Little Feet Day Nursery

Inspection of Little Feet Day Nursery 1 Bury New Road, Breightmet, Bolton BL2 6QE

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Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

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

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The provision requires improvement

In the main, children are happy and safe at this welcoming nursery. They leave their parents with ease and are eager to greet staff. However, the key-person system is not as robust as it could be for younger children. For example, some younger children take a long time to settle when their key persons are not present. Although staff are caring and loving towards children, leaders have not established effective systems for younger children to feel emotionally secure in the care of other staff.

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The provision requires improvement

Overall, children behave well. However, some children do not always show positive attitudes towards their learning, as activities staff present to them are not always matched to their interests. For example, when toddlers are given a colouring sheet of a robot to complete, they quickly become disengaged and wander off to play somewhere else. Babies are not always engaged in their learning, as some activities are pitched too high for them. Pre-school children show sound concentration skills while learning about the sounds that letters represent. Although there are gaps in the curriculum, children make satisfactory progress and develop the necessary skills in readiness for school. They are confident communicators and were eager to show the inspector construction models that they made out of wooden building blocks. Children enjoy singing and show staff new dance moves.

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need to do better?

n Leaders aspire for the nursery to be good. They are aware of the improvements that they need to do to bring about change. Self-evaluation includes the views of staff, children and parents. Leaders demonstrate positive attitudes to remedy shortfalls, and they want the very best for children. n A newly introduced curriculum has yet to take full effect across the nursery. Leaders have not been clear enough to staff about what they intend children to learn. Some activities are not pitched at the correct level and are not developmentally appropriate for some children. For example, all children across the nursery are expected to follow themes, such as space. Babies are expected to learn about rockets and planets. Leaders acknowledge that these activities are not appropriate for babies and are not best for helping them to reach their full potential. The curriculum does not support all children to make good

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need to do better?

progress. n Staff receive support and guidance during supervision sessions and appraisal meetings. They keep up to date with mandatory training, and leaders place high priority on staff well-being. Staff report that working at the nursery is like 'an extended part of the family.' n Occasionally, there are weaknesses in the key-person system for younger children. For example, when a key person is not present, some younger children

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need to do better?

25 November 2022 become upset and do not settle for prolonged periods of time. Leaders do not always ensure that other staff members have developed strong relationships with children. This does not support the emotional well-being of some children effectively. n Staff provide children with healthy foods and are aware of children's individual dietary needs. They teach children about the importance of healthy living and oral hygiene. Hygiene practices are effective, and children talk about the significance of washing their hands before eating. However, the organisation of lunchtime routines for older children is not as effective as it could be. Children become restless as they wait too long for their food. Their behaviour begins to deteriorate. Some staff are not always astute to this and do not give clear messages to children about their behaviour. n The support in place for children with special educational needs and/or

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need to do better?

disabilities (SEND) and children who speak English as an additional language (EAL) is strong. Leaders liaise with external professionals to ensure that children have the relevant support. Children with SEND make steady progress, and children who speak EAL gain a secure command of English. n Parental partnerships are a strength of the nursery. Parents commend the staff on their loving natures. Parents receive newsletters and daily updates about their children's time at the nursery. These partnerships help to provide a consistency of care for children. n Staff support children's large-muscle skills well. They test children's physical endurance during an assault course and support children to develop new skills, such as learning how to ride a tricycle. Children thoroughly enjoy being outdoors, and their laughter fills the air as they cheer their friends on during races. n Staff teach children well about the world in which they live. Children enjoy

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need to do better?

finding out about festivals from around the world. Older children talk about what makes them unique and about activities they take part in for Diwali.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Robust procedures are in place to ensure that staff are suitable to work with children. Staff supervise children well and ensure they are kept safe at all times. Risk assessments are effective, and leaders understand how to ensure that the premises is suitable for childcare. Staff are trained in first aid and understand how to deal with accidents. Leaders have a secure understanding of child protection. They know the steps to take if there is an allegation against a staff member. Staff teach children about e-safety and are aware of the possible indicators of abuse and neglect.

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Due date

ensure that children are provided with an ambitious curriculum that builds on what they already know and can do 13/01/2023

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Due date

ensure leaders consider further ways to strengthen the key-person system for younger children when their key person is not present. 13/01/2023

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should:

n organise lunchtime routines for older children better, to ensure that they are not waiting too long for their food n support children to gain positive attitudes towards their learning and provide them with clear messages about their behaviour.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY470580 Local authority Bury Inspection number 10262468 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 70 Number of children on roll 72 Name of registered person Little Feet S & D Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01204521507 Date of previous inspection 29 October 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Little Feet Day Nursery registered in 2014 and is situated in the Breightmet area of Bolton. It employs 17 members of childcare staff. Of these, 15 hold an early years qualification at level 2 and above. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, for 51 weeks of the year. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm. 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 We carried out this inspection as a result of a risk assessment, following information we received about the provider. n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk. n The inspector observed the interactions between staff and children throughout the day and evaluated the impact these had on children's learning. n A joint observation was carried out by the inspector and manager. n The inspector held discussions with the leadership team, staff and children 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

25 November 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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