Little Learners Nursery Crofton

Inspection of Little Learners Nursery Crofton St Josephs Catholic Church, Santingley Lane, Crofton, West Yorkshire WF4 1LF

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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 arrive excited to greet their friends and play in this warm and welcoming environment that staff have created for them. Children develop strong emotional attachments to the kind and attentive staff. This helps children to feel safe and secure. For example, children receive lots of cuddles and reassurance when needed to help them to settle.

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The provision is good

The nursery curriculum is highly effective in promoting children's love of learning. The enthusiastic and dedicated management team have a clear ambition for all children to succeed. Staff provide children with a wealth of challenging and motivating activities and experiences. For example, during story time, staff help children to think critically and consider what corn needs to grow and what it is used to make. Children thrive at this friendly and inclusive nursery.

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The provision is good

Staff are good role models and have high expectations for children's behaviour. They share expectations and boundaries clearly so that children understand them and can follow them. Staff offer children consistent praise and encouragement. This supports their confidence and self-esteem well. Children behave well.

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need to do better?

n The management team are reflective and evaluate the ongoing performance of the nursery. Staff attend regular supervision sessions to discuss and share key information. The manager ensures that staff access ongoing, meaningful training to keep their skills and knowledge up to date. Staff report that they feel well supported, valued and enjoy working at the nursery. However, systems to evaluate staff's teaching of the curriculum are not yet fully embedded to identify any areas for development. n Staff strive to support children to be independent from an early age. Children go to the toilet and manage their own care needs. Staff support children to make their own choices in play and persevere in tasks. Older children help to set the tables for lunch with plates and cutlery and serve themselves. The independent skills developed make sure that children are ready for their eventual move to school. n Children enjoy group times in smaller groups as part of their daily routine. They

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need to do better?

sing about the days of the week, months of the year and the welcome song. Staff also provide focused learning groups to target their key children's individual development needs. For example, children enjoy developing their listening skills as they match the different sounds they hear to their environment. However, during group times and planned activities, there is often too much background noise and interruptions in the environment. This means that children do not always fully engage in the intended learning.

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need to do better?

13 June 2024 n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are very well supported at the nursery. The special educational needs coordinator works closely with parents, staff and other professionals to support children with SEND. Staff have accessed targeted training to fully support children with particular needs. This supports children with SEND to make good progress alongside their peers. n Children's communication and language development is placed at the heart of the nursery's curriculum. Staff get down to children's level, allow them time to speak and extend their vocabulary during play. Children are confident communicators and consistently engage in conversations with staff and each other. Staff have recently taken part in whole team training in the use of Makaton. This is used effectively to help children to communicate. n Staff support children and their families to lead healthy lifestyles. Children have

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need to do better?

regular fresh air and exercise in the nursery's secure outdoor area. For example, children enjoy developing their large muscles as they climb, run and balance. Children are provided with home-made, healthy and nutritious meals each day. The manager is promoting an oral health programme which encourages children to learn to clean their teeth regularly. n Overall, partnership with parents is good. Staff work closely with parents to ensure that their child's needs are met. Parents are very positive about their children's time at the nursery and the staff team. They comment on how much children love to come each day and how well staff support children's needs. However, not all parents are aware of their children's next steps to further support their learning at home.

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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 monitor the quality of teaching of the curriculum more effectively and improve children's achievements over time n reduce the noise level within the environment, to enable children to better understand and engage within planned activities and group times n share next steps with parents to further support children's learning at home.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2675781 Local authority Wakefield Inspection number 10347153 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 49 Number of children on roll 93 Name of registered person Butterfield, Nicola Michelle

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reference number

Telephone number 07882152456 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Little Learners Crofton registered in 2022 and is located in Crofton, West Yorkshire. The nursery operates all year round from 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except bank holidays. There are 13 childcare staff employed to work with children, of these nine hold appropriate qualifications at level 3 or above. 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 discussed the impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector spoke to 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 Children communicated with the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector spoke with the manager about the leadership and management of the nursery. n Staff spoke to the inspector 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

13 June 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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