Little Fireflies Nursery

Inspection of Little Fireflies Nursery Holy Cross C E Primary School, Belmont Road, Uckfield TN22 1BP

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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 this homely setting, where staff welcome them with smiles. Children quickly explore the activities and opportunities on offer. They enjoy exploring paint to make butterflies and delight in showing their friends what they have made. Staff encourage and praise children's efforts. For example, staff model to children how to do up their coats and cheer when they do it themselves. Staff plan an interesting and motivating curriculum. They provide children with a range of resources that spark their imagination. For example, children spend a long time engaged in creating 'smoothies' together outside with leaves and grass.

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The provision is good

Children behave well. They are respectful of their friends' needs. For example, they pass them their 'special' milk at snack time. Children who have recently started develop warm relationships with staff, who are kind and caring towards them. This helps them to settle in. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are supported well. Staff use simple sign language and gestures to help them communicate. Children who did not speak when they started are now confident communicators. Staff foster a love of the natural world by encouraging children to plant fruits and vegetables. Children delight in picking blackberries they have grown and eating these at snack time.

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need to do better?

n Leaders and managers understand their roles and responsibilities well. Where there have been recent significant incidents, they have taken swift and appropriate action to meet requirements. For example, they adapt policies and procedures to ensure children are safe. n Staff know their children well and plan a curriculum that supports their learning and development. They use children's interests to plan activities that build their knowledge and skills. For example, children remain focused and engaged while playing an animal matching game, talking about the different pets they have at home. n Children learn important skills for the future. For example, children set up snack time themselves, gathering cups and bowls and pouring drinks for their friends. Children wait their turn to use the bubble wand patiently. This supports their social and independence skills. Staff support children's self-care skills well. They

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need to do better?

sing rhymes to encourage children to remember to wash their hands and children excitedly join in. n Children who speak English as an additional language are well supported. Where staff speak different languages themselves, they use these to teach children and colleagues key words. This helps children to communicate with each other and to settle in. n Staff are good role models. They extend children's communication and language

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need to do better?

8 August 2023 well. For example, children name favourite flowers that they have recently planted. Staff encourage families to share special books. Children eagerly settle to hear a story read outside, turning the pages and joining in. This encourages a love of reading. n Parents talk highly of the setting. They say that their children have made progress in their communication skills, independence and confidence. They appreciate the opportunities to talk about their children. Parents who have recently moved to the country say they are welcomed and valued. They say they receive support to help their children at home, for example in reducing reliance on dummies. n Leaders and managers are committed to providing good quality care and education. They have reflected on and developed practice and provision and have future plans to expand their provision for families. They work closely with local schools and other settings to ensure a smooth transition. They share

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need to do better?

information effectively with other providers to ensure continuity of care for children. n Staff say they enjoy working at the setting. They talk highly of the regular staff meetings they have and the staff 'shout outs' to support their well-being. However, at times, monitoring of staff practice is not fully effective. Some staff are not as confident as others in their practice. This means that at times, the approach to children's learning is not fully consistent. Leaders and managers are committed to retaining a well-qualified workforce.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Leaders and managers are committed to ensuring the safety and welfare of children. They have effective processes and procedures in place for the recruitment, vetting and ongoing suitability of staff. They have undertaken safer recruitment training to ensure they have up-to-date knowledge. Staff have completed safeguarding training and can correctly identify signs and symptoms of abuse. They know where to go to access information, advice and support if they are concerned about a child or a colleague. Leaders and managers have recently reviewed their policies and risk assessments to ensure all staff understand how to keep children safe.

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should:

n strengthen the arrangements to monitor the effectiveness of staff induction and training to promptly identify any gaps in staff confidence, knowledge and skills and ensure a consistent approach.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2677850 Local authority East Sussex Inspection number 10302770 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 60 Number of children on roll 33 Name of registered person Newton Lang Childcare Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 07780663140 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Little Fireflies Nursery registered in 2022. It is part of Newton Lang Childcare Limited. It operates from Holy Cross C E Primary School in Uckfield, East Sussex. The nursery is open each weekday, from 7.30am until 6.30pm. The nursery employs 11 staff, eight of whom hold relevant qualifications. The nursery accepts funding 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 provider. n We carried out this inspection as a result of a risk assessment, following information we received about the provider. n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The special educational needs coordinator spoke to the inspector about how they support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and

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Inspection activities

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 manager. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of 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

8 August 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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