Little Ducklings

Inspection of Little Ducklings Murdoch House, Hemingfield Road, Barnsley S73 0LY

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Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

The quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement Personal development Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Requires improvement

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The provision requires improvement

The management and staff team have made some improvements since the last inspection. However, this is not yet effective in raising the quality of education to a consistently good level. Staff do not always deploy themselves so that children benefit from purposeful learning. At times, this has a negative impact on children's level of engagement and behaviour as they must wait for staff to complete cleaning routines before they engage with the children. For example, children appear bored as they wait for a member of staff to be free before they may enter the book area. Leaders have not considered how to provide an effective method of communication between the rooms and management in the office, to ensure that the supervision of children is always maintained during daily routines and in case of an emergency. There are inconsistencies as to when the daily safety checks are completed and recorded prior to the children arriving, which may compromise

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The provision requires improvement

Children are happy as they play with their friends. Staff model kindness and manners towards the children and each other. This is replicated by the children as they take turns and share their toys. Children understand what is expected of them and understand the routines of the day. For example, when going outdoors, children calmly collect their coats and wellingtons in small groups. This enables staff to support children as they learn to fasten their zips and put on their wellingtons. This helps children to feel safe and secure.

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need to do better?

n Managers and staff are in the process of developing and embedding the curriculum. However, staff do not yet deliver the curriculum to provide enough challenge for all children. During some activities, staff do not extend children's learning to help them to gain new knowledge and build on what they already know and can do. This hinders the progress that children make in their learning. n There is no effective communication between play rooms or the office. As a result, if staff need assistance to maintain supervision of children during care routines or in case of an emergency they must shout to staff in other rooms for assistance, or disrupt all children's play and take all children with them to seek assistance. n Daily safety checks are not always completed prior to children arriving and are inconsistently recorded, despite procedures in place to do so. Leaders confirm safety checks are completed but not recorded. This could compromise children's

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need to do better?

safety. n Some staff engage children in wonderful conversations that extend their knowledge and understanding. For example, when a child asks what the electricity sockets are, a staff member carefully explains what they are for and

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need to do better?

20 September 2023 any risks to look for. She checks the children have understood and skilfully answers any further questions that they have. This promotes children's understanding and introduces new words into their vocabulary. n Staff promote children's independence well. At mealtimes, children serve their own meals and pour their own drinks. When they have finished, they carefully scrape and stack their plates to be washed. Children develop independence skills from an early age. n Information gathered when children first start at the nursery has been improved. This provides a child's key person with information on how best to support individual children's needs and interests. As a result, children have formed positive relationships with their key person. n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are supported well by an experienced special educational needs coordinator (SENCo). The SENCo

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need to do better?

ensures support plans meet the needs and development of the children with targeted interventions. She meets regularly with parents to check on children's progress, both at nursery and at home. n Leaders ensure that all staff are suitable to work with children through comprehensive recruitment procedures. Staff inductions provide staff with the knowledge and understanding of how the nursery is run through its policies and procedures. However, leaders do not always check that staff have read and understood these procedures. This results in some gaps in knowledge of new staff. n Parents are kept in regular contact about their child's learning and development. This is done through the electronic app and daily conversations as they drop their children off at their playrooms. Parents commented on the positive development of the children's speech and language while attending the nursery.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff have a good understanding of the signs and symptoms that may indicate a child could be at risk of harm. They know who to contact if they have a child protection concern. Staff are vigilant in the security of the nursery to prevent any unauthorised person from entering the property. Leaders have safe recruitment procedures in place to ensure that only suitable people work with children in their care. A large majority of staff have completed paediatric first-aid training to ensure that they know how to respond appropriately to any medical issue.

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Due date

20 September 2023 help staff to identify when they can challenge children's learning and understanding further to consistently implement the curriculum in activities and experiences so that children make better progress in their learning 04/10/2023

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Due date

implement an effective method of communication between staff in all rooms, to ensure the supervision of children is maintained during daily routines and in case of an emergency 04/10/2023

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Due date

ensure that all staff follow the policy and procedures for completing daily safety checks prior to children arriving 04/10/2023

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Due date

help leaders to ensure that new staff understand the induction process and have a good understanding of the policies and procedures to prevent any gaps in knowledge. 04/10/2023

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY442316 Local authority Barnsley Inspection number 10310636 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 100 Number of children on roll 96 Name of registered person Little Ducklings Child Care Barnsley Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01226 755 789 Date of previous inspection 25 May 2023

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Information about this early years setting

Little Ducklings registered in 2012 and is in Wombwell, Barnsley. The nursery employs 22 members of childcare staff. Of these, 16 hold an appropriate early years qualification at level 3, one at level 5 and two at level 6. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 7am to 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed any continued impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The deputy manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together to understand how the early years provision and curriculum are organised. n The inspector made observations throughout the inspection of children's experiences in the setting and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n Children spoke to the inspector about their experiences in the setting. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n A meeting was held with the deputy manager. This included a review of relevant documentation, including staff suitability and training.

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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

20 September 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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