Little Leaders Childcare

Inspection of Little Leaders Childcare Oak Hall, Woodville Road, Ipswich IP4 1PD

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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 Outstanding

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The provision is good

The setting is a hive of activity where there is a strong sense of fun. Children's confidence, abilities and creativity flourish during their time attending. This is because staff encourage and support them to follow their interests and develop their skills. For example, staff help children find the arts and crafts materials that they would like to use. Staff share in children's amazement when they poke a feather through a box and discover the end of the feather on the inside of the box.

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The provision is good

Staff promote children's health and well-being. They understand and value children's need to have plenty of movement. For example, children have extended opportunities to play outside. They also have spaces where they create music, dance and move freely indoors. With staff's modelling, children develop positive social skills, paying close attention to adults and their friends during conversation. They enjoy sharing and celebrating their own interests and achievements with others. For example, older children proudly show visitors a photo album, which shows the variety of experiences they have when they go on weekly outings to natural areas. A senior member of staff, who is trained in delivering an outdoor educational approach leads these purposeful visits.

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need to do better?

n An experienced and knowledgeable team of leaders and managers have led successful improvements after a recent dip in quality at this bustling childcare setting. Staffing challenges created a need for leaders to recruit several new staff. Leaders have mindfully selected staff who demonstrate the desired traits to contribute positively to the children's care and learning in the setting. n Leaders and managers have taken prompt action to remedy weaknesses, some of which have been identified through contact with other agencies. Staff now consistently follow suitable food hygiene procedures. The building has also undergone recent maintenance and improvements to ensure that it is fit for purpose. n Children enjoy spending time with the attentive staff. Staff get to know them well and recognise their unique needs and personalities. Staff build trusting relationships with their key child, supported by a buddy system, which ensures

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need to do better?

continuity when a key person cannot be present. n The recently appointed manager has a strong knowledge of good practice. She has prioritised children's safety through improving staff deployment and risk assessment to reduce the risk of accidents. Leaders and managers have swiftly helped the staff team to build their ability to work well with each other to give children a well-organised day. This maximises the amount of time children have to learn and play. n Throughout the day children have the opportunity to build their speaking and

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need to do better?

11 June 2024 listening skills, and their understanding of language. This is because staff share books, tell them stories, sing songs and chat with them. The manager has identified that there is scope to further increase the range of new and interesting vocabulary that children hear. She is working to strengthen the planning for children's learning to achieve this. n Leaders and managers work closely with staff and parents. They listen to their views and use them to inform their ambitious plans for continuous improvement. n Staff design key daily routines with developing children's life skills in mind. For example, children learn to take responsibility as they clear their own plates and wash up when they have finished. n Children develop good concentration skills, they focus intently on their self- chosen play and learning. Staff help babies with their early thinking skills as they provide coloured balls and cups and encourage babies to play a matching game.

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need to do better?

n All staff have appropriate skills that help them to give good support to promote children's development. However, some staff are not fully familiar with some aspects of the provider's curriculum with regards to some teaching techniques that the provider would like them to use. This affects how well some staff implement the curriculum to ensure children build on and extend their learning. n Staff keep parents informed about children's progress, verbally and through an online system. Where children and/or families need support from other professionals, such as for children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities, staff help parents to access this.

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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 develop further their understanding of how to deliver the intended curriculum to raise the quality of teaching higher.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY433050 Local authority Suffolk Inspection number 10353743 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 34 Number of children on roll 62 Name of registered person Little Leaders Childcare Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01473 221777 Date of previous inspection 31 May 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Little Leaders Childcare registered in 2011. The childcare setting employs 11 members of childcare staff. Of these, seven hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The childcare setting opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 8am until 6pm. The childcare setting 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 We carried out this inspection as a result of a risk assessment, following information we received about the provider. n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the setting and discussed the early years curriculum. n Children spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection 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 The inspector spoke to parents and reviewed written feedback during the

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Inspection activities

inspection and took account of their views. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation of group activities. n The provider, area manager and manager met with the inspector to discuss the leadership and management of the setting.

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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

11 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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