Little Pioneers Nursery & Pre-School, Swindon

Inspection of Little Pioneers Nursery & Pre-School, Swindon Great Western Hospital, Marlborough Road, Swindon SN3 6BB

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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 Outstanding

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The provision is good

Children arrive happy and excited for their day at nursery. There is a very strong key-person system throughout the nursery. Children have excellent relationships with their key person, which helps to ensure they feel safe and secure. Babies who have recently joined receive care tailored to their individual needs. Staff know them very well and support them to engage in their play. Older children confidently explore their environment, make independent choices and seek staff support when needed.

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The provision is good

Leaders and staff construct and deliver a broad, inclusive and meaningful curriculum for all children. There is a strong focus on developing children's independence, as well as their social and emotional skills. Staff working with the youngest children support them to wash their hands for mealtimes and encourage them to use cutlery independently. Staff use positive reinforcement and say 'good trying' when children attempt to use cutlery. Children beam with pride at their success. Older children tend to their own personal care needs, put on their own coats for garden play and pour their own drinks at mealtimes. Children learn to be independent and develop a high self-esteem.

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The provision is good

Staff provide children with various opportunities to be physically active. Babies pull themselves up to standing and cruise around the low-level furniture, building their leg muscles for walking. Older children run with their friends outdoors and learn to pedal trikes. Staff also provide activities for children to develop their small hand muscles ready for early writing. Children manipulate play dough with their hands and use various resources to make marks on paper.

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need to do better?

n Staff use an effective monitoring and assessment process to ensure they prepare children for their next stage of learning. Staff know what they want the children to learn. They use their knowledge of what children already know to sequence learning effectively. Staff regularly discuss their children's development with parents and the staff team to formulate next steps for learning. Children make good progress in all areas of learning and have a positive attitude to learning. n Staff provide excellent support for children who speak English as an additional language. They celebrate children's cultures and traditions. Staff invite parents to share key words in their home language and create a 'dictionary' for children to access and share with friends. Books in a variety of different languages are available for children. Children independently seek out these books. They flick through the pages and look at the pictures and text. Children have access to a

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need to do better?

highly inclusive environment and feel valued. n Staff create structured activities for older children in preparation for school.

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need to do better?

18 January 2024 Children enjoy a group activity exploring ice. They show delight when they observe the ice melting and colours mixing. They say, 'It's a rainbow'. Staff discuss the colours with the children and make links between the cold weather and how ice is created. However, at times, such as during group activities, staff do not use strategies to help children engage successfully. For example, during a story time, some children become bored, leave the group and access other resources. This distracts those who are trying to engage. Staff do not always successfully support children to remain focused, re-join the activity and develop their concentration and listening skills. n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are very well supported. Staff who support children with SEND are extremely knowledgeable. They know the children well and tailor their teaching style to best support them.

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need to do better?

They work closely with parents and external agencies to ensure that children get the support they need to make their time at nursery successful. Children are happy, settled and make good progress from their starting points. n Staff have high expectations for children's behaviour and are good role models for children. They speak to babies sensitively and treat all children with respect. However, at times, when older children are unsure how to interact with activities, they bang resources on tables and discard items on the floor. Staff do not always use these opportunities to model play for older children and support them to engage with purpose. n Leaders and staff have excellent partnerships with parents. Parents speak highly of the staff team and praise staff for the high-quality care and education they provide their children. Staff give parents the opportunity to be involved in their children's learning through parents' evenings and daily conversations. Parents

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need to do better?

also report that much information is shared electronically. Families are very well supported.

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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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should:

n enhance teaching and support during group activities to develop older children's concentration and listening skills further n use every opportunity to model play and consistently support older children to engage with purpose.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY255698 Local authority Swindon Inspection number 10325186 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 112 Number of children on roll 154 Name of registered person Buffer Bear Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01793 605861 Date of previous inspection 4 April 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Little Pioneers Nursery and Pre-School, Swindon registered in 2003. The nursery employs 43 members of staff. Of these, one has early years teacher status, one holds an appropriate early years qualification at level 5, two hold a level 4, 31 hold a level 3, four hold a level 2 and six are unqualified. The nursery opens Monday to Friday, from 6.45am until 6.15pm, all year round, except for bank holidays. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors Sarah-Louise Clements Rosie Roberts

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Inspection activities

n The inspectors discussed any continued impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The manager and inspectors completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n Children told the inspectors about their friends and what they like to do when they are at the nursery. n Staff spoke to the inspectors during the inspection. 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 inspectors carried out a joint observation of a group activity with the manager. n The inspectors spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. 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

18 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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