Little Explorers Pre-school

Inspection of Little Explorers Pre- school The Scout Hut, Rosemary Road, Walsall WS6 7DY

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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 arrive at the setting with huge smiles on their faces. They leave their parents happily at the door and are greeted by staff. Children regularly reach out to staff for cuddles throughout the day. This demonstrates how safe and secure they feel. The curriculum is varied. Children enjoy sensory experiences, such as sand play. The staff talk to the children about size and children enjoy filling and emptying the containers. Children also enjoy planting a range of seeds. Staff scaffold children's learning well as they talk to the children about what the seeds need to grow. All children make good progress in their learning.

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The provision is good

Staff are kind and nurturing towards the children. This helps children to build lasting relationships with the staff who care for them. Children use their imagination as they feed, change, and dress the babies in the home corner. They have lots of opportunities to practise a range of physical skills. This includes learning how to catch a ball and climbing up the different play equipment. Staff place a focus on supporting children to learn how they can self-regulate. They actively talk to the children about their emotions and feelings. Staff remind children of the rules. Children generally behave well.

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need to do better?

n Leaders are passionate. They are keen for children to leave their setting ready for the next stage of their learning. Leaders work well in partnership with others. This helps to keep children safe and to ensure that children have their individual needs met. n Leaders have developed a rich curriculum, which covers all areas of learning. Staff plan activities with clear intentions to build on what children know and can do over time. However, the organisation of large-group activities needs to be strengthened. During circle time, staff often request that children sit and pay attention for considerable periods of time. Consequently, most children end up losing concentration and this then distracts their peers. This does not fully maximise all children's learning. n Leaders place focus on supporting children's communication and language development. Staff screen children's language when they first start attending.

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need to do better?

They read stories with lots of expression and very clearly. However, there are occasions when staff do not consistently model language to children as they free play. This does not fully promote children's speech development. n Staff gather key information about the children. They then routinely observe and assess children's development. Staff use this information to help to identify any gaps in children's learning. Where concerns are raised about a child's development, staff make swift referrals. They continue to work alongside others to develop plans and targets for children to achieve. This helps to ensure that

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need to do better?

18 March 2024 children with special educational needs and/or disabilities receive the specialist help they require. n Parents and carers speak highly of the staff. They state that their children are happy and settled. Parents add that they can see the progress that their child has made in their learning. Staff keep parents well informed about their child's development. They offer parents lots of ideas for how they can enhance their child's learning at home. n Staff speak positively about leaders. They state that they know they can seek leaders' support whenever they need it. Leaders routinely observe and monitor staff practice. They use this to have discussions with staff about their practice, training needs, and ongoing suitability. n Staff place focus on supporting children's personal development. They are very responsive to the children. Staff immediately recognise and respond to children when they require changing. They also provide lots of opportunities for children

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need to do better?

to build on their independence. Children regularly help themselves to water. They assist with dressing and nappy changes well. n Staff immediately go over to support children to deal with any conflicts that arise. They talk to the children about their actions and how they affects others. This helps children to start to understand right from wrong. n Staff plan a range of celebrations and festivals throughout the year. They use them to talk to the children about what makes them and others unique. This helps to prepare children for life in modern Britain.

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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 organise large-group times better, with an aim to support children to develop high levels of engagement and maximise all children's learning n support staff to consistently model language to children as they play, with an aim to enhance children's speech.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY496059 Local authority Staffordshire Inspection number 10312284 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Sessional day care

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inspection

Total number of places 17 Number of children on roll 20 Name of registered person St Marks's Pre School Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 07930035306 Date of previous inspection 25 April 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Little Explorers Pre-school registered in 2016 and is situated in Walsall in the West Midlands. The pre-school employs three members of childcare staff. Of these, one holds an appropriate early years qualification at level 6, and two hold a level 3 qualification. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday during term time only. Sessions are from 8.45am until 2.45pm. The pre-school 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 inspector viewed the setting and discussed the safety and suitability of it. n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want the children to learn. n The inspector observed care routines and staff's interaction with the children. n The inspector spoke to staff and parents and took account of their views. 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 looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the setting.

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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 March 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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