Limehurst Little Learners

Inspection of Limehurst Little Learners Limehurst Tenants Hall, Blackthorn Rd, Oldham, Lancashire OL8 3PF

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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 thrive in this friendly and relaxed nursery and develop very strong relationships with staff. They greet staff with enthusiasm and seek them out when they are upset or overwhelmed. Staff know the children well, which helps them to form secure relationships. Children display a strong sense of belonging and positive attitudes to learning. For example, they move confidently around the room to explore the environment. Children play cooperatively together and invite staff to join their play.

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The provision is good

Staff plan a wide range of learning experiences around children's current interests and learning styles. For example, younger children express their creativity as they use paint and stamps to create pictures. Older children spend time in the construction area. They build tracks and towers and link this with a story. Children make good progress in their learning and development.

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The provision is good

Staff have high expectations of children. They encourage them to be independent with self-care tasks, such as handwashing and wiping their nose. Staff are positive role models. For example, when children struggle to regulate their behaviour, staff are quick to intervene and support them. Children are supported to play cooperatively together. For instance, they learn to take turns and share with their friends. This supports children to behave well. Staff always keep children within their sight and hearing. This ensures children's safety and well-being.

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need to do better?

n The staff team provides a broad curriculum that includes a wide range of stimulating learning experiences. Staff use their knowledge of children's individual needs and progress to move them on in their learning and development. However, occasionally, staff do not focus learning experiences precisely enough to fully enhance all children's learning. n The manager is keen to ensure that all children succeed. This includes those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The manager has recently undertaken SEND training, which has helped her to provide more targeted support for children. The manager now focuses on children's speech and language development. Children receive the support they need in a timely manner. n Staff are skilled storytellers. They help bring stories to life as they read to children. They capture children's interest. Staff build on children's growing vocabulary and comprehension. As a result, children remain focused and

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need to do better?

engaged. Children develop a real love of books and spend extended periods browsing through them independently. n Children engage in pretend play with joy. They pretend to buy items and make

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need to do better?

10 May 2024 meals in a role-play shop. Staff join in with children's play. They support the children's play by asking open-ended questions. Staff encourage the children to think. Staff involvement creates an environment that helps to develop children's creativity and imagination. n Staff promote children's physical development. Children have ample opportunities to access the outdoors. They experience a range of activities that support their physical development. For example, children skilfully pedal on the bicycles outside. Children have good pencil control and show strength in their finger muscles. They use this to draw pictures and learn to write their names. This supports children's developing small- and large-muscle skills in preparation for later learning. n Children understand numbers, counting and size through planned learning. For example, they count and weigh counters. Staff introduce mathematical

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need to do better?

language, such as 'heavy' and 'light', as children fill and empty containers in the sand. This helps to develop children's early mathematical skills. n Staff encourage children to become independent in their self-care, ready for their move to school. At snack times, children follow good hygiene routines. They self-serve their food and pour their own milk or water, with little support. Staff supervise children well and are quick to support reluctant eaters. Staff offer praise and encouragement to help children develop their independence with self- care routines. n Arrangements for the supervision and training of staff are good. The management team carries out regular room observations and supervision sessions to monitor staff's practice. However, some weaknesses in staff practice have not been fully addressed. For example, on some occasions, staff are not attentive to all children's individual needs. However, the management team is

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need to do better?

keen to implement clear, targeted plans to support individual staff to help ensure consistently high-quality care and education across the nursery. n Parents speak positively about the nursery and the staff. They say that their children enjoy attending and that staff are friendly. Parents enjoy the daily feedback and updates about their child's progress. These positive relationships support the overall emotional well-being of children.

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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 build on staff's knowledge of the curriculum intent so that they are clear about

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should:

10 May 2024 the skills and knowledge they want children to acquire during their time at the nursery n enhance staff supervision arrangements and provide targeted support for individual staff to precisely address minor inconsistencies in their practice, to promote their ongoing professional development.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2673249 Local authority Oldham Inspection number 10339494 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 24 Number of children on roll 29 Name of registered person Limehurst Little Learners Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 07759 660948 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Limehurst Little Learners opened in 2019 and re-registered due to a change in legal entity of the provider in 2022. The nursery employs five members of childcare staff. Of these, three hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. The nursery is open from Monday to Friday, term time only. Sessions are from 9am to 3pm.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the nursery received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the manager and has taken that into account in the evaluation of the nursery. n The inspector observed the quality of education and the impact this has on children's learning. n Consideration was given to parents' views. The inspector spoke to parents during the inspection and viewed written testimonials. n The inspector checked evidence of the suitability of staff working with children. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation. n Discussions were held with the manager and staff at appropriate times during the inspection.

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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

10 May 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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