Little Crickets Learning Centre

Inspection of Little Crickets Learning Centre Northwood Cricket Club, Corner of Ducks Hill Road and Rickmansworth Road, Northwood, Middlesex HA6 2NP

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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

Children show confidence within the setting. They have positive relationships with staff and feel comfortable within their care. Children show this by independently approaching staff for cuddles. Staff know children exceptionally well. They are aware of their home lives. They speak to children about the people who are important to them. This supports children to feel valued within the setting.

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The provision is good

Children behave exceptionally well. For example, older children offer support to others when they struggle to move equipment. Younger children collect toy mops and use these to help clean up the water that has been spilt. Staff reinforce positive behaviour. They use phrases such as 'kind hands'. Children respond well to transitions within the routine because staff prepare children for upcoming transitions by using 'now and then'.

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The provision is good

Children enjoy participating in imaginative play. For example, younger children pretend to drive the cardboard bus that they have previously created. Children sing 'The wheels on the bus go round and round' as they engage within this activity. Older children use their hands to make binoculars. They look through their pretend binoculars to explore the weather. Children engage well during story sessions. When reading the story of 'Elmer', older children identify the different colours within the book. Younger children explore the different textures within textured books.

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need to do better?

n Leaders are reflective. They can identify areas of strength in the setting, as well as areas that they would like to improve upon. Leaders are passionate about using staff's individual strengths and interests to develop practice. For example, leaders encourage staff to role model positive practice to support others. n Children have plenty of opportunities to develop their mathematical skills. Children count when playing with play dough. They have opportunities to learn about addition. For example, staff encourage children to add numbers. They extend learning opportunities further by introducing visuals of numerals. This supports children to develop their mathematical awareness. n Children learn about colours. This is a focus at the setting. Older children identify the colours of different fruits. They extend upon this by talking about different shades, such as light and bright yellow. Younger children also have opportunities

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need to do better?

to explore colour as staff name the different colours. They give children opportunities to pick which colour they would like to use when making wheels for their pretend bus. n Overall, opportunities to develop children's communication and language skills are strong. For example, staff introduce new words to children and explain their

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need to do better?

28 February 2024 meaning. They use words such as 'initial' when recalling the initial-shaped cookies that they had previously made. However, on occasions staff do not always give children enough time to think and respond before repeating what has been said. This means that children do not consistently benefit from time to process information and develop their conversational skills. n Children have opportunities to learn about different scientific concepts. Staff explain how rainbows are created. They follow the children's interests. For example, when children show an interest in mosquitos, staff explore different facts about mosquitoes with the children. Children are engaged within this and readily seek out additional facts. n Overall, the quality of interactions between staff and children are good. However, on occasions staff did not support the children to ensure they were fully engaged in planned activities. This means that, at times, children were not

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need to do better?

consistently making the best possible progress. n Parents have positive views of the setting and spoke about the support that the setting offers. For example, the setting offers guidance around sleep routines. Parents told the inspector about how this advice has helped them at home. n Staff ensure that mealtimes are a sociable experience for children. Children sit together and talk about different topics. Children and staff identify different vegetables in their meal. Children learn about oral hygiene. They speak about how to look after their teeth. This supports children's awareness of healthy practices. n Children have opportunities to learn about the world. They speak about how tigers live deep in the jungle. Children talk about the different foods that animals eat and show pleasure in learning these facts.

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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.

p.3

should:

n strengthen techniques used to allow children enough time to process information and develop conversational skills n further develop staff's understanding to ensure children consistently engage in meaningful learning opportunities.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY423237 Local authority Hillingdon Inspection number 10311713 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 30 Number of children on roll 20 Name of registered person Little Crickets Learning Centre Limted

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reference number

Telephone number 01923 545530 Date of previous inspection 6 April 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Little Crickets Learning Centre registered in 2011. The nursery is open each weekday from 7.30am to 6pm and operates all year. The provider receives funding to offer free early years education for children aged two, three and four years. There are six staff. Of these, one holds qualified teacher status and three have appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above.

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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 Leaders and the inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n Staff spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector spoke with leaders about the leadership and management of the setting. n The inspector observed the interactions between staff and children. n The inspector carried out joint observations of group activities with the manager. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n The inspector 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

28 February 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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