Little Lambs (Longlevens) Ltd

Inspection of Little Lambs (Longlevens) Ltd Paygrove Lane, Longlevens, GLOUCESTER GL2 0AU

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Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

The quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement Personal development Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not applicable

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The provision requires improvement

Children are settled at the nursery and form secure relationships with the staff who care for them. Staff in the baby room support the youngest children to engage in a range of play activities that support their individual interests and next steps in learning. They offer praise and encouragement and gently hold out their hands to support babies who attempt to walk across the room.

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The provision requires improvement

Staff in the toddler room encourage children to explore the sensory experiences on offer. Young children use their imagination as they pretend to feed the dinosaurs. They develop good hand-to-eye coordination as they carefully thread cereal hoops onto a piece of string. However, staff in the pre-school room are not as successful in promoting children's engagement in learning activities. This means that older children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), do not make the best progress in their learning and development. Staff do not always organise themselves or resources well enough, and children sometimes lose focus and wander aimlessly around the room. Pre-school staff do not recognise this or adapt their practice to re-engage children until prompted by the manager. When prompted, staff set up some small-group activities, which promotes more purposeful learning. Older children demonstrate some early literacy skills. They

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The provision requires improvement

match letters and sounds correctly and are beginning to identify the initial letter in their name.

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need to do better?

n The nursery is inclusive and welcomes all children. The special educational needs coordinator works in partnership with parents to develop individual learning plans to support children's progress. However, not all staff supporting children with SEND have the knowledge and skills to successfully engage the children in good-quality learning experiences. They do not consistently implement strategies outlined in children's individual learning plans. As a result, important learning opportunities are missed. n The quality of teaching is variable across the nursery. Although staff plan some meaningful group activities to promote young children's understanding of feelings and emotions, they do not consider the organisation or delivery of activities to promote children's level of engagement. For example, two members of staff sit alongside a large group of children while one member of staff reads to them. Staff do not ensure that there are enough resources, such as story

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need to do better?

props, to encourage all children to actively participate. As a result, some children are passive members of the group and do not engage with the rest of the group. n The manager has many years' experience of managing a nursery. However, she is relatively new in post at this nursery and is aware of some weaknesses in practice. She has worked hard to build relationships with her new staff team and

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need to do better?

21 June 2024 is supportive of them, often stepping into rooms to work alongside them. Although the manager regularly holds informal discussions with staff, she is yet to implement effective supervision and monitoring procedures to identify staff's specific training needs. The manager acknowledges that the introduction of these procedures will allow her to better identify training and mentoring opportunities and improve the quality of teaching to a consistently good level. n Staff plan activities which prepare children for their upcoming move to school. Each school's logo is displayed on the wall in the pre-school room, which helps children to become familiar with these. Staff share written documents with children's new teachers to inform them of their learning and development. However, fully effective partnerships are not yet in place for all settings children currently attend and move on to, to promote a more consistent approach to

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need to do better?

children's learning and development. n Care practices are effective. Staff seek children's permission to change their nappy and remind children to wash their hands before mealtimes. Staff wear a hat when playing outside to support children's understanding of how to keep safe in the sun. They have a suitable awareness of safer sleeping practices and check on young children regularly to ensure that they are safe and well. n Staff support children's early literacy skills with focused learning in each room and a 'book of the month'. Children build familiarity with stories and recall key parts. They accurately make links between the colours of characters and how they are feeling. Children use the vocabulary of emotions. For example, they say that 'yellow' is 'happy' and 'green' is 'calm'.

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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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Due date

improve staff's knowledge and understanding of supporting children with SEND and ensure that identified learning strategies are consistently followed so that children with SEND make better progress 19/08/2024

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Due date

21 June 2024 implement effective procedures for the supervision of staff and identify professional development opportunities to raise the quality of teaching to a consistently good level. 19/08/2024

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should:

n strengthen the organisation of staff and resources to help all children remain focused and engaged in their learning n develop partnerships with other settings children attend and move on to, to fully promote consistency and continuity in children's learning and development.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2734549 Local authority Gloucestershire Inspection number 10354305 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 95 Number of children on roll 95 Name of registered person Little Lambs (Longlevens) Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01452 380662 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Little Lambs (Longlevens) Ltd registered in 2023 and is located in Gloucester. It is open from Monday to Friday, all year round, except for bank holidays and one week at Christmas. Sessions are from 7.30am to 6pm. The nursery employs 14 members of childcare staff. Of these, one holds early years professional status, three hold qualifications at level 6, seven hold qualifications at level 3, and two hold qualifications at level 2. Four members of staff are unqualified. 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 provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the nursery. n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want children to learn. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact on children's learning. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of a group activity with the manager. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The manager provided the inspector with a sample of key documentation on request.

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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 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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