Little Lambs Childcare

Inspection of Little Lambs Childcare Little Lambs Nursery, Valley House, Tatenhill Common, Rangemore, Burton-on- trent DE13 9RS

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Overall effectiveness Inadequate

The quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement Personal development Inadequate Leadership and management Inadequate Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not applicable

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The provision is inadequate

Weaknesses in practice have a negative impact on children's health and safety. Children's experiences vary from room to room because the manager does not fully monitor staff performance. For example, pre-school children practise key skills that help to prepare them for the next stage in their learning. However, there is less emphasis on establishing these skills for younger children. This does not help children to fulfil their potential.

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The provision is inadequate

Despite this, children demonstrate positive attitudes towards their learning. They show perseverance in their play and respond positively when faced with difficult challenges. For instance, babies try hard to balance spaghetti on a spoon. They practise their hand-to-eye coordination as they tip the pasta into a bowl. Pre-school children vocalise their ideas to understand how to fit a large piece of paper into a small envelope. Toddlers develop dexterity as they carefully place interlocking pieces together to make a structure. They say, 'that way, that way,' to guide their movements. This shows children feel secure within the environment to express their ideas and problem solve.

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The provision is inadequate

Overall, staff care about children. They celebrate children's achievements. For example, when children learn to write their own name and confidently identify the letters and sounds they hear, they receive a 'high five,' alongside verbal praise for their efforts. This promotes children's self-esteem and positively contributes towards their happiness.

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need to do better?

n Children's health and safety cannot be assured because there are weaknesses in their supervision. For example, staff do not pay enough attention to all children when assisting the needs of others. As a result, staff do not notice when children wander off and walk up a full flight of stairs without being supervised. This means children are at significant risk of injury. n In addition to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been significant changes in the staff structure. As a result, staff do not consistently receive the professional development opportunities, support or training they need to enable them to deliver the best possible outcomes for children. For example, staff who directly work with babies have not attended the required training that specifically addresses the care needs of babies. However, although this is a requirement, the impact on the level of care babies receive is minimal as the member of staff

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need to do better?

in charge of the baby room has several years' experience of working with babies and younger children. n The manager shows a willingness to improve. For example, she works with local authority coordinators to discuss updates in legislation, and she reads relevant

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need to do better?

24 January 2023 reports to identify what good practice looks like. Although the manager has started to make some changes to benefit children, she identifies that she has not yet had the time to fully embed all areas of improvement. As a result, there are weaknesses in practice. n Staff know children well. They use observations and assessments to identify some beneficial areas of learning, including activities that focus on gaps in children's development. However, younger children do not have as many opportunities to develop their independence and try to do things for themselves. For example, staff do not encourage them to try to use utensils correctly when eating. n Children's experiences link to the familiar stories they enjoy listening to. For instance, pre-school children engage in a two-way conversation about a 'potato who is super.' They make a secure connection between the characters in the story, such as 'evil pea', and the benefits of healthy eating. This helps them to

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need to do better?

exercise their ideas and develop positive relationships with food. Although younger children listen to stories, they are not encouraged to be fully involved. Staff read stories quickly and do not always respond positively when children ask questions. n Children and babies regularly hear new words to enhance their vocabulary. For example, staff describe the spaghetti as 'sticky.' This encourages babies to repeat the word. Additionally, pre-school children use previously taught language to enhance their conversations during group activities. This shows children absorb new language. n When babies cannot participate in outdoor learning, staff explore other ways to promote their physical development. For example, they engage in soft play activities where they crawl, step and balance. They practise moving their bodies in a variety of ways. This helps to strengthen babies' muscles ready for the next stage in their development.

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need to do better?

n Staff seek the views of parents to help children to settle. Parents positively comment on the assessments they receive from their key persons to enhance their children's learning at home. They express the benefits of the 'stay-and-play sessions' staff organise, such as the 'Christmas craft session,' where parents can further discuss their children's progress. n Staff work in partnership with teachers to support children's transitions to school. For example, teachers visit the setting to discuss children's progress. Staff show children pictures of their new teachers. This helps children to become familiar with new people and promotes their confidence.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

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Safeguarding

The premises are suitable and the resources and equipment meet the needs of the children attending. However, ineffective supervision and staff training compromises children's health and safety. Despite this, staff know the correct procedures to follow should they have concerns about a child's welfare and how to report an allegation. The manager and staff understand the signs and symptoms that might

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Safeguarding

24 January 2023 indicate a child is at risk of neglect or abuse, including changes in children's behaviour and bruises on a non-mobile baby. They are mindful of the impact abuse and trauma can have on children's emotional development. They work well with other professionals to further promote children's welfare.

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Due date

improve staff deployment to ensure that children are adequately supervised at all time, especially when accessing the stairs 07/02/2023

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Due date

support staff to undertake training and professional development opportunities to ensure they fully understand their roles and responsibilities and offer children quality learning and development experiences 07/02/2023

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Due date

provide training for at least half of all staff working with babies that specifically addresses the care of babies. 21/02/2023

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2616297 Local authority Staffordshire Inspection number 10265349 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 65 Number of children on roll 41 Name of registered person C E Barker Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01283 713906 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Little Lambs Childcare re-registered in December 2020. The nursery employs seven members of childcare staff, five of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am to 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 manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want children to learn. n The inspector spoke to children to find out about their time at the setting. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The inspector carried out joint observations of group activities with the manager. n One parent shared their views of the setting with the inspector via telephone. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the

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Inspection activities

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

24 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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