Little Explorers Nursery

Inspection of Little Explorers Nursery Worlds End Pavilion, Burgess Hill RH15 0QJ

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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 Good

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The provision requires improvement

Staff are friendly and kind towards children. When children are unsettled, staff are attentive and provide them with reassurance and cuddles. This supports children to form secure attachments with staff. Additionally, staff build on children's confidence by celebrating their successes, such as when children learn to use the potty by themselves. This helps children to feel a sense of pride in their achievements.

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The provision requires improvement

Although there is not a clear, sequenced curriculum in place, children have fun and enjoy the activities that are organised by staff. For instance, children spend time playing with the play dough. They focus their attention on manipulating it in different ways, which helps them to develop their muscle strength to support their early writing skills. However, children's learning and behaviour are sometimes impacted by weaknesses in the daily routines.

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The provision requires improvement

Staff support children's communication and language skills. For example, they encourage children to share their thoughts during group activities. This provides children with opportunities to make links between what they know and what they have learned. Staff also repeat what children are trying to say, which enables children to hear the correct pronunciation of words and develop their speaking skills.

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need to do better?

n There has been a change of ownership since the last inspection. The new leaders of the nursery have identified weaknesses and responded promptly to these. They have improved safety arrangements, including the security of the premises. However, there are further weaknesses that have not been fully addressed yet. Arrangements to share information about children are not sufficiently effective. As a result, leaders are not always made aware of relevant information about individual children at the earliest opportunity. This does not enable them to have a good oversight of all children, or to consider whether additional support is needed. n Leaders do not implement an ambitious curriculum. On the whole, children are happy and enjoy exploring their surroundings. Staff plan activities, but these are not consistently based on what children need to learn next. Overall, these experiences are enjoyable and some learning takes place. However, children take

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need to do better?

part in activities that are not specifically targeted to support their ongoing, individual development. This does not fully ensure that children make the progress they are capable of. n Generally, staff arrange the learning environment to support children to engage in play with their friends. However, children do not consistently benefit from meaningful teaching as staff are often preoccupied with completing domestic

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need to do better?

12 August 2024 tasks. This results in children not being purposefully engaged, which sometimes leads to children showing unwanted behaviour. n Where teaching is implemented well, children respond positively and actively engage in their learning. For instance, during a story time session, staff effectively support children to consider what makes them unique. Staff show children a book about different families and encourage them to talk about their own families. This helps children to learn about similarities and differences between themselves and others. n Generally, staff support children to develop their independence skills. For instance, children learn to serve their own meals and pour their own drinks. Additionally, staff encourage children to think about what they need to wear when they go outside to play. This helps children to meet their own needs. n Leaders implement effective procedures to assure themselves of the suitability of

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need to do better?

staff. This includes completing relevant checks and inducting new staff to help them understand their roles and responsibilities. Leaders continue to monitor the ongoing suitability of staff through regular meetings, mentoring and on-the-job support. For instance, they encourage less-experienced staff to talk to children during activities to promote their communication and language skills. This helps staff to develop their practice. n Staff have developed good partnerships with parents, which help to promote a regular two-way flow of information between them. Parents are well informed about their child's development. Parents report that their children enjoy attending nursery and they have formed strong bonds with staff. Leaders are responsive to feedback from parents and they act promptly to resolve any queries or concerns that they may have. For instance, leaders have improved communication with parents so that they are aware of any changes within the

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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

devise and implement an ambitious curriculum that reflects the interests and learning needs of all children 02/09/2024

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Due date

12 August 2024 implement effective procedures to ensure that staff understand their responsibilities to share appropriate information so that leaders have effective oversight of the children who attend the nursery. 02/09/2024

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should:

n review and improve the organisation of daily routines to promote children's learning more effectively.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY553025 Local authority West Sussex Inspection number 10356980 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 25 Number of children on roll 51 Name of registered person MKM Childcare Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01444 241909 Date of previous inspection 23 October 2023

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Information about this early years setting

Little Explorers Nursery registered in 2014 and re-registered in 2017 due to a change in company status. It is based in Burgess Hill, West Sussex. The nursery is open each weekday from 7.30am to 5.30pm, for 51 weeks of the year, excluding bank holidays. A team of nine staff work with the children, of whom two hold a level 6 qualification and three hold a level 3 qualification in childcare. Funding is accepted for the provision of free early years education for children aged two, three and four years.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed any continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want the children to learn. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of group activities with the manager. n Staff spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector observed the interactions between staff and children. 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

12 August 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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