Little Explorers: Goose Green

Inspection of Little Explorers: Goose Green Goose Green Methodist Church Hall, Sefton Road, Wigan WN3 6QU

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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 are happy and secure in this welcoming and friendly nursery. Staff recognise each child as an individual and build good relationships with them. Staff work with parents to obtain extensive information on children's care needs and routines, so babies feel extremely secure. Babies seek staff out for comfort and snuggle into their arms for cuddles. Staff ask babies for consent throughout every aspect of their care and ensure that children feel part of decision-making at all ages. Staff engage with young children in a comforting manner. For example, they talk and sing to children during nappy changes. As a result, children are happy and demonstrate that they feel safe in their care.

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The provision is good

Children enjoy the interesting and varied activities that are provided for them indoors and in the well-resourced garden. Staff support children's natural instincts to move and explore. For example, children play collaboratively to construct and navigate walkways from crates and tyres, and staff talk with the children about taking turns. This enables them to explore new ways of moving and being physical.

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The provision is good

Inclusion is very much at the heart of everything the staff do. Staff are highly focused on identifying and planning for children's individual needs, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Staff model good behaviours and teach children the importance of being kind and using their manners. Children take immense pride in being assigned special jobs, such as 'line leader' or 'walking feet monitor'.

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need to do better?

n The manager and staff design and implement a well-sequenced curriculum to support the unique ways that children learn. Staff use their thorough knowledge of children's interests and stages of development to plan and provide exciting activities that challenge children's learning. Staff carry out ongoing observations of children to identify what they know and can do. This supports children to make good progress from their starting points. n Children develop strong language and literacy skills. Staff link stories to different activities to expand on children's learning. For example, children develop their fine motor skills while making play dough characters from the story 'Wiggly the Worm'. Toddlers demonstrate a love of stories as they enthusiastically look at lift-the-flap books with staff in the reading shed. n Parents and carers are passionate about the help, advice and support they receive at this welcoming and friendly nursery. Parents explain how the nursery

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need to do better?

helped to settle children through flexible arrangements with taster sessions. Parents also stated that they were extremely pleased with the progress their children make, which they say is down to a child-centred approach and highly

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need to do better?

21 May 2024 skilled staff. Parents have access to regular communication, which includes daily logs, parents' evenings, newsletters, and an online app. n Leaders and staff work well together in supporting children to get a good start to their early education. Staff work on ideas together in regular meetings to continuously improve outcomes for children. The nursery manager undertakes extensive self-evaluation, alongside the nominated individual, to set focused targets and ensure that there is continued professional development. Therefore, staff are well trained to deliver the curriculum and support children to gain the key skills and knowledge they need. n Babies and toddlers are well supervised while they enjoy nutritious meals and snacks. Staff support children to develop excellent physical skills. For example, they encourage babies to self-feed when appropriate. This prepares children well for the next steps in their learning.

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need to do better?

n Staff sing songs to introduce different transitions from one activity to the other, such as when lining up or preparing to have lunch. Children happily copy the actions to familiar songs as they organise the line. Children generally follow routines well. However, staff do not always consider the length of time that younger children partake in group activities, and this results in some children losing focus. Therefore, children are not always engaged in their learning. n Staff know what they want children to learn. They have a clear focus on communication and language and how they can help children to develop their skills further. They have acted on advice from training and the local authority. Staff use a range of strategies, such as small-group interventions with real objects, to support children's language further. As a result, all children make good progress.

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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 support staff to plan and deliver group activities more effectively, to help children remain focused and engaged in all learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2653655 Local authority Wigan Inspection number 10339413 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 27 Number of children on roll 39 Name of registered person Little Explorers Nurseries Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01942 901026 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Little Explorers: Goose Green registered in 2022 and is located inside the Goose Green Methodist Church Hall in Wigan. The nursery employs 10 members of childcare staff, of whom seven hold relevant qualifications at level 3 and above. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 6pm, all year round. 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 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 their evaluation of the nursery. n The inspector viewed all areas of the premises used by the children. He observed the quality of education during activities and assessed the impact this had on children's learning. n The inspector spoke with staff and children during the inspection. He completed a joint observation with the nursery manager. n The inspector checked evidence of suitability and qualifications of staff working with children. He discussed the nursery's methods used for self-evaluation and the impact this had on the setting. n Several parents spoke to the inspector during the inspection and shared 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

21 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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