Limes Play And Learn

Inspection of Limes Play And Learn St Michaels School, Monks Dyke Road, Louth LN11 9AR

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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 demonstrate positive relationships with staff and confidently talk to them about their views and thoughts. They sit with staff to listen to stories and receive cuddles from them, helping children to feel safe. Children are supported to feel valued by staff. For example, when children use chalk to draw a car on the ground outside, staff praise them and ask if they can copy what they have drawn. Children understand the routines of the day and act promptly when staff give them instructions. When children hear a tambourine, they know this means it's time to stop playing. They show a positive attitude to helping staff to tidy away toys. Children are learning how to care for the environment.

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The provision is good

Children have plenty of opportunities to develop their physical skills. For example, children are encouraged by staff to develop their large muscles. Children are excited to join in with a 'wake up and shake up' session when they arrive. They copy staff and stamp their feet, wiggle their legs and move their hands. Children develop the muscles in their hands when, for example, staff give them tweezers to pick up small objects. They practise their hand-eye coordination when they use spades and funnels in sand to scoop and pour. These activities help children to develop the skills they need for early writing.

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need to do better?

n Staff support children's early literacy skills well. For example, they ask them to think of words that begin with sounds that represent letters of the alphabet. Children who speak English as an additional language have opportunities to access books with dual languages. This helps them to have a sense of belonging in the nursery. n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are supported well by staff and the special educational needs coordinator. Targeted plans are established between parents, staff and other professionals to help meet children's individual needs. n The provider and manager invite school teachers to see the children in the nursery before they start school. This helps children to become familiar with the person who will be caring for them. Children with SEND are taken on visits to school to see their new teacher and the environment before they start. This helps to support their emotional well-being.

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need to do better?

n Overall, staff support children's communication and language skills well. They sing nursery rhymes with children to support their speaking skills. However, when staff ask children questions during large-group times, they do not encourage children to learn how to take turns in conversations and listen to the views of others. This results in many children shouting out the answers at the same time.

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need to do better?

26 June 2023 n Staff implement a curriculum that helps to build on children's learning. For example, they help children to learn about their local community. Children visit a nursing home with staff to socialise with the elderly. Staff take children to supermarkets to buy food for their snack, encouraging them to make choices about what they would like to eat. n The provider and manager use additional funding for children effectively. This includes using some of the money to provide enhanced staffing to offer small- group activities, to help close any gaps in children's learning. n Parents provide positive comments about the nursery. They like the family feel and how their children love attending. Staff share information with parents about their children's development. They support parents to continue children's learning at home, such as to support their behaviour and speaking skills. This helps to create a united approach to helping children develop.

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need to do better?

n The provider and manager provide staff with opportunities to discuss their practice at meetings. Staff say that they feel supported with their well-being. However, when employing new staff, the manager and provider do not ensure that the induction process is thorough enough. Not all staff understand the expectations for supporting children during some routines of the day. For example, some staff pour children's drinks instead of them completing this task on their own. n Staff focus on helping children to show positive behaviour. For example, when a child shows that they are going to throw a piece of play dough, staff skilfully divert their attention to sit at a table to model with the dough instead.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff carry out risk assessments to help provide a safe space for children to play. They supervise children well and count the number of children present when they move from indoors to outdoors. This helps to promote children's safety. Staff ensure that children wear sun cream and hats in hot weather to promote sun safety and their health. The provider, manager and staff understand their responsibilities to safeguard children. They know how to identify the signs of abuse, including if children are being drawn into radicalisation. They know where to report concerns about children's welfare or safety.

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should:

n support staff to help children learn how to take turns in conversations and to listen to the views of others during large-group times n strengthen the induction procedure for new staff to help them become aware of expectations for supporting children's learning during routines of the day.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY496886 Local authority Lincolnshire Inspection number 10289470 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 32 Number of children on roll 196 Name of registered person Limes Play And Learn Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01507 609199 Date of previous inspection 27 November 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Limes Play And Learn registered in 2015 and is situated in Louth, Lincolnshire. The nursery employs 14 members of childcare staff. Of these, one holds an appropriate early years qualification at level 2, eight at level 3, one at level 5 and one at level 6. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am 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 that into account in their evaluation of the setting. n The provider, manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed how they implement the curriculum. n The inspector observed the quality of education during activities, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n Children spoke to the inspector throughout the inspection. n The inspector spoke with staff at appropriate times throughout the inspection. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager. n The inspector held a meeting with the provider and manager. She reviewed relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. n Parents shared their views on the nursery with the inspector.

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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

26 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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