Little Stars (Leicester) Ltd

Inspection of Little Stars (Leicester) Ltd 33 Lutterworth Road, Aylestone, LEICESTER LE2 8PH

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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 are happy to attend the nursery. They show that they feel safe as they have strong bonds with their key person and seek them out for reassurance when they need it. The staff know children well and provide activities they know the children will enjoy. Consequently, children are generally engaged in their play and learning. Children show they are confident in talking to visitors and staff. They are polite and use their manners as they reply 'you're welcome' when their friends say 'thanks'.

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The provision requires improvement

However, at times, the curriculum is not challenging enough. Leaders do not consistently recognise weaknesses in staff's teaching skills, particularly regarding how some staff support children's communication and language development. In addition, staff do not always organise activities well to ensure that children are always supervised and supported.

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The provision requires improvement

Nevertheless, children are becoming increasingly independent. Staff support older children during lunchtime to make choices about their meals and teach them how to carry their plates safely to the table. Children learn to put on their coats, and staff teach them how to do up their zips. Staff have clear expectations for behaviour and swiftly intervene when children do not behave appropriately. Children learn to share as staff teach them how to divide play dough among themselves. Staff provide positive praise to children when they make good choices.

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need to do better?

n Leaders have a clear plan for their curriculum, which focuses on children becoming confident communicators and developing independence skills before they start school. They pride themselves on children learning life skills and take their home experiences and starting points into account. Leaders ensure that staff provide children with opportunities that they do not receive elsewhere. However, overall, the delivery of the curriculum is not yet good enough. Staff do not consistently plan activities which build on what children already know and can do. For example, staff working with pre-school children plan group activities using flashcards to teach children about different colours. This activity is not pitched appropriately as children already have confident knowledge and can identify all the colours. n In the toddler room, staff introduce new vocabulary as they follow children's interests. For example, when children show an interest in watching the traffic

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need to do better?

passing by the window outside and talk about the 'big cars' they see, staff introduce words such as van and lorry. Staff ask toddlers lots of open-ended questions, which gives children the opportunity to speak in longer sentences and use more words. However, the staff's teaching of communication and language

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need to do better?

23 January 2024 is not consistently good in other areas of the nursery. Staff working with other age groups do not always provide children with enough opportunities to learn new words and become confident communicators. n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are well supported. The special educational needs coordinator creates clear action plans to help children with SEND meet their development goals and ensure that they make progress in their learning. All staff who work with SEND children ensure that they provide focused activities which support their interests. n Leaders provide staff with regular supervision meetings and opportunities to discuss any concerns. However, leaders do not identify inconsistencies in staff teaching practice. They do not provide carefully tailored coaching and support to ensure that all staff have the necessary skills to support children's learning.

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need to do better?

Consequently, when children fall behind in their development, some staff do not understand how to help them close gaps in their learning. That said, staff report high levels of well-being and feel supported by their leadership team. n Staff provide activities that they know children will enjoy. However, they do not carefully organise these activities to ensure that children are always supported and well supervised. For example, when staff set out activities, which include edible items to support children's sensory experiences, they do not supervise children well enough throughout this play. As a result, some children then wander around the room eating the items, and staff do not support them to sit and explore safely. n Parents say they are happy with the care provided by the staff. They speak highly of the staff and management team and comment on how supportive staff are. Parents say their children love attending the nursery and enjoy the range of

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need to do better?

activities provided, including having access to the outdoor space. Parents feel well informed about their child's progress and the activities they are involved in.

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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 staff deliver an effective curriculum which helps children build on what they already know and can do 23/02/2024

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Due date

23 January 2024 identify weaknesses in staff's practice and provide coaching and support to improve their teaching skills, with particular regard to supporting children's communication and language development 23/02/2024

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Due date

ensure staff consistently supervise and support children during activities. 23/02/2024

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY470492 Local authority Leicester Inspection number 10311660 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 30 Number of children on roll 35 Name of registered person Little Stars (Leicester) Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01162839991 Date of previous inspection 4 April 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Little Stars Leicester Ltd registered in 2013 and is located in Aylestone, Leicester. The nursery employs 10 members of childcare staff. Of these, six hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, for 51 weeks of the year. Sessions run from 7.45am to 6pm. 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 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 deputy manager, and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n Children spoke to with the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector spoke with the provider about the leadership and management of the nursery. 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. n The inspector carried out joint observations of group activities with the manager. n Parents shared their views of the nursery with the inspector.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.

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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

23 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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