Little Hens Childcare Ltd

Inspection of Little Hens Childcare Ltd Town Hall, 75 High Street, Over, Cambridge CB24 5NB

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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 are very happy in this warm and welcoming setting. Staff spend time talking to parents to gather any information needed to ensure each child has a happy day. Children receive a warm welcome on arrival. Staff ensure they are on hand to provide comfort and reassuring cuddles when needed, to help children separate from their parents and carers. Children feel safe and secure in the nurturing environment. Staff build strong bonds with children and know them exceptionally well. They ensure all children receive the individual support and care they need to make good progress.

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The provision is good

Children are excited to learn and thoroughly enjoy exploring the learning opportunities staff prepare. For example, they giggle with delight while splashing with their hands in water and ice. Babies and toddlers develop their fine motor skills as they explore. For instance, they use hammers as they try to break the ice, and staff model pinching and pulling to release the flowers that are frozen inside. Children demonstrate good levels of persistence even when faced with a challenge. Staff give consistent praise and encouragement. This helps to promote children's self-esteem, and even very young children clap their hands at their own achievements. Children learn to show kindness to others and share. Staff are good role models and skilfully encourage young children to begin to share and play alongside each other. They reinforce good manners, such as saying 'please' and 'thank you', which children begin to repeat when making requests.

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need to do better?

n Children benefit from frequently hearing well-read stories. Toddlers listen intently to staff, who encourage them to participate. For instance, toddlers match the funny faces they see in the story. Staff point out the illustrations and label them to help babies to develop their vocabulary. Toddlers begin to use three- and four-word sentences in context as they point to a picture and say, 'It's a balloon.' n Staff are extremely supportive to children and help them to manage their emotions with kindness and understanding. They use gentle reminders to reinforce their expectations of children's behaviour. Staff act as good role models to children. They engage in cooperative play with children to support them as they learn to share and take turns. n Staff utilise the local community particularly well to provide children with new experiences. For instance, children enjoy trips to a nearby farm to learn about

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need to do better?

young animals and visit the local community café to interact with other members of the village. Staff take children to local play areas daily for physical activity in the fresh air. These experiences help children to make connections with their environment and learn about the world around them. n All children, including children requiring additional support, make good progress.

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need to do better?

15 August 2024 Staff have excellent knowledge of their key children. They are able to identify and talk about children's current stage of learning and their planned next steps. They work with outside agencies to ensure children receive the individual care and support they need to help them make the best possible progress. n Parents speak very highly about the setting. They praise the staff for the stimulating experiences they provide and comment on the rapid progress children make. Parents talk about the reassurance they receive that their children are happy and well cared for through the 'amazing' daily communication staff provide. Parents appreciate the regular opportunities to talk with their child's key person during parents' evenings. n Leaders have given excellent consideration to improving staff's confidence in recognising and responding to safeguarding concerns. They have applied effective methods to provide staff with ongoing support to continue to develop

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need to do better?

their knowledge. For instance, they ask staff to reflect on a monthly safeguarding scenario and share as a group the course of action they would take. This helps to continuously build on staff's safeguarding awareness. n Staff receive regular training opportunities, both in-house and through an online training service. However, leaders have not fully established a highly effective method for feeding back areas for improvement to raise the quality of teaching to an even higher level.

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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 provide staff with more accurate performance feedback to raise the quality of education to an even higher level.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2672062 Local authority Cambridgeshire Inspection number 10344370 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 12 Number of children on roll 15 Name of registered person Little Hens Childcare Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 07841572232 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Little Hens Childcare Ltd registered in 2022. The setting employs six members of childcare staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. The setting operates from 7.30am to 5.30pm each weekday, all year round except for one week at Christmas. The setting provides funded early education for two- 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 inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation of an activity. n The inspector spoke to parents and looked at parents' testimonies to seek their views on the setting. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation, including evidence of staff's suitability.

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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

15 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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