Little Explorers

Inspection of Little Explorers Ackworth Cricket Club, Wakefield Road, Ackworth, Pontefract WF7 7DF

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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 Requires improvement

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The provision is good

Children are well behaved, happy and settled. Staff help children to have a good understanding of the daily routines within the setting. For example, they hold their hands up to signal when it is tidy-up time. Children finish what they are doing and willingly help to tidy the resources away. They learn to share and take turns with others. Children have the sensitive support of staff, who are very observant of what is happening around them. Children have a genuine love of stories. They sit, listen and answer questions. Staff read well and this helps to keep children focused.

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The provision is good

Children are confident and approach staff for help, reassurance or comfort. This shows that their relationships are secure and they feel safe. Children enjoy being outside. They carefully manoeuvre bicycles to avoid obstacles and enjoy the thrill of riding up and down a ramp. Children enjoy outings within the local community, visit the garden centre and go to the local shops.

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need to do better?

n Managers and staff are committed to improving the care and education that they provide for children. Since the last inspection, there has been an improvement in the curriculum. This has resulted in staff providing activities that challenge and extend children's learning. n The manager is very clear about the curriculum and the level of teaching and learning she is aiming for. Managers and staff continue to work with the local authority improvement officer to enhance their practice. n The key-person system is well embedded. Staff know what children can do before they start. They use this knowledge to plan activities around what children need to learn next. This helps to ensure that children make good progress. n Children are interested and motivated learners, who find something to interest them. They learn about the different occupations of people who help them. They answer questions about the equipment that firefighters use and talk about vets

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need to do better?

who look after animals. n Staff are well qualified. They attend relevant training to improve their teaching and learning opportunities for children. They use some of the training they have attended to improve communication and language in children. For example, children enjoy singing songs and rhymes during group times. They choose an illustrated wooden spoon to show which song or rhyme they want. Staff use a mixture of facial expressions and sign language, along with the words they are singing. Children copy these, showing that they are learning to communicate in different ways. n The partnerships with parents work well. Staff share relevant information with

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need to do better?

3 February 2023 parents. This helps to ensure that parents know the progress their children make and what they need to learn next. n As children prepare for school, staff focus on the skills they need to be confident learners. Children learn to be independent and to follow good hygiene practices. They go to the toilet on their own and wash their hands after toileting and before eating. When children want to go outside, they find their own coats. Most children can put them on and fasten them. Other children get the support and encouragement they need to keep trying and be successful. n Children listen to stories about the importance of taking care of themselves, such as brushing their teeth and eating healthy foods. They enjoy meals prepared from fresh ingredients. Children use proper cutlery and sit together at mealtimes. Mealtimes are a pleasant time for children as they chat to each other and the staff who sit with them.

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need to do better?

n Key persons complete the required progress checks when children are aged between two and three years. They include a summary of information about the key areas of children's development. Parents receive a copy. All required documentation is in place to meet statutory requirements. n Although teaching has improved, staff occasionally use more familiar ways of saying words, such as 'piggy' and 'doggy'. This means that children do not consistently hear the correct pronunciation of words. Also, on occasions, staff ask children questions that are a little too challenging. This means that teaching is not of the standard to help children to make excellent progress, particularly in communication development.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager and staff demonstrate a good understanding of child protection and safeguarding policies and procedures. They are confident in their ability to implement the procedures in a timely manner should they have concerns that a child is at risk of neglect or abuse. The manager and staff understand the roles of the local authority designated officer and social services. Staff carry out visual risk assessments to ensure that the environment is suitable for use by children. The door to the setting is locked while children are inside. Staff carefully supervise children when they are outside to ensure that they do not leave the premises.

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should:

n explore ways to help staff raise the quality of education and achieve excellent outcomes for all children.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY552958 Local authority Wakefield Inspection number 10230223 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 16 Number of children on roll 36 Name of registered person Pindar, Victoria Louise

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reference number

Telephone number 07904812656 Date of previous inspection 10 February 2022

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Information about this early years setting

Little Explorers registered in 2018 and operates from the cricket pavilion in Ackworth in Wakefield. The provider employs five members of childcare staff. Of these, two hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 6 and three hold qualifications at level 3. The nursery opens Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 7am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education places for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n This is 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 The inspector observed the quality of education and assessed the impact on children's learning. n The manager discussed the curriculum and what she wants children to learn. n The manager discussed the intended outcomes for children in a planned activity that children took part in. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and took account of parents' views.

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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

3 February 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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