Westlands Little Stars Childcare

Inspection of Westlands Little Stars Childcare Westlands Primary School, Ostend Place, NEWCASTLE, Staffordshire ST5 2QY

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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

Children are very happy and settled in nursery. They are enthusiastic to come into nursery and show that they feel happy and safe with staff. They are keen to explore their surroundings and begin to develop good levels of self-confidence. They benefit greatly from the warm, trusting relationships with staff and the friendships with their peers. Younger children look to a familiar adult for comfort. Older children display joy at the encouragement and praise they receive. Children confidently follow well-rehearsed daily routines. For example, older children readily help to tidy up.

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The provision is good

Children's behaviour is consistently very good because they know what is expected of them. Older children demonstrate good listening and attention skills. For example, children sit on the carpet at group time and join in with songs and familiar rhymes. Staff work well as a team and act as good role models for the children. They have high expectations and skilfully support children to follow the rules.

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The provision is good

Children enjoy playing in the role-play elf workshop, handing out presents they have wrapped. Children develop good coordination as they participate in a range of physical activities and play with enthusiasm. For example, older children run around the hall and jump and hop when the agreed colour is called out. Younger children bounce balls with staff and try to catch them.

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need to do better?

n Staff support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities well. They are knowledgeable about children's individual needs. The special educational needs coordinator takes swift action to provide intervention at the earliest opportunity. Staff use additional funding to support children's development. For example, they use emotion books with children and have one- to-one time with them. Staff also access local initiatives to support children's communication and language skills. n Staff teach children about the importance of being healthy and safe. For example, staff explain how to not bump into each other when running around by blowing an imaginary bubble around them. Children are asked to sit down after running around and put their hand on their chest to feel their heart beating faster. Staff explain the changes in their body, which helps children to stay healthy. n Children's language and communication are promoted well across the setting.

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need to do better?

Children participate in lots of singing and story-time routines. Staff talk and sing to children during play and introduce new words. A lending library offers the opportunity for children to take books home to read with their family. This helps

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need to do better?

6 December 2022 to promote children's speech and language development. n Staff take time to find out children's individual interests. They use their interests to support them in their learning. Staff plan the environment so that children can freely access activities of their choice, such as play dough, water, sand, construction and role play. Children show curiosity and are motivated learners who are confident to express their wishes. However, not all children are given equal opportunity to speak out, and occasionally quieter children are not always as involved as others. n Parents speak very highly of the nursery and feel included in their child's learning. Staff gather information about children's abilities when they first start. The manager and staff have communicated well with parents throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. n Healthy food is provided by the school. Children find their water bottle and sit at

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need to do better?

the table. Children talk to each other while they wait for everyone to join the group. Children help to serve their food, which encourages independence. However, the process is very slow, and children are sitting for a long time. This results in children becoming fidgety and distracted. n Leaders evaluate and monitor the quality of the provision. For example, staff complete a quality assurance accreditation scheme, which supports staff to evaluate practise and reflect on what works well and what can be improved. n Parents comment positively about the nursery. Parents receive daily feedback on their children's care routines and what activities their children have enjoyed. They comment that staff are extremely friendly and approachable and that their children are making good progress. Important messages, such as accidents, are reported effectively via the online application, and parents comment how informative the system is.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The premises is safe and secure. Staff are trained and can identify a cause for concern and know the action to take to protect children. Staff teach children how to be safe within the rooms. For example, stepping over uneven ground and how not to bump into each other when running around. Managers implement safer recruitment processes, and staff are suitable and inducted effectively. Ratios are maintained, and children are supervised well. Staff deployment is effective to keep children safe. Risk assessments are carried out, and equipment and resources are safe.

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should:

n consider ways to reduce time so that children are not sitting for too long

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should:

6 December 2022 n support quieter children more effectively so they are given equal opportunities to be included in all activities.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY369083 Local authority Staffordshire Inspection number 10233722 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 104 Number of children on roll 78 Name of registered person Little Stars (Westlands) Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 07736 932398 Date of previous inspection 24 January 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Westlands Little Stars Childcare registered in 2008. There are two care bases within the grounds of Westlands Primary School, one for children up to two-years-old and the other for children from three- to 11-years old. The nursery employs 19 members of childcare staff, all but two of whom are qualified at level 2 or above. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. 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 setting 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 senior manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together and discussed the curriculum. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of an activity with the manager. n The inspector observed the interactions between staff and children. n The inspector held discussions with staff and parents and took their views into account. n The inspector held discussions with leaders and reviewed evidence of the 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

6 December 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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