practise balancing and stretching at afternoon yoga. Staff expertly ask questions, which ignite children's problem-solving skills. For instance, older children explore mixing colours and what happens when they combine two colours together. Real life and natural resources inspire children to investigate. Older children are intrigued how light changes shadows and shapes on a wall as they move coloured blocks across a projector. Babies develop large-muscle movements as they roll and chase small pumpkins across the floor in different directions. Laughter fills the air as older children imaginatively use cable reels as vehicles to transport themselves outdoors.

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need to do better?

n Parents and carers are happy with the nurturing care their children receive. They compliment the amazing staff on their communication and commitment to building trusting relationships. Staff are flexible in meeting children's individual needs. Children feel safe and secure and so ready to learn. n The manager is passionate and committed in improving the setting. Regular supervisions support staff with innovative training and ideas to develop the environment. The manager understands what children need to learn. They share this curriculum intent with staff. However, occasionally, some staff do not always fully implement their curriculum knowledge to support children's learning. As a result, not all children engage in the learning intentions of the session. n Staff have a strong focus on children's language skills. Children talk with enthusiasm about home life, likes and dislikes. Staff skilfully model language and

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need to do better?

introduce new words. They give clear explanations and ask questions to provoke curiosity and problem-solving skills. Children develop good vocabulary. However, on occasion staff do not introduce key words in the children's home languages. This impacts on the ability of children who speak English as an additional language to understand routines and communicate. n Care practices are good. Staff role model good hygiene routines. They involve

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need to do better?

14 October 2022 children in learning about healthy living. For example, choosing fruit and vegetable sticks at snack time, the effects of exercise on their bodies and the importance of handwashing. Children manage their personal hygiene needs appropriately for their age. n Staff weave mathematical language into everyday activities. For example, children count out food items for breakfast. Toddlers count to 10 and recognise numbers in stories. Older children paint and build, investigating size and shape. Children use mathematical language in their play with confidence. n Children learn about those who help them in the community through supportive staff. They plan visits from the emergency services. This helps children develop respectful attitudes. However, staff do not always further explore the culture and heritage of all children attending the nursery. Resources and books reflecting differences in families are limited in everyday play. This means

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need to do better?

children's understanding of diversity is less well developed. n Children's emotional development is embedded well. Children form strong bonds with staff and benefit from caring and attentive interactions. Staff help children to identify and name their feelings using props and books. This helps boost their confidence and emotional well-being. Therefore, children are confident, resilient and curious to explore. n Children with special educational needs/and or disabilities receive good care and support. Trained staff work with external professionals to identify and meet children's needs. They make good progress from their starting points.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager and staff have a secure knowledge of how to safeguard children. All staff complete regular safeguarding training, which is applicable to their specific role. Staff are first-aid trained. They understand the procedures to follow in the event of an accident. The manager has robust recruitment procedures in place to help ensure that staff are suitable to work with children. They deploy staff well to meet the needs of the children. Staff take action to prevent the spread of infection and carry out effective risk assessments. This helps to ensure the environment is safe and secure for children to play in.

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should:

n strengthen supervisions further to focus on curriculum implementation, ensuring staff know how to support children's learning to the highest level n ensure there are opportunities for all children to engage and celebrate their heritage, home language and culture through everyday events that reflect their home life.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY319329 Local authority Cumbria Inspection number 10234986 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 52 Number of children on roll 54 Name of registered person Little Owls Nursery (Carlisle) Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01228 550503 Date of previous inspection 13 January 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Little Owls Nursery (Carlisle) Limited registered in 2006 and is based in Carlisle, Cumbria. The nursery employs 11 members of childcare staff. Of these, one holds a qualification at level 2, nine hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and the owner, deputy manager and manager hold management qualifications at levels 4 and 5. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round, except for bank holidays. Sessions are from 7.45am until 5.45pm. 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 that the provider received since the COVID- 19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the manager and has taken that into account in her evaluation of the nursery. n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want their children to learn. n The inspector spoke with the manager about the leadership and management of the setting. n Staff spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector and the manager jointly evaluated an activity with babies. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the setting. 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 and carers shared their views of the setting 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

14 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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