Little Oaks Childcare

Inspection of Little Oaks Childcare 41 Roman Bank, Spalding, Lincolnshire PE12 6EX

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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 show positive relationships with staff. For example, children in the toddler room are invited to sit on staff's knee to listen to stories. Staff encourage children to talk about their views and thoughts, valuing what they say. This helps children to feel safe and secure in the nursery. Children in all of the playrooms develop a sense of responsibility when they show kindness to help staff tidy away toys. Staff give children gentle reminders to use good manners, encouraging them to be polite. Children are supported to have a positive attitude to learning. One example of this is when children in the toddler room try to fix two pieces of a toy together, staff say 'Keep going!', and children persevere. Children are able to take and manage risks in a safe environment. When they attempt to climb up a slide, staff stand close-by to support their safety, if necessary.

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The provision is good

Staff give children choices in their play. For example, children happily choose favourite songs to sing to support their language skills. Children in the baby room learn how to use the equipment they play with. For example, staff show children how to put a stethoscope around their necks and pretend to listen to their heart beat. Children enjoy joining in with activities staff plan for them. For example, staff offer children opportunities to play in water to help develop their understanding of clouds and rain. Children learn how to use different containers to make the water fall or drip.

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need to do better?

n Staff attend meetings with the executive manager to reflect on their practice. They say that they feel very supported with their well-being. Staff have opportunities to extend their professional development. Recent training courses help staff to reflect on offering more open-ended activities to support children to develop their imagination. n Staff help children to learn skills for their move on to school. This includes encouraging children to be independent. For example, children in the toddler room are asked to wipe their own noses and sanitise their hands afterwards. Toddlers and pre-school children scrape any leftover food off their plate and into the bin at lunchtime. n Overall staff help children to develop their communication skills well. For example, staff ask children in the toddler room questions and give them time to respond. This helps to encourage their thinking skills. Children who speak

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need to do better?

English as an additional language hear staff use words in their home language to support their language development. However, staff in the baby room do not consistently use correct words when they speak to children. For example, they say 'germies' for 'germs'. This means that children's developing vocabulary is not always modelled by staff effectively.

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need to do better?

28 June 2023 n Staff have rules and boundaries in place, focusing on the positive aspects of behaviour. When children run on stones in the garden, staff remind them to use their 'walking feet'. Staff model how to share and take turns. For example, in the toddler room, staff wear a hat first and then pass it to a child to wear. n Parents appreciate the photos they receive from staff to show activities their children enjoy. Staff keep parents informed about children's care routines, such as sleeps and nappy changes children have. However, staff do not offer parents ideas and suggestions about how they can continue to support their child's individual learning at home. This will provide a more united approach to supporting their development. n The special educational needs coordination shows dedication to supporting children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Targeted plans are put in place to meet children's individual needs. Additional funding is spent

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need to do better?

appropriately to give children one-to-one time with staff to develop their individual targets, such as to encourage them to eat or to extend their language skills. n Staff implement a curriculum that supports children to progress well in their learning. This includes following children's interests and developing their knowledge through play. For example, staff engage children in discussions about holidays when they show staff pictures they draw of an aeroplane. This leads on to staff showing and explaining to children how to use paper to make a pretend aeroplane.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff promote children's health when they play outside. For example, they ensure that children wear sun cream and hats in hot weather. Fire drills are carried out with the children, helping them to understand how to evacuate the building safely in the event of a fire. The executive manager follows a robust recruitment procedure when employing new staff. This helps to ensure that staff are suitable in their roles. Staff supervise children well and maintain adult-to-child ratios. The management team and staff understand their responsibilities to safeguard children. The know how to identify and report any signs of abuse or neglect.

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should:

n support staff to use words correctly when they speak to children in the baby room to aid their developing vocabulary n offer all parents ideas and suggestions about how they can continue to support their children's learning at home.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2644560 Local authority Lincolnshire Inspection number 10299709 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 108 Number of children on roll 124 Name of registered person Little Oaks Childcare (Spalding) Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01775 527341 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Little Oaks Childcare registered in 2021 and is situated in Spalding, Lincolnshire. The nursery employs 21 members of childcare staff. Of these, two hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 5, 12 at level 3 and two at level 2. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am until 5.30pm. 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 We carried out this inspection as a result of a risk assessment, following information we received about the provider. n The executive manager and inspectors completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed how the curriculum is implemented. n The inspectors 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 inspectors throughout the inspection. n The inspectors spoke with staff and the management team at appropriate times throughout the inspection. n The inspectors carried out joint observations with the executive manager. n One of the inspectors held a meeting with the executive manager. She reviewed

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Inspection activities

relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. n Parents shared their views on the nursery with the inspectors.

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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

28 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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