Little Stars Nursery

Inspection of Little Stars Nursery 58 Allen Road, LONDON N16 8RZ

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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 Good

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The provision is good

Staff welcome children into a safe, calm and nurturing nursery environment. They consider children's interests to plan interesting and varied activities that children are eager to explore. The manager and staff ensure the settling-in routines include prioritising children's emotional well-being. Staff reassure children and offer comfort when they are upset. They demonstrate sensitivity to children's individual needs and work on building strong relationships with children. This enables children to develop positive attitudes to learning and successfully build on their existing skills and knowledge. Overall, children are engaged well in activities and learning, demonstrating good behaviour consistently.

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The provision is good

Staff have high expectations of children and help them to develop the necessary skills for their future learning. Staff ensure pre-school children enhance their independence skills further. For example, staff teach children to use cutlery correctly during mealtimes. They also teach children to learn to use a knife safely. During snack time, following encouragement from staff, older children confidently and safely cut slices of banana and share with their friends. Children beam with pride when staff praise their cutting skills. Staff are attentive to the needs of babies in their care and provide support to develop their independence skills well. During mealtimes, they help babies to learn to use cutlery to feed themselves and keep them engaged by providing positive praise such as 'well done for using your spoon'. This helps babies to feel safe and secure.

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need to do better?

n Staff understand what children can successfully do and what they need to learn next. The manager and staff have a good understanding of how to sequence the curriculum and monitor children's progress. This ensures children make good progress step by step. n Staff promote children's communication and language skills well. They read to children regularly and introduce them to a wide range of vocabulary. Regular trips to the park have enabled children to successfully expand their vocabulary. For example, children confidently name the different animals they see in the animal enclosures, such as deer, goat and ducks, saying they make the 'quack quack' sound. n Children have lots of opportunities to build their core strength and coordination skills. Staff plan varied activities, such as wall climbing, balancing on beams, and riding bikes and scooters in the garden area. Younger children, including babies,

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need to do better?

are encouraged to make marks, and older children trace letters in their name. This ensures that children develop their physical skills well. n The manager and staff are committed to enhancing the provision on offer and continually evaluate children's learning and welfare. The manager provides

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need to do better?

23 May 2024 regular coaching sessions to develop staff's practice further. They have developed strong partnerships with external professionals, such as local nurseries, and share good practice. Staff speak positively of the support they receive from the manager and feel extremely valued and motivated. This enables staff to support children with their learning and development effectively. n Staff lead group activities, such as circle time to develop children's communication and social interaction skills. For example, children take turns and keenly greet everyone. They practise counting backwards and forwards and play with different musical instruments, sharing well. However, at times, the organisation of the group activities could be enhanced to increase children's concentration levels further. For example, the length of mixed-age group activity times can be reviewed to ensure it is suitable for children of all ages.

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need to do better?

n Children benefit from local trips that the manager and staff plan. For example, children enjoy eating healthy snacks in cafes and shopping for fruit and vegetables from local shops. These trips help children to gain an understanding of their local community and the wider world. n The manager and staff teach children about the various aspects that keep them safe and healthy. Staff discuss road safety and encourage older children to put their outdoor shoes, coats and high-visibility jackets on before leaving on a trip. Staff use mealtimes as a teaching opportunity and discuss the benefits of healthy eating. This supports children to develop healthy attitudes. n The manager and staff have developed strong partnership with parents. They regularly keep parents informed about their child's experience, learning and development at the nursery. Parents report that their children thoroughly enjoy attending and have made great progress since starting. They compliment the

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need to do better?

'home-from-home' environment that the manager and staff have created.

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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 continue to review the organisation of some group activities to further enhance children's high levels of involvement.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY500938 Local authority Hackney Inspection number 10335380 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 25 Number of children on roll 10 Name of registered person Little Stars N16 Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 02072544367 Date of previous inspection 13 June 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Little Stars Nursery re-registered in 2016. It operates in Stoke Newington in the London Borough of Hackney. It is open each weekday from 8am until 6pm all year round, except for Christmas and bank holidays. The nursery receives funding for free early education for children aged two, three and four years. The nursery employs three staff. Of these, two hold a relevant childcare qualification at level 5 and one at level 3.

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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 manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want their children to learn. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n Children spoke to, or communicated with, the inspector during the inspection. n Staff spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The manager carried out a joint observation with the inspector. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.

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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

23 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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