Little Blossom Nursery School

Inspection of Little Blossom Nursery School Luther Blissett Community Hub, Brocklesbury Close, Watford WD24 4GY

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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 Not applicable

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The provision is good

Children arrive happily at the nursery. They demonstrate that they feel safe and secure as they seek out their friends to share experiences. Younger children show their hand-to-eye coordination skills as they place construction materials on top of one another. Staff show them how to enhance their skills by interlocking the construction materials together, and they proceed to copy this. Younger children use chalks to make lines and circles. Older children join dots on paper demonstrating their developing pen control skills.

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The provision is good

Staff encourage the children to move their bodies in a variety of ways during music and movement activities. Children enthusiastically make their bodies into a tiny mouse and pretend to jump like a frog. They work out how to build the wooden train track, and older children build bridges out of wooden blocks. Children search for hidden minibeasts in the soil and learn to identify what they have found by looking at images of different insects. They show pleasure when they successfully identify their insect and receive praise for their achievement. Children learn to sort pretend bears into their associated coloured pots. Older children confidently count their pretend scoops of ice cream and the shells they have collected from the sand.

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need to do better?

n The registered provider and manager demonstrate a clear vision for the continuing development of the nursery. They evaluate their practice effectively. For example, they plan to enhance the space provided for the children to develop their physical skills and to develop links with the local community. Additionally, staff supervision is appropriately used to identify ongoing professional development opportunities that continue to support staff to develop their knowledge and skills. n Staff demonstrate that they know the children well and become engaged in the children's play. They talk about where children are in their development and what they need to learn next. However, while staff are generally able to discuss the curriculum intentions, their teaching does not consistently focus on what they want children to learn next. On occasions, staff do not always differentiate their teaching to support the different ages and abilities of the children

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need to do better?

attending. For example, group activities are sometimes too long for the younger children and their attention is not always sustained. Overall, children behave well. Staff support them to understand different emotions. n Children independently select from available activities and resources. However, on occasions, children are asked to stop what they are doing to tidy up for group activities or snack. This prevents children from continuing to participate in the activities they are enjoying. Therefore, some young children occasionally cry. Furthermore, additional resources to support children to further extend and

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need to do better?

22 June 2023 develop their play and ideas are not always readily accessible or available. n Staff support children to develop their communication and language skills. For example, they encourage the children to sing familiar rhymes such as 'I'm a dingle-dangle scarecrow'. They introduce new words, such as 'splash' and 'melt', as the children play with ice and water and share storybooks with the children. Older children describe how to make an ice cream and talk about their favourite ice cream flavours during their imaginary play, with staff's encouragement. n Mealtimes are social occasions and staff use these effectively to develop children's self-care skills. Children use appropriate utensils to cut their fruit and brioche bread. n Additional funding is appropriately used to support children in receipt of early years pupil premium. For example, additional resources have been purchased based on the children's interests to support them to settle at the nursery.

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need to do better?

Additionally, funding has been used to collate learning packs to support the continuation of the children's learning at home. This includes, for example, reading books to share with their parents and craft and colouring activities. n Parents' comments about the nursery and staff are positive. They state that their children are growing in confidence and making progress in their development. Parents receive daily verbal communication from the staff and access an online system. This enables them to view written observations of their child's development and photos of their children participating in activities.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The registered provider, manager and staff have a good understanding of the signs and symptoms of abuse and neglect, including broader issues such as radicalisation. They complete regular safeguarding training and have clear procedures in place to act on any concerns. This supports staff to keep children safe. Additionally, staff know what action to take if they should have concerns about a member of staff's behaviour towards a child in their care. Robust recruitment procedures are followed when appointing new staff. Effective risk assessments are in place to keep children safe. The premises are secure.

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should:

n support staff to have a clearer understanding of the curriculum intent so that their teaching consistently focuses on what they want children to learn and is differentiated to support the needs of the differently aged children attending n review the organisation of planned routines and the availability of resources to support children to develop and complete the activities they are enjoying.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2701350 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10299298 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 30 Number of children on roll 34 Name of registered person Little Blossom Nursery School Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 07791295993 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Little Blossom Nursery School was registered in 2022. The nursery employs five members of childcare staff. Of these, four hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 and above. The nursery opens Monday to Thursday, from 8am until 5pm, and from 8am to 3.30pm on a Friday. 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 inspection the provider received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the provider and took this into account in their evaluation of the provision. n The provider, manager and inspector completed a learning walk across all areas of the nursery to understand how the early years curriculum is organised. n The inspector observed staff's interactions with the children during indoor and outdoor activities, and assessed the impact this has on the children's progress and achievements. n The provider, manager, staff and children engaged in discussions with the inspector at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of a group activity with the manager. n A sample of the nursery documents was reviewed by the inspector. This included evidence of staff suitability and training. n The inspector took account of the views of parents by speaking to them.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector viewed the nursery and discussed 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

22 June 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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