Little Learners Childcare

Inspection of Little Learners Childcare Sunnyside House, Cliftonville, Northampton NN1 5BE

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

The quality of education Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Good

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The provision is outstanding

Little Learners Childcare is a special place for children to be. Children are eager to attend, and when they arrive, they greet staff enthusiastically at the door. Babies are handled with extreme care as they separate from their parents and are taken upstairs to the baby room. Pre-school children rush in, laughing and calling out, eager to find their friends. Positive relationships and well-being for children and families are at the heart of what this nursery does. This helps children to feel safe and secure.

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The provision is outstanding

Staff talk to parents to find out about children and their individual likes and dislikes. They use this information to ensure that the highly effective learning environment is stimulating, engaging and meeting children's individual needs. Children are deeply involved in activities that build on what they already know and can do. This helps them to engage in meaningful play and develop an extensive range of skills and knowledge. For example, children relish being able to explore the new painting wall. They learn how to take a paper print of their artwork and beam with pride when staff peg their work up for everyone to see.

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The provision is outstanding

Children display exemplary behaviour. Children of all ages and abilities learn to be respectful of one another and the environment. They learn to share, take turns and follow simple instructions. Staff engage children in making positive choices. They use picture cards and gestures to teach children when to stop, how to change their behaviour and what to do next.

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need to do better?

n The leadership team shares highly effective relationships with staff. It has a high regard for the professional development and well-being of the staff team. Leaders spend time in each of the nursery rooms, working alongside staff to support their practice and ongoing development even further. Leaders meet with staff to complete 'talent reviews' and well-being checks. Staff are highly reflective, experienced and skilled. They demonstrate a commitment to working collaboratively with each other and the leadership team. This contributes to the positive learning experience that children have. n All staff develop a clear and ambitious curriculum for children. They use every opportunity to broaden children's experiences. Staff recognise that children need time to explore independently to develop their problem-solving skills. They ask children thoughtful questions and make sure they have adequate time to think

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need to do better?

and respond. For example, when children paint outside, they exclaim that the wind is blowing their paper. Staff expertly encourage them to find a solution, work together and explore what objects might be heavy enough to hold it down. n Children benefit from the consistently strong interactions they have with staff.

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need to do better?

27 April 2023 They smile with pride when staff encourage and praise them for their attempts to complete tasks. For example, in the home area, children pretend to care for babies, and they use their hand muscles to dress and undress the dolls. Staff skilfully encourage children to persist with tricky arm holes in the clothes as they learn how to poke the doll's arm through. Staff interactions contribute to children becoming resilient, to concentrate and to keep trying until they succeed. n Staff are highly effective in extending children's communication skills. They speak clearly to children and give them time to understand and practise new vocabulary. For example, children mixing colours learn about 'vibrancy' and that colours can have a different 'hue'. Staff explain what new words mean and give children practical opportunities to explore new concepts. For instance, children compared the 'hue' of their colour to the colour wheel and then discussed which

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need to do better?

colour was the most 'vibrant'. n Staff motivate all children to learn, including children who receive additional funding such as pupil premium and children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Highly skilled staff attentively identify children who may need additional intervention. They work exceptionally well with outside agencies to ensure there is a collaborative approach to children's learning. Children with SEND make rapid progress from their starting points. n Parents speak extremely highly of the nursery and the staff. They clearly attribute children's learning to time spent at the setting. They comment that the nursery is a 'lifeline' and the staff always go 'above and beyond' to support their individual needs. They praise leaders for supporting families with food and resources banks and for maintaining consistently high levels of communication with them.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff demonstrate a secure understanding of their role in keeping children safe. They take part in regular training to ensure that their knowledge about all aspects of safeguarding is up to date. They are highly knowledgeable about local safeguarding aspects, such as county lines and potential radicalisation. Staff conduct rigorous risk assessments of all areas of the nursery to ensure children have a safe environment in which to explore, learn and play. The manager and staff expertly demonstrate that they know how to report any concerns they may have about children. Regular and robust recruitment and suitability procedures are in place to ensure that all staff at the nursery remain suitable.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY488578 Local authority West Northamptonshire Inspection number 10263504 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 105 Number of children on roll 165 Name of registered person Little Learners Childcare LLP

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reference number

Telephone number 01604 604991 Date of previous inspection 3 May 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Little Learners Childcare registered in 2015. The nursery employs 27 members of childcare staff. Of these, 23 staff hold appropriate early years qualifications ranging from level 2 to level 6, including one member of staff with early years teacher status. The nursery follows the Reggio Emilia principles. The nursery receives funding to provide free early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. The nursery supports children who speak English as an additional language and children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities. The nursery is open on weekdays, all year round, from 7.30am to 6pm, excluding a week at Christmas.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors Karen Siddons Charmaine Cayton

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the provider received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspectors discussed the impact of the pandemic with the provider and have taken that into account in their evaluation of the nursery. n The inspectors observed the quality of education during activities, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The manager and inspectors completed a learning walk together. n One inspector completed a joint observation with the curriculum leader of the setting. n The inspectors spoke to parents and grandparents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspectors held a meeting with the nursery management team. They looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. n The inspectors spoke to children about the time they spend at the nursery. n The inspectors spoke to staff from an outside agency and took account of their

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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

27 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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