Little Star Nursery

Inspection of Little Star Nursery Elm Hayes Surgery, Clandown Road, Paulton, BRISTOL BS39 7SF

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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 Good

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The provision is good

Children show that they are happy and feel secure at this welcoming setting. They smile as they arrive and enjoy sitting together to eat breakfast. Staff create a calm and nurturing environment. This helps children to settle quickly and build strong bonds with staff.

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The provision is good

Children confidently explore the room and show curiosity in the toys and learning experiences on offer. For example, they say, 'wow!', as they mix glitter and marshmallows into dough and pretend to make pancakes. Staff build on this curiosity and expertly extend children's skills and knowledge.

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The provision is good

Staff know the children well. They use their secure knowledge of child development and children's interests to plan a balanced curriculum. Children show excitement for learning. They keenly involve themselves in the motivating activities staff prepare for them. They excitedly play and learn, inside and outside, and dance to the tidy-up music. Children make good progress in all areas of learning, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

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The provision is good

Staff value and respect children and offer them lots of opportunities to make choices and share their thoughts and ideas. For example, children choose what toys they would like outside and what songs they would like the digital speaker to play. This supports children to develop a positive sense of self.

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need to do better?

n Staff treat all children as unique individuals and encourage their creativity. Children relish in decorating their own chocolate cakes how they wish. They engage in this activity for an extended period of time. This concentration and focus enables staff to teach children how to use a range of tools. Children show pride in their achievements and demonstrate their well-developed physical skills. n The manager has a clear vision for the setting: to provide the best quality care and opportunities for all children. Staff share this vision. The manager supports staff's continuing professional development and thoughtfully considers their well- being. As a result, staff are highly motivated and demonstrate high levels of commitment to their role and to the children they care for. n Parents receive daily feedback about what their children have been learning, their care routines and suggestions for continuing this learning at home. Parents

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need to do better?

speak extremely positively about the support and attention staff give to children. They talk about staff being like their 'extended family'. These positive partnerships help to embed children's knowledge and skills. n Children develop good listening and communication skills. Staff sing to children, comment on what they are doing, echo back what they say and skilfully ask

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need to do better?

22 February 2023 questions to challenge their thinking. For example, staff ask, 'what do you think will happen if we try a bigger car?', as children push toy cars through a tube. However, staff do not always make the most of opportunities to read to children and engage them in stories and non-fiction books to further enhance children's language development and increase their learning of new vocabulary. n Staff provide a range of opportunities to help extend children's understanding of their local environment and the world around them. They often visit the library, park and local farm. Children toast marshmallows on the fire pit in the summer, and they plant seeds in the garden. These opportunities enrich children's knowledge and ignite their curiosity. n Children benefit from the carefully planned curriculum, which builds on what they can do and what they already know. Staff use assessment effectively to

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need to do better?

identify and close any gaps in children's learning. In the main, children make timely progress in all areas of learning. However, staff sometimes miss opportunities to support older children to interact and play with each other, to further develop their social interaction skills. n Children are learning how to manage tasks independently and how to keep themselves safe. Staff teach children how to hold knives safely as they chop their fruit at snack time, and they talk about how to sit still while they eat. Staff use phrases like 'sit carefully so that you don't wibble wobble and bump.' The setting provides a range of nutritious and balanced meals, and children are supported to clean their teeth after breakfast. This gives children a strong foundation for learning about healthy lifestyles.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager and her team have a good understanding of their responsibilities to keep children safe. Staff complete training regularly to ensure their knowledge is up to date. Staff are aware of the possible signs and behaviours that may indicate a child is at risk. They know what procedures to follow in the event of a safeguarding concern. The manager follows clear policies to ensure the ongoing suitability of her staff. Staff know how to keep children safe when they take them on local walks and visits.

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should:

n provide children with more opportunities to listen to and engage in stories and non-fiction books, to enhance their language development and extend their learning of new vocabulary to the highest level n provide more activities to support older children to begin to play with each other, to promote children's interaction and social skills.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY425701 Local authority Bath and North East Somerset Council Inspection number 10265268 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 9 Number of children on roll 18 Name of registered person Little Star Nursery Partnership

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reference number

Telephone number 01761 404227 Date of previous inspection 31 May 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Little Star Nursery is one of two privately owned nurseries. The nursery registered in 2011. It operates from the Community Room in Elm Hayes Surgery, Paulton, Bristol. The nursery is for children aged under three years. The nursery opens each weekday, from 8am to 6pm, for 51 weeks of the year. There are five members of staff. The manager is qualified at level 6. The other four members of staff hold level 3 qualifications.

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Inspection activities

n This was 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 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 held discussions with the manager throughout the inspection and discussed how the curriculum is planned and implemented and how children's progress is monitored. n The inspector spoke to children, parents and staff. n The inspector observed interactions between staff and children. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of a planned activity with the manager.

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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

22 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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