Panda's Nursery and Preschool

Inspection of Little Owls Day Nursery Thistle Drive Playcentre, Wessex Close, Peterborough PE2 8HZ

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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

Overall, the quality of education provided for children requires improvement. Although children demonstrate that they are settled and happy to attend they are sometimes left to occupy themselves as staff complete other daily tasks. Children do not benefit from consistent well-planned activities and interactions from the staff that extends their learning. For example, when children begin to make marks in the porridge oats, staff do not spontaneously use this opportunity to build on their interests. They do not challenge children's ideas and thinking as they play. Children lose interest and wander off. Furthermore, some younger children are sometimes unnoticed during group story and rhyme time activities as staff focus on older children.

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The provision requires improvement

Younger children enjoy looking at picture books of animals. They are encouraged to make animal sounds, such as neighing like a horse and are introduced to mathematical concepts, such as big and small. Older children develop their hand- to-eye coordination skills as they use spades to scoop and transport sand. Children play cooperatively together as they build the train track and carefully line up the toy trains on the wooden track. Older children are developing their pencil control skills.

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need to do better?

n The quality of care and learning opportunities provided for the children has declined since the last inspection and requires improvement. The nursery has recently undergone some staff changes and the manager is currently trying to recruit new staff. On the day of the inspection, the manager and staff failed to follow their daily cleaning routines. The children's toilets and hand wash basins were dirty, and stairs leading to the nursery room had not been cleaned. n The manager recognises that improvements are required to ensure the outdoor area is safe and suitable for its purpose. This restricts regular opportunities for the children to play and learn outside. Temporary arrangements are in place to make the area secure and further work is planned to enhance outdoor learning opportunities for children. n Staff do not consistently structure and implement a meaningful curriculum, and the quality of teaching is variable. Staff do not plan activities well enough to

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need to do better?

engage children in purposeful learning. Additionally, staff, sometimes, fail to motivate children's engagement in their play, to build on what each individual child knows and can already do. Children's interest is not always sustained and at times staff look disinterested. Additionally, the manager could not find completed progress check information for children between age two and three years, which she states had been completed. n Staffing arrangements do not consistently or effectively meet children's needs.

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need to do better?

23 February 2023 Sometimes, staff are overstretched completing daily duties, such as covering for other staff and preparing for snack while trying to also care for the children. This also dilutes the quality of education provided for the children at this time. n Staff have opportunities to complete training courses, such as how to support children who speak English as an additional language. However, training opportunities require further evaluation to ensure all staff understand and have the knowledge and skills to implement the curriculum effectively across the nursery. This includes their interactions with the children. n The manager and staff develop appropriate relationships with the children and demonstrate that they know them. Children are welcomed on their arrival at the nursery. They seek reassurance if they are feeling sad or upset, and older children are encouraged to talk about their feelings during group time activities.

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need to do better?

This appropriately supports children's emotional well-being. n Overall children behave appropriately. They learn to listen, take their turn and to share the resources. Children respond to gentle reminders not to run indoors and learn to follow instructions. n Management and staff develop appropriate partnerships with parents. Information about their child's day is shared on collection, and parents can access information about their child's development and progress through an online app. Parents have opportunities to become involved in the nursery. For example, the manager arranged a Christmas themed stay-and-play session for the children and their families.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager and staff demonstrate a sound understanding of the possible signs of abuse and neglect. They understand how to make a referral if they have concerns about a child in their care. The manager follows appropriate recruitment and induction procedures. Checks are completed to ensure staff working with the children are suitable. Staff ensure that the children are always accompanied and supervised when they access all ground floor areas, including the children's designated toilets. They teach the children to walk sensibly and to hold onto the handrail when they access the stairs.

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Due date

23 February 2023 ensure areas used by the children are suitable for their purpose; this includes the cleanliness of the toilets, stairs and outdoor area 10/03/2023

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Due date

review staffing arrangements to ensure staff effectively meet the children's needs at all times 10/03/2023

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Due date

improve staff's personal effectiveness, including their knowledge of the curriculum and interactions with the children, to ensure all children receive meaningful and challenging learning experiences that build on what they already know and can do 21/04/2023

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Due date

improve professional development opportunities to identify gaps in knowledge, skills and practice that will help raise the quality of the curriculum, staff interactions and learning activities provided for children 21/04/2023

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Due date

ensure progress checks for children aged between two and three years are completed and available for inspection. 24/03/2023

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY500534 Local authority Peterborough Inspection number 10278537 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 22 Number of children on roll 33 Name of registered person Little Owls Day Nursery (Peterborough) Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01733315747 Date of previous inspection 28 August 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Little Owls Day Nursery re-registered in 2016. The nursery employs six members of childcare staff. Of these, five hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 8am until 5pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n We carried out this inspection as a result of a risk assessment, following information we received about the provider. n The inspector discussed any continued impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The manager, who is also the registered provider, and the inspector completed a learning walk to understand how the early years curriculum is organised. n The inspector observed staff's interactions with the children during indoor activities, and assessed the impact this has on the children's progress and achievements. n The manager and staff engaged in discussions with the inspector at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager and discussed the children's progress and achievements. n A sample of the nursery documents was reviewed by the inspector. This included evidence of staff suitability and training.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector took account of the views of parents by speaking to them. n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises.

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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

23 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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