Little Explorers Day Nursery and Preschool

Inspection of Little Explorers Day Nursery and Preschool 205 Knighton Road, LEICESTER LE2 3TT

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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 happy and keen to start their day at the nursery. They are greeted by familiar staff and separate confidently from their parents or carers. Children settle quickly and make their own play choices from a good range of resources, showing they feel safe and secure. They develop strong relationships with the kind and nurturing staff who are attentive to their needs.

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The provision is good

Children are eager to learn, and they enjoy the activities offered to them. Enthusiastic staff plan exciting and challenging activities that motivate children to learn. Staff extend children's learning by questioning and introducing new ideas. For example, as children pour water down the guttering, staff support children to discover how the heights of the guttering can change the speed of the water. Babies enjoy the well-thought-out space that promotes their physical development. Staff encourage babies to crawl under tunnels and up small ramps and pull themselves to stand, in preparation for walking. Staff eagerly dance along with toddlers to action songs, supporting children to jump up and down and wave their arms energetically.

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The provision is good

Children behave well and staff are good role models. Staff speak gently to children and demonstrate how to treat others respectfully. They support children to learn how to share and take turns as they play. This helps children to make friends and include others in their play.

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need to do better?

n Staff plan an ambitious and broad curriculum to meet children's individual needs and include the interests of all children. Staff know their children well. They know where children are in their learning and they have a clear understanding of what they want children to learn next. They use this information when they plan for children's learning, supporting all children to make good progress. n Children's communication and language are well supported. Staff provide a language-rich environment. Children show a love of reading. From a young age, children choose their favourite books, which staff read to them enthusiastically. Staff develop children's vocabulary well, which supports their overall learning. They recognise when children may need extra support with speech and language. Staff make swift referrals and quickly put actions in place to ensure that children's learning is supported. n Staff plan topics to help children learn about different faiths, religions and

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need to do better?

cultures. However, they do not help children to revisit previous learning to embed their knowledge. n Staff consistently weave mathematical learning into children's activities. For example, staff support children to count out the dots on the ladybird, comparing

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need to do better?

31 July 2023 amounts and recognising numbers. During water play, staff talk about capacity, asking children to measure if there is more or less water in their containers. n Mealtimes are social occasions at the nursery. Staff and children sit together and chat happily to each other. Healthy meals are prepared by the nursery cook, who ensures children's dietary requirements are met. Staff encourage children to serve their own food and use jugs to pour their own drinks. They develop good hygiene routines, knowing to wash their hands before eating. n Staff support children's independence effectively. Children follow routines, hanging up their coats and bags and placing water bottles where they can be easily reached. Children learn to identify hazards. Children are allocated as 'garden safety rangers' to ensure the garden is safe to use before all the children go out to play. n Partnerships with parents are strong. Parents speak highly of the nursery and

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need to do better?

the progress their children make. They receive regular information, which keeps them up to date with their child's development. They particularly like the special occasion stay-and-play days, such as the Father's Day event. n Leaders have a clear focus and know what they need to do to improve. They support staff's professional development so that they can develop their teaching skills. Managers and experienced staff model good practice and quality interactions for those staff who are less experienced. However, less experienced staff are not yet fully supported to understand how to provide more challenge for children and extend their learning.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager ensures that staff have a good understanding of the safeguarding policy and that they keep their training up to date. Staff have a secure understanding of their responsibilities to protect children. They confidently identify the signs that may indicate a child is at risk of harm. They know how to report any concerns they may have about children and how to escalate these should they need to. Robust recruitment procedures are in place to ensure that all adults are suitable to work with children. Staff ensure that the premises are always safe and secure, and any potential hazards to children's safety are identified and minimised.

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should:

n help staff to embed children's learning of different faiths, religions and cultures n support less experienced staff to fully understand how to extend learning and challenge children as they play.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2637832 Local authority Leicester Inspection number 10295704 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 29 Number of children on roll 42 Name of registered person The Childcare Corporation Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 0116 270 6916 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Little Explorers Day Nursery and Preschool registered in 2021 in Knighton, Leicester. The nursery receives funding to provide early education for children aged two, three and four years. The nursery employs 16 members of staff. Of these, 11 staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and two members of staff hold a level 2 qualification. The nursery is open all year round, Monday to Friday, from 7.30am to 6pm, except for bank holidays.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the nursery 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 provider. n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n Children told the inspector about their friends and what they like to do when they are at the nursery. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of a communication and language activity with the deputy manager. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of

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Inspection activities

their views. n The manager showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate the suitability of staff.

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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

31 July 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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