Little Professors Nursery

Inspection of Little Professors Nursery Walsall College, Littleton Street West, Walsall, West Midlands WS2 8ES

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

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

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The provision is outstanding

Children are highly enthusiastic learners, who very much enjoy coming to nursery. They are extremely happy and demonstrate high levels of emotional security, confidence and self-esteem. Children's interests and love for learning are at the heart of every decision that staff make. Children thoroughly enjoy exploring the ambitious curriculum in the carefully planned environment. This particularly supports those children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

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The provision is outstanding

All children make excellent progress from their starting points. They make independent choices from highly motivating activities that capture their curiosity for learning. For example, children enjoy accessing the play dough station and make their own dough from raw ingredients. They are completely involved in their play and learning, and are constantly smiling and laughing together. For example, children eagerly join in as they look at and care for the nursery's pet snail. They smile and giggle with excitement and they relish the praise that they receive from staff. Children confidently talk about their learning using rich vocabulary. Children behave exceptionally well. They develop secure relationships with staff. Staff support children in developing independence through well-established daily routines. For example, children are encouraged to wipe their own nose, check in the mirror to see if they are clean, and then wash their hands.

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need to do better?

n Staff are highly skilled and knowledgeable, and demonstrate a deep understanding of how children learn. They plan and implement an exemplary, sequenced curriculum based on children's interests. All children make outstanding progress in relation to their starting points, including children with SEND and those from disadvantaged backgrounds. n Staff are exceptionally skilled at developing children's communication and language skills. They use a range of strategies to support children's language, including talking clearly and giving children plenty of time to practise speaking. Children take it in turns to talk about the contents of their 'chitter chatter bag'. Children investigate the winter themed 'curious cube' and relate it to the snow outside. They say words such as 'icy' and 'slippy' to describe the weather. Children enthusiastically investigate and share ideas as they predict how long it will take for their mini snowmen to melt.

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need to do better?

n Children thoroughly enjoy their learning and show a keenness to explore and discover. They are excited to listen and join in with stories. Children are invited into the college library for literacy sessions that are hosted by library staff, and mindfulness sessions, which are carried out in a separate early years room. Parents have access to a literacy app, provided by the nursery, which allows books to be read or spoken at home in any language. The app is also used

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need to do better?

18 January 2023 within the nursery to support children who speak English as an additional language. n Staff strive to provide children with rich experiences that ignite curiosity and discussion to help them to understand about the world and the people who live in it. For example, children visit a care home every week and take part in activities with the residents. Children have the opportunity to engage with college students while they help them to create items, such as canvas bags in the art department. Children are able to add their name onto the bag using hot press ink. Children also explore the life jackets and seat belts in a mock aeroplane in the travel and tourism department. n Children actively enjoy taking part in forest school activities. They make a pretend fire, then move onto making a real fire and toasting marshmallows. Early years college students come into the nursery and support children with

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need to do better?

their activities. Children learn about renewable energy in their new eco-friendly sensory room outside that is solar and wind powered. n Excellent partnership with parents is in place. Parents speak highly of the nursery and cannot praise the staff enough. They comment on how the children are fully supported and are always learning new things. Parents are provided with up-to-date information via an app, and a homework book offers activity ideas for parents to share with children at home. n Self-evaluation is of the highest priority. Leaders have worked extremely well since the last inspection to provide an outstanding service for children and their families. For example, all staff have accessed a range of training opportunities to enhance their professional development and teaching skills. Various accreditations have been achieved, including sun safety, Millie's Mark, International Eco Schools Award, Food For Life, and a school gardening award.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The premises are safe and secure. Staff attend safeguarding training. They 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, they teach them to walk inside and not run. 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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Setting details

Unique reference number EY395277 Local authority Walsall Inspection number 10262911 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 62 Number of children on roll 79 Name of registered person Walsall College

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reference number

Telephone number 01922 657 062 Date of previous inspection 7 April 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Little Professors Nursery registered in 2009. The nursery employs 15 members of childcare staff. Of these, 12 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above, and one member of staff holds a qualification at level 6. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, 8.30am until 5.30pm, all year round. The nursery receives funding for the provision of free 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, nursery 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 had 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

18 January 2023 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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