Little Pumpkins Nursery

Inspection of Little Pumpkins Nursery The Early Years Unit 2, The Avenue, Lawford, Manningtree CO11 2FR

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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 Not applicable

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The provision is good

Children enter the nursery with an air of confidence and excitement. They happily wave goodbye to their parents at the door when greeted by the incredibly friendly and nurturing staff. Babies and children swiftly build strong and trusting attachments to staff, supported by a tailored settling-in process. Skilled staff ensure the curriculum is coherently planned and securely embedded throughout the nursery. Fun-loving staff use children's favourite stories and rhymes, such as a bespoke, jolly handwashing song, to build on what children know and can do. The positive impact of this teaching is evident when children demonstrate their understanding of good hygiene routines, such as washing their hands independently before eating and after playing outdoors.

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The provision is good

Indoor and outdoor learning environments are well resourced and enticing, Resources are placed at a low level enabling children to fully participate and make choices. Children feel empowered when learning to negotiate risk with appropriate levels of support from staff. Consistent and meaningful praise from staff promotes positive attitudes to learning. Children play cooperatively. Staff have good strategies to support children to share resources and take turns. Children frequently display acts of kindness, such as wiping some mud off a slide so their peer can glide down more comfortably.

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need to do better?

n Staff respond exceptionally well to babies' first words and gestures as they learn to communicate. Babies delight in a language-rich environment where they attempt to say words to familiar nursery rhymes and stories that are read to them. Each room is organised to promote independence and a sense of belonging. Babies start to develop their independence when recognising pictures of themselves on their water bottles, before helping themselves to a drink. n Robust assessment processes are in place and parents applaud daily online and face-to-face updates of their children's day. Parents of children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, express overwhelming gratitude for the dedicated staff who go above and beyond to support them, and ensure their children's holistic needs are continually and consistently met. n Children's communication and language development are prioritised. Children

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need to do better?

with delayed speech and language benefit from effective targeted interventions delivered by trained staff. As a result, children make good progress in their communication and language development. Children also learn Makaton to help them to communicate. n Children's physical, social and emotional well-being is paramount. They enjoy and benefit from trips to the local park, days at the beach and visiting the local library. Babies are encouraged to cruise around furniture and develop the

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need to do better?

19 April 2024 muscles in their legs and arms. Children love dancing to music while expressing their unique personalities. n Children share their love of nature and passionately show visitors some potatoes they are growing in the greenhouse. They raise their hand high towards the sky, demonstrating how they are growing 'bigger'. Children learn how to care for living things, building their confidence and compassion as they water the plants because the soil felt dry. n The quality of teaching across the nursery is good. The professional management team reflect on the service they provide and are passionate about continually improving. Staff report excellent well-being and thrive from training opportunities. The provider has not considered ways of encouraging more experienced staff to model or share their good practice to help less experienced staff build on their teaching skills. n Staff prompt interesting discussions and expertly offer children time and space

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need to do better?

to think and articulate their desired response. This patient approach from staff means children feel comfortable to solve problems and safely learn through trial and error. Staff give children time to practice skills, such as counting in sequence or trying to put on their coat themselves. Consequently, they develop perseverance and resilience. n Children are very well behaved. Staff are amazing role models and consistently remind children to say 'please' and 'thank you'. Staff support children's emotional development superbly well. Young children already show an understanding of emotions and will tell staff when themselves or a peer may be feeling 'happy' or 'sad'.

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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 develop the opportunities available for staff to share good practice and learn from their colleagues.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2669232 Local authority Essex Inspection number 10335391 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 55 Number of children on roll 49 Name of registered person Little Pumpkins Pre-School C.I.C.

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reference number

Telephone number 01206 413186 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Little Pumpkins Nursery was registered in 2021 and is situated in Lawford, Essex. The nursery employs 19 members of childcare staff, 13 of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. One member of staff holds qualified teacher status. The nursery is open all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm on Monday to Friday. 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 discusses the impact of the pandemic with the manager and has taken that into account in their evaluation. n The nursery manager and the inspector completed a tour of the nursery, both indoors and outdoors to understand how the early years provision and curriculum are organised. Additionally, the manager showed the inspector the premises and discussed how they ensure it is safe and suitable. n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact that this had on children's learning. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of group activities with the manager and also discussed self-evaluation. n The special educational needs coordinator spoke to the inspector about how they support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

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Inspection activities

n Children communicated with the inspector during the inspection. The inspector spoke with parents and carers during the inspection and also took account of their views, expressed in written emails. n The inspector held a meeting with the manager and also discussed self- evaluation. The inspector looked at relevant documentation, such as evidence of the suitability of the staff working in the nursery and a selection of other records.

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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

19 April 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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