Little Friends

Inspection of Little Friends Adbolton Lane, West Bridgford, Nottingham NG2 5AS

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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 enjoy coming into the homely nursery. Staff support children's independence by encouraging them to take off their shoes and put their coats away. Children are eager to find their close friends and begin to play. Staff form close relationships with children, and as a result, those that are more reserved have the support of a familiar adult. The key-person system that the staff have in place helps children feel supported, understood and safe. Staff design the curriculum to cover the seven areas of learning and incorporate children's interests to help them to make good progress.

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The provision is good

Children invite others into their play and explain what game they are playing. For example, older children tell younger children that they are using toy diggers to scoop mud in the garden. Children are happy to help others. They smile as they help their friends to balance on wood beams, holding their hands and helping them to balance. Children's behaviour is good. Children share well with others. They pass flour to each other during a dough-making activity without adult prompt. They are polite and use manners as they communicate with others. Children understand the rules and boundaries of the setting, helping others tidy as they happily pack away resources in the garden.

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need to do better?

n Children are taught to be independent in their daily routines. They serve themselves during mealtimes and staff teach children to put their coats and shoes on before going into the garden. Children make their own dough daily and choose which ingredients they want to use. As a result, children develop confidence in their abilities and learn to solve problems. n Staff teach children about the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle. They discuss oral hygiene as a group, and talk about teeth being wobbly and what this means. Children have opportunities to walk to the local shops to buy their own snack. Staff encourage children to make healthy choices about the foods they choose, and learn about the value of money. n Children transition well between rooms. Staff talk about the importance of children starting in the next room when they are developmentally ready. Children go for visits and begin to learn the routine and expectations of the new

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need to do better?

room. In turn, this gives children confidence and helps them to become more settled. n There are lots of opportunities for children to develop their physical skills. In the garden, children use mops and buckets of paint to make marks on the wall. Other children press down on a water pump to move water from one tray to the next. n Children learn about feelings and emotions. For example, they select an

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need to do better?

13 April 2023 'emotion card' to represent how they are feeling. This prompts conversations between staff and children to discuss their feelings. Younger children build on their language as they learn words to express their emotions. n Staff clearly identify what needs to be learned by all children. However, occasionally during activities, staff do not build on what children already know, especially for older children. This means that often they are not challenged and lose interest in the activity. n Children have good opportunities to learn about how to care for living things. They participate in growing activities in the garden and inside, where they look after and water plants. They have recently hatched chicks and staff talk to children about what chicks need to be able to live and grow. Staff also teach children about showing care and concern for the planet. Children learn about recycling and go to a local shop where they are working on reducing plastic

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need to do better?

waste. n Parents talk about the fact the nursery feels 'like a family' to them. They commend the nursery for the support they give to both children and families. The nursery encourages parents to come in and talk to children about their culture and different festivals that they celebrate. As a result, children learn about different ways of life, and parents are partners in their children's learning.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Leaders and staff have a good understanding of their roles and responsibilities in keeping children safe. They demonstrate good knowledge of the signs and symptoms that might indicate a child is at risk of abuse, and they know what action to take should concerns arise. All staff have attended relevant training to ensure they understand their roles in relation to the 'Prevent' duty, female genital mutilation and confidently explain the steps they would take to report it if needed. Children are taught to keep themselves safe. For example, staff teach them about how to handle food during mealtimes if it is too warm.

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should:

n encourage staff to build on play with older children, so children have opportunities to gain more knowledge and build on what they already know.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY320857 Local authority Nottinghamshire County Council Inspection number 10280564 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 30 Number of children on roll 27 Name of registered person Little Friends (Nottingham) Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01159818040 Date of previous inspection 25 August 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Little Friends Nursery registered in 2006. The nursery employs nine members of childcare staff. Of these, five hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3, and three at level 2. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, for 51 weeks of the year. Sessions are from 8am until 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 provider received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken this into account in their evaluation of the setting. 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 observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n A joint observation of an activity was carried out by the manager and the inspector. n The manager showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate the suitability of staff.

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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

13 April 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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