Small Explorers Ltd

Inspection of Small Explorers Ltd Forestdale Forum, 1 Bardolph Avenue, CROYDON CR0 9BG

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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

Staff have developed close bonds with children and provide nurturing care. As a result, children are supported to separate confidently from their parents on arrival at the setting. Older children find their names from the board to self-register, which supports their early reading skills. They confidently tell the inspector about what they like about the setting, such as making new friends and dressing up. Younger children are keen to explore their surroundings. Staff provide a calm environment where children are supported to make choices and develop their independence. Subsequently, children show that they are happy and secure in the setting.

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The provision is good

The manager and the staff work hard to build strong relationships with parents and people in their community, which considerably supports children's educational experiences. Staff plan the curriculum effectively with a good variety of indoor and outdoor learning experiences, which help children to make good progress in their learning. Staff teach children to understand the natural environment, such as the process of planting and growing and life cycles. Parents are welcomed into the setting and have supported children with gardening projects. Children excitedly recall activities and are keen to identify which flowers they have planted. Staff organise the routines so that children know what to expect and support them to understand behavioural expectations.

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need to do better?

n The manager is a good role model for staff and evaluates the quality of the provision effectively. She knows where targeted support is required to promote continuous improvements. Leaders ensure that staff are well supported in their roles and provide good levels of coaching and guidance. Staff have regular training opportunities to develop their skills. Recent training on supporting healthy eating and use of sign language has a positive impact on children's health and communication. n Staff are very committed to supporting children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities. Staff swiftly identify where children may need extra support and engage promptly with parents to ensure that children are referred to appropriate agencies for assessment. Staff work with parents to provide targeted supported to help children make good progress from their starting points. n Staff are sensitive to the needs of children. They recognise when children may

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need to do better?

require a space to calm down, such as to explore the sensory tent. They talk to children about their emotions and support them to express their feelings and ideas. Children are often able to adapt their behaviour after staff provide gentle reminders. n Staff focus on increasing children's language and communication skills. Older

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need to do better?

7 November 2023 children have interesting discussions with staff about Diwali celebrations. They learn new words such as 'consistency' when making salt dough candle holders and explore the meaning of this word. Staff enthusiastically engage with younger children during role play and talk to children about baking. Although staff consistently engage with children to develop important communication skills, they do not make best use of opportunities to include children's home languages in everyday routines. n Children particularly like sensory play. Older children are fascinated as they use large syringes in the water tray. They talk about making 'fire tornados' as they squirt the water out. Younger children confidently explore the mud tray. They enjoy exploring the texture as they scoop up the mud with their hands and fill pots. As a result, children have a positive attitude to learning and cooperate with

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need to do better?

their friends. n Parents comment positively about the staff and the setting. They have seen children make good progress in their learning and, particularly, value the support they receive from staff. Parents like receiving information on the nursery app about their children's development and achievements. Leaders use additional funding well to ensure that all children have a good variety of appropriate learning experiences. n Children enjoy listening to familiar stories and anticipate what is going to happen next by looking at the pictures. Staff have recently re-introduced a book lending library, where children can choose a book to share at home. This supports parents to develop children's love for stories and maintain good connections between home and the setting. n Although staff organise the environment to support children's learning, parts of the premises do not present as particularly welcoming. For example, the window

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need to do better?

sills are in poor condition and some paintwork is quite grubby. At times, the temperature within the building is quite cold, which can affect children's ability to focus on play, as they are not always warm enough.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Leaders and managers ensure that staff understand their responsibilities to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm. All staff receive regular training to ensure that they are familiar with possible indicators that a child may be at risk and understand correct procedures to follow. Staff support children to learn how to keep themselves safe. For example, staff provide reminders to children about using their 'walking feet' indoors so that they do not hurt themselves. Following some recent incidents, risk assessment arrangements have been improved to support children's safety and security and to ensure that they are consistently well supervised.

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should:

n extend opportunities for children who speak English as an additional language to hear and use their own languages to help support their communication and language skills further n improve the presentation of the premises to ensure that all areas are sufficiently clean and ensure that a comfortable temperature is maintained so that children do not become too cold.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY500044 Local authority Croydon Inspection number 10310951 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 35 Number of children on roll 48 Name of registered person Small Explorers Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 07971334648 Date of previous inspection 17 September 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Small Explorers Ltd registered in 2016 and operates from the Forestdale Forum in Croydon. The nursery employs nine members of childcare staff. Of whom, six hold appropriate early years qualifications. The nursery opens Monday to Friday, during term time and provides a breakfast- and after-school club provision for local schools. Sessions are from 7.30am to 5pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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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 setting. n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together. The manager explained how the curriculum is organised and the intentions for children's learning. n The inspector observed teaching practices and considered the impact these have on children's learning. n Children spoke to the inspector about what they enjoy doing while they are at the nursery. n The inspector held discussions with the manager and the staff and gained feedback from parents. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation of an activity. n The inspector sampled some of the setting's documentation, including evidence of staff suitability.

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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

7 November 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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