Little Fishes Nursery

Inspection of Little Fishes Nursery East Lodge, Milton Hill, Steventon, Abingdon OX13 6BD

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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 Not applicable

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The provision requires improvement

Although the staff present are deployed appropriately, there are times when there are not enough staff on duty to maintain the required adult-to-child ratio. This does not put the children's safety at risk, and the provider arranges for additional staff to work, who arrive quickly. Staff know the children well. However, they do not always ensure health and hygiene routines are maintained to minimise the spread of infection. Despite this, children are generally happy and feel safe in the care of staff. For instance, babies separate from their parents easily and settle quickly. They enjoy comfort as required from caring staff.

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The provision requires improvement

Overall, the quality of teaching is variable. For example, staff plan and provide activities for the children. However, they do not ensure that all children become absorbed and interested in the activities. In addition, some staff do not have a secure understanding of the learning intentions of activities. As a result, they do not fully tailor their teaching to support children's learning at times. This means that children's learning is not always supported well enough to help them make more progress. When staff's teaching is of a better quality, children are interested in their play. For example, younger children enjoy exploring with water using different tools to scoop and pour. Older children enjoy being creative as they explore with paint and glitter. Staff communicate well with the children and mainly promote children's positive behaviour well.

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need to do better?

n Children are happy. They have a variety of toys and resources available to support their interests and the curriculum learning intentions. However, staff's quality of teaching is not consistently good. Staff's approach to teaching is not always purposeful. They do not always offer activities that inspire and challenge all children's learning consistently, particularly for the older children. Despite this, staff know their key children well. They understand where the children are in their development and what their next steps are. n Children enjoy freshly prepared meals that meet their individual dietary needs. The nursery is clean and well maintained. However, not all staff promote good hygiene well. For example, staff were seen to give drinking beakers and bowls that have been dropped on the floor back to the children they belong to, without washing these first. Additionally, some staff do not consistently implement the

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need to do better?

nursery's nappy changing routine to promote children's good health effectively. n Children play in a suitable and safe environment. Changes to the environment have ensured that children have areas where they can sleep peacefully and safely. All children enjoy playing outside. They develop their confidence as they ride bikes and explore on the climbing frame. This promotes children's development of their physical skills, such as to navigate space and balance.

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need to do better?

5 January 2024 Children's small physical skills are well supported as they investigate sensory materials, including dough and paint. n Children behave well and are starting to form some good relationships. For example, pre-school-age children are seen to enjoy playing on the see-saw together. Staff manage children's behaviour well. However, on occasions, they do not consistently explain to children about the expectations to help them develop a deeper understanding of the rules. n Staff communicate with the children well. They sing songs and read stories to the children to help build on vocabulary and support their listening skills. When staff engage well with children, they ask suitable questions to help enhance children's thinking and speaking skills. n Staff have positive relationships with parents. They ensure they gather sufficient information about children's routines, likes and dislikes when they first start.

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need to do better?

Staff share verbal information with parents daily about what their children have been doing. Parents have access to electronic updates about their children's learning and development. This helps to keep parents updated well. n The manager, who is the provider, shows a strong commitment to enhancing the quality of the nursery. She is aware of areas that need advancing and has plans in place to address the weaknesses, such as recruiting additional staff. The manager provides effective well-being support for staff and offers training. She understands the importance of offering supervision sessions and has scheduled these accordingly for all staff now their induction period is finalised.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

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Due date

ensure that the minimum adult-to-child ratios are maintained and met at all times 08/01/2024

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Due date

take necessary steps to consistently prevent the spread of infection and ensure that children's health is not compromised 25/01/2024

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Due date

5 January 2024 implement an ambitious education programme that inspires, challenges and clearly supports what children need to learn next to build on their individual stage of learning. 25/01/2024

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should:

n build on the good behaviour management strategies to help support children's understanding of the rules and boundaries even further.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2753222 Local authority Oxfordshire Inspection number 10319785 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 32 Number of children on roll 54 Name of registered person Little Fishes Nursery Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 07772752991 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Little Fishes Nursery registered in 2023. The nursery employs 11 members of childcare staff. Of these, eight hold appropriate early years qualifications. Three staff hold qualifications at level 6. The nursery is open from 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, all year round. The setting 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 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 inspector spoke with the nominated individual about the leadership and management of the setting. n The manager, deputy manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n Children spoke or communicated with the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning.

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Inspection activities

n Parents available at the time of the inspection shared their views on the setting with the inspector. 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

5 January 2024 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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