Little Me Day Nursery

Inspection of Little Me Day Nursery Skyline Plaza, Alencon Link, BASINGSTOKE, Hampshire RG21 7NR

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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 Good

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The provision requires improvement

Children demonstrate that they are happy and safe at the nursery. Staff provide a warm and welcoming environment for them. They set up the base rooms ready for the children to play and explore. Staff know how activities are used to support the learning and development of children. However, not all staff implement the curriculum learning intentions well enough to help children build on their knowledge and skills to a good level. Despite the variable teaching, some staff are good communicators with the children, and they sing songs and read stories with them.

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The provision requires improvement

Children access a range of creative materials throughout the nursery. For example, the pre-school children explore with various materials and glue to create pictures of themselves and their family. Toddlers enjoy exploring with paint, using 'dabbers' to create marks. Babies have fun using the foam with their hands and toy vehicles. Overall, children develop an awareness of how to behave and they receive some appropriate praise. However, on occasions, staff are absorbed in routine tasks rather than engaging with the children. Staff have appropriate policies and procedures in place for keeping children safe and supporting their health and well- being. However, not all staff follow these procedures effectively.

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need to do better?

n The quality of education and children's overall experiences is variable. Staff know the children well and understand the learning intentions behind the activities they provide. However, they do not implement the teaching focus well enough to support children's learning and development. For example, in the pre-school room, staff do not always engage with children effectively to support them in purposeful play that builds on what they already know and can do. n All ratios are met, and the management team regularly checks to ensure these are consistently maintained throughout the day. Suitable policies and procedures are in place, but the staff do not always follow these. For example, a recent event meant a child was not in sight or hearing. Suitable action has been taken to improve children's safety following this incident. However, staff still do not fully follow all nursery procedures relating to health and hygiene consistently,

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need to do better?

such as encouraging handwashing. This does not support children to learn important skills so they can manage their own personal hygiene needs. n Staff know the children well and they have good relationships with them. Children show they enjoy the attention they get from the staff, and they enjoy cuddles and comfort as needed. However, at times, some staff spend a vast amount of time completing daily tasks over spending direct time with the children. n All children have opportunities to play outside in the fresh air. They explore the

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need to do better?

30 October 2023 various equipment which helps to support their emerging physical skills. For example, pre-school children and toddlers learn how to balance and negotiate obstacles as they ride wheeled resources. Babies have many opportunities to move around their environment to develop their physical skills. For instance, they use climbing equipment inside to help them build on their balance and coordination. n Children behave well and show that they are making good friendships. For instance, toddlers hug each other as they play. Staff praise children for their efforts, especially in helping to tidy away. This supports children's self- confidence. However, not all staff explain to children why rules are in place, to help them understand the reason for them. For instance, they do not talk to them about why they should use kind hands or walk inside. n Partnerships with parents and other providers is positive. Parents comment that

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need to do better?

they are very happy with the care and education provided and that they receive a good amount of information about their child's day. Relationships with other professionals are well embedded to support continuity of care. n The leadership team shows a commitment to driving improvements and enhancing the quality of education. Leaders regularly meet with the staff to talk about their practice and their key children, to ensure that children's care needs are met. Staff comment that managers are supportive and approachable.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff are confident in their roles and responsibilities to protect children from harm. They have completed child protection training, and this has helped them to be aware of possible indicators of abuse and/or neglect. Staff know how to report concerns, including to the nursery's designated safeguarding lead and outside agencies. Risk assessments are in place for the environment that children use. Leaders demonstrate effective recruitment procedures and ongoing suitability checks. This helps to ensure that those working with children are suitable for their role.

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Due date

30 October 2023 improve the planning and implementation of the curriculum to ensure that it is ambitious, sequenced and builds on what children know and can do, in order to maximise their learning 21/11/2023

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Due date

ensure all policies and procedures are fully implemented and understood by the staff to ensure that these are maintained and met. 21/11/2023

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should:

n review and improve the organisation of daily staff routines to ensure that children remain interested and purposefully engaged n develop staff's skills in helping children understand the rules and expectations and the consequences of their behaviour.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY431582 Local authority Hampshire Inspection number 10315911 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 96 Number of children on roll 116 Name of registered person Little Me Skyline Plaza Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01256242735 Date of previous inspection 26 February 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Little Me Day Nursery registered in 2011. It is located in Basingstoke, Hampshire. The nursery is open for 51 weeks of the year, Monday to Friday, from 7.30am to 6.30pm. Funding for the provision of early education is available for children aged two, three and four years. The nursery employs 22 members of staff, 11 of whom are qualified between level 2 and 6.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors Tracy Bartholomew Lisa Robinson

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the provider received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspectors discussed the impact of the pandemic with the provider and have taken that into account in their evaluation of the nursery. n The inspection was carried out following a risk assessment process, following information we received about the provider. n The manager joined the inspectors on a learning walk and talked to the inspectors about their curriculum and what they want the children to learn. n The inspectors observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The manager and one of the inspectors carried out a joint observation of an activity together and discussed the quality of teaching and learning afterwards. n The inspectors talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Inspection activities

n Available parents shared their views of the setting with one of the inspectors. n The manager showed the inspectors 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

30 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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