Little Hoots Ltd

Inspection of Little Hoots Ltd Grangefield Approach, Voxwell Lane, Bishops Cleeve, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL52 8GL

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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

Staff have embedded a secure curriculum that leads to children being well prepared for school. The planning for children focuses on building independence and confidence in all areas of development, including toileting and dressing themselves. Staff carry out assessments and set realistic targets to ensure children are meeting their milestones. They provide activities through structured routines to ensure children grasp what is expected of them when they start school, including sitting on the carpet to listen and engage in stories and music.

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The provision is good

Children are developing their physical skills well. They are using their large-muscle skills through outside play experiences and moving to music in various ways. They imitate large actions, such as marching and acting out the movements of animals, by using their whole body. Children are developing their small-hand muscles in preparation for handwriting. For example, children participate in 'funky fingers' activities, where they explore several stations, including cutting with scissors, construction, play dough and mark making.

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The provision is good

The children explore the outside world by learning in the forest area. It is a superb space, where children access plentiful learning opportunities. For example, the children watch over the hedgehog house and remind others to be quiet, as the hedgehogs are sleeping. Children learn about the weather and the changing seasons, as they use the area all year round. Children enjoy engaging in story time on the story throne, sitting on logs under the trees.

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The provision is good

Children manage their feelings and emotions appropriately. Staff follow good behaviour management practices, modelling skills to ensure children treat their peers with kindness and respect. Children share the resources and work collaboratively. For example, children work together in a darkened room to shine their torches onto the teacher's pages in a book, so they can successfully see the pictures, developing their problem-solving and computer skills.

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need to do better?

n Children are learning how to be healthy and independent during mealtimes. Children bring in their own lunchboxes and discuss with staff the food they have. Staff support this by discussing healthy and unhealthy food options that create a balanced diet. Children independently unwrap their own sandwiches, open packages, with adult support, and successfully feed themselves. Children with food allergies are appropriately supervised to ensure they do not come into contact with hazardous foods. Children have good table manners and talk among their friends with respect around the table. When children finish lunch, they tuck their chairs in and help staff to clean the tables.

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need to do better?

5 May 2023 n Staff teach children about the environment. For example, they discuss how to take care of it and introduce knowledge about plastic waste and the damage it is doing to the oceans. Children play interactive games to support their learning and to develop empathy for the planet. However, staff sometimes miss opportunities to embed clear messages to children about caring for their environment, to fully extend their understanding, resulting in children's learning experiences sometimes being limited. n Staff and children celebrate diversity. They explore various cultural festivities and experience dressing in ethnic clothing. They develop a deep understanding from parents, who are welcomed into the setting to discuss their heritage and share books and resources with the children. The children are gaining knowledge and respect for the world around them, including global celebrations, such as the king's coronation, and they bake a pretend cake for the king in the

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need to do better?

mud kitchen. n Managers have detailed knowledge of how to support staff in their continued professional development. They mentor staff appropriately to ensure they are gaining in-depth knowledge of early years development. The manager provides detailed inductions when staff are recruited to ensure they understand the running of the setting through the policies in place. n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are very well supported. The setting has an on-site special educational needs coordinator (SENCo), who works with the children daily. She carries out fun and engaging activities to support the development of all children, with her primary focus being on supporting children with SEND. For example, she develops children's mouth muscles with simple sound and movement exercises to focus on children with speech delay. She provides visual aids to support children with limited

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need to do better?

speech to communicate. The SENCo has good communication with outside agencies, including speech and language therapists, to develop individual targets to support each child's development.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff have an excellent knowledge of the signs and symptoms of abuse. Staff have regular training to continually refresh their knowledge and to protect children from harm. Leaders and staff are very thorough in their knowledge of how to keep children safe by reporting to appropriate professionals, including their manager and outside safeguarding agencies. Regular risk assessments are carried out to ensure all children are safe from hazards, inside and outside of the nursery environment.

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should:

5 May 2023 n continue to embed teaching about caring for the environment, to support children to develop and retain their knowledge further.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 510075 Local authority Gloucestershire Inspection number 10279759 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 Sessional day care

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inspection

Total number of places 30 Number of children on roll 47 Name of registered person Little Hoots Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01242 678400 Date of previous inspection 20 September 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Little Hoots Ltd registered in 2008. It operates from a purpose-built annex situated within Grangefield Primary School, Bishops Cleeve. Little Hoots offers pre-school sessions on weekdays, during term time, from 9am to 3pm, and before- and after- school care from 8am to 9am and from 3.15pm to 5.30pm. A holiday club operates during the school holidays. Little Hoots employs nine members of staff to work with the children. Eight of these hold a qualification at level 3 or above.

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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 setting. n The manager took the inspector on a tour of the setting and grounds, demonstrating how they deliver the curriculum and the activities they provide. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n The inspector spoke with the children and staff regularly during the inspection to seek their experience of the setting. n a leadership and management meeting was held with the inspector to review managerial skills and view relevant documentation. n The inspector measured the quality of education by observing the activities taking place and assessing the impact of learning. n A joint observation took place to review staff practice and the manager's reflective skills.

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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

5 May 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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