Little Rascals Nursery

Inspection of Little Rascals Nursery 45 Chesswood Road, Worthing, West Sussex BN11 2AA

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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 arrive confidently to a warm welcome at nursery and settle quickly. Staff show genuine enthusiasm as they listen to children's ideas and interests. They use this information to contribute towards planning a curriculum that supports children's learning and development. Staff recognise the importance of getting to know families well. Baby room staff work hard to build secure attachments with very young children. They demonstrate genuine warmth and affection towards the babies. This contributes towards staff being able to meet children's individual needs and support their sense of safety and security.

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The provision is good

Staff expose children to a variety of rich experiences to learn about different people and life beyond the nursery. Children benefit from outings in the local community, including regular visits to a local care home to build intergenerational relationships. Staff extend opportunities to support children's learning about oral health by visiting a local dentist to find out how to care for their teeth.

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The provision is good

Staff provide forest school sessions as part of the routine for children to engage in higher-risk physical play during visits to local woodland. Generally, children behave well, although there are some minor occasions when children struggle to listen and respond to instructions. Despite this, staff work closely with children to explain rules to help them understand these are in place to keep everyone safe. Children are curious about the natural world. They handle a beetle they have found and describe its features. Staff use this opportunity to extend children's vocabulary and introduce new words linked to the beetle they observe, like 'antennae'.

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need to do better?

n Leaders and managers are passionate about ensuring that children who attend the nursery receive good-quality care and education. Consequently, they have a sharp focus on self-evaluation and accurately identify strengths and areas for development. Leaders support staff's well-being by celebrating what they do well. They recognise there is more support required to develop the skills for some staff in a newly formed team in the nursery, in particular, strengthening knowledge around the key-person approach. Initial steps to provide support have been taken but are yet to be fully embedded. n Staff ensure that activities and experiences directly link to what they have identified children need to learn, based on what they already know and can do. Staff model language linked to play experiences. Young children sustain concentration as they develop their hand-to-eye coordination and physical skills while using containers to tip and pour bubbly water during water play.

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need to do better?

Occasionally, staff do not pause when introducing lots of new language to give children sufficient time to think while making connections in their learning. At

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need to do better?

19 October 2023 times, this means children do not fully benefit from these interactions. n Leaders and managers recognise the lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children's communication skills. They take steps to provide the staff team with training opportunities from external professionals. This contributes towards building on the staff team's professional knowledge to learn different strategies that promote children's language development in a variety of ways. Staff model sign language to children. This practice flourishes throughout the nursery and particularly benefits children who are non-verbal, who confidently use signing to express their wants and needs. n Children develop positive relationships and seek out their friends to collaborate and engage in imaginative play opportunities. They self-chosen challenges to climb and balance as they navigate large pieces of equipment in the outdoor

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need to do better?

area. Children show high levels of resilience as they repeat and practise, developing their gross motor skills as they learn how to move their bodies in different ways. n Leaders and managers work closely with the staff team to assess the progress children make so they can quickly identify any developmental delays. Staff communicate with the special educational needs coordinator. They work together, and with families, to ensure that interventions are in place to help children catch up. Where appropriate, they take steps to consider referral to external agencies for further support. n Parents speak highly of the nursery, including the good levels of communication they receive to support partnership working and further ways to extend learning at home. Managers and staff conduct parent consultations to provide an overview of children's individual progress.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Leaders and managers provide staff with regular training and updates so their child protection knowledge remains current. They have secure knowledge to recognise when children may be at risk of harm. This includes the processes to follow to keep children safe. Staff understand whistle-blowing procedures and how to refer concerns regarding people who work with children to agencies with statutory responsibilities. Managers ensure that they have robust safe recruitment and vetting processes in place so only suitable individuals have access to children and families.

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should:

n support children even further to listen and respond effectively to instructions given

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should:

19 October 2023 n continue to strengthen the key-person approach to precisely meet the needs of all children n build on staff's teaching practice so children are given time to think when learning new ideas and concepts.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY270903 Local authority West Sussex Inspection number 10307257 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 129 Number of children on roll 120 Name of registered person Ashworth-Leach, Sharon Anne

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reference number

Telephone number 01903 600577 Date of previous inspection 29 August 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Little Rascals Nursery registered in 2004. It operates from a converted house in Worthing, West Sussex. It opens from 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, for 51 weeks of the year. The nursery is in receipt of funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four years. It employs 27 staff. Of these, 21 staff hold appropriate early years qualifications between level 2 and level 6, including two with qualified teacher status.

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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 The inspector went on a learning walk with the manager to establish the priorities for the curriculum. n The inspector observed the quality of education during activities and daily routines to assess the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector spoke with staff and children at suitable times during the inspection. n A joint observation was completed and discussed with the manager. n The inspector observed children to establish what it is like for a child at the nursery. n The inspector held a discussion with the nominated individual and the manager in relation to the leadership and management of the nursery. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation, such as evidence of suitability

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Inspection activities

and vetting checks, first-aid certificates and staff personnel files.

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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

19 October 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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