Little Pumpkins Nursery Ltd

Inspection of Little Pumpkins Nursery Ltd 2-4 Crowther Road, LONDON SE25 5QW

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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 Inadequate

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The provision is good

Leaders, managers and staff have made good progress and successfully met all actions raised at the last inspection. They have introduced new methods of planning so that staff now capture children's interests and learning needs. They have reviewed the curriculum and resources and rearranged some group rooms. This enables children to follow their own interests during play and benefit from a broad range of activities that promote all areas of learning. New staff have been employed to ensure that required ratios are maintained. Staff are embedding the key-person system well to ensure children's individual needs are met. More robust systems of induction and regular appraisals are now in place, resulting in staff understanding their roles and responsibilities. Staff acknowledge the successful changes they have made and say they have all pulled together as a team. Children enjoy a calm and well-organised learning environment where they are building

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The provision is good

strong relationships with staff and each other.

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The provision is good

Younger children's communication and language skills are successfully promoted during group circle times. They become fully engaged as they giggle and hum along to familiar songs with staff. They identify which song they have been humming and then enthusiastically sing the songs and join in the actions together. Babies are happy and settled. They receive lots of support and encouragement from staff while developing their early walking skills. They develop good communication skills and show strong bonds with staff as they smile and babble while looking at books with them.

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need to do better?

n Children enjoy focused activities where they mix different colours of water at the 'potions station'. They explore and smell other ingredients and add them to their potions. Staff extend children's learning well as they ask children if they can remember which colours they began with and how the colours have changed. Children share and take turns well. They show good language skills as they keenly talk about what they are making and listen well to others. n Parents give positive comments about the changes since the last inspection, including improvements to staffing arrangements. They know who their child's key person is and value the regular updates they receive about their children's progress. Parents feel that the curriculum has improved, and they like the home learning activities that staff provide. They comment that their children's communication and language skills have improved and that older children are

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need to do better?

well prepared for school. n Staff have completed relevant training in child protection and safeguarding, including the 'Prevent' duty guidance. This has improved their knowledge and understanding of the procedures to follow if they have any concerns about

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need to do better?

28 March 2024 children's welfare or if any allegations are raised against staff. n Children frequently look at books independently and enjoy listening to stories read by staff. Their literacy skills are further enhanced as they take books home to read with their parents. However, some books are now worn and not in such good condition, which may distract children's enjoyment and use of books. n Older children become engrossed while playing in their role-play café. They develop good social skills as they play cooperatively while cooking their pretend foods. They show good mathematics skills as they confidently count the eggs and the money in the till. n Children enjoy being creative. They use paints and art and craft materials to create their own artwork. Older children keenly draw pictures and use construction sets to make their own models. Children show what they have made with pride and receive lots of praise from staff. However, staff do not fully

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need to do better?

promote children's sense of belonging and celebrate their achievements, such as displaying their artwork and drawings. n Staff work closely with parents and other agencies to ensure that children's needs are met and their welfare is promoted. Staff take prompt action to initiate assessments to support children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities. This ensures that children are appropriately supported to make the best progress. n Children's health is promoted well through lots of outside play, exercise and healthy meals. They enjoy sociable mealtimes where they make choices of foods they like to eat. Staff are aware of children's individual dietary needs and support children in developing their self-care skills.

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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 strengthen risk assessments of resources to ensure that books are regularly checked and repaired so that children's love of books and reading is fully enhanced n develop opportunities for children to further celebrate their achievements and build on their sense of belonging.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY468690 Local authority Croydon Inspection number 10320391 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 72 Number of children on roll 58 Name of registered person Little Pumpkins Nursery Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 020865652517 Date of previous inspection 31 October 2023

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Information about this early years setting

Little Pumpkins Nursery Ltd registered in 2013 and is located in South Norwood, in the London Borough of Croydon. The nursery is open Monday to Friday, from 7.30am to 6pm, for 51 weeks of the year, except for bank holidays. There are 18 staff, including the manager and area manager, 15 of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications. This includes 10 who hold a level 3 qualification and five who hold level 2 qualifications in childcare. The nursery receives funding for free early years education for children aged two and three years.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed any continued impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The inspector and managers completed a learning walk to discuss how the nursery is organised and the activities and learning experiences they offer. n The inspector sampled a range of required documentation, including children's records and staff's suitability checks and qualifications. n The inspector and area manager completed a joint observation of staff during an activity and assessed the impact of teaching on children's learning. n The inspector held discussions with staff, parents and children and took account of their views.

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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 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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