Little Foxes (Wigan) Ltd

Inspection of Little Foxes (Wigan) Ltd Iona House, Billinge Road, Wigan, Lancashire WN3 6BL

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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

Children feel safe and welcome at the nursery. They settle well because staff give much care and attention to their individual needs. Children become calm, happy and able to manage their emotions because of staff's skilful, gentle help. They develop a sense of pride and belonging to their special group with their key person. Children feel a sense of achievement, such as when staff notice that they have put the toys away carefully or been kind to someone else. Children become responsible, thoughtful and keen learners.

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The provision is good

Children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), make a positive start to their learning. This begins well in the baby room and continues throughout their time at the nursery. Children learn well because of the high aspirations that the provider has for their early education. Children keenly explore the nursery's many interesting toys and resources. They benefit from the well-thought-out activities that staff provide to develop their knowledge of important concepts and ideas.

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The provision is good

Children gain essential knowledge on which their later learning can build. For example, staff teach them to be physically strong and active. Children learn how to make and keep friends. They develop the communication skills that they need to share their ideas with other people.

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need to do better?

n The provider has taken prompt and effective action to address the previous weaknesses. For example, it has tightened risk assessments, reviewed and updated the nursery's safeguarding policy and complaints procedures. The provider ensures that highly qualified staff are deployed to meet the needs of babies. These updates have been shared with staff to inform and improve their practice to ensure the safety and well-being of children. n The provider has established an ambitious curriculum for children, including those with SEND. It uses additional funding well to help children to make progress through its curriculum. For example, it has purchased outdoor equipment that staff use to support the physical development of children with SEND. Children become physically mobile and develop the core strength and agility that they need. n Staff support children's understanding of mathematics well. For instance, they

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need to do better?

skilfully teach younger children number names during their play. Older children learn about counting numbers in order and what numbers look like when they are written down. Children become confident early mathematicians. n Most of the time, staff support children effectively to act sensibly as part of a larger group. This includes moving from indoors to outdoors, room to room and

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need to do better?

19 November 2024 taking part in mealtimes and snack times. Occasionally, some of these routines for preschool children become disorganised. As a result, sometimes children lose focus and disengage in their learning. n Staff read different stories and non-fiction books to children. Children enjoy thumbing through books alone or with others. However, the provider has not thought carefully enough about its curriculum for early literacy. As a result, staff mostly choose books to read with children at random. This does not help to deepen children's knowledge of books. n The provider ensures that staff support children with SEND well. Staff use assessment strategies effectively to identify the gaps in children's learning. They use this information carefully to plan for children's next steps. The provider makes sure that staff work well with external experts to provide children with additional help. Children with SEND build their knowledge successfully.

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need to do better?

n Staff support babies' emotional development well. They sing familiar nursery songs often and gently sway babies in their arms to the rhythm of the rhymes. Babies smile as they snuggle in with their key persons as they enjoy this special bonding time. As a result, babies build secure relationships with their key person and other staff members. n Partnership with parents and carers is a strength of the nursery. The provider places high value on listening to the views of parents and supporting their needs. It provides stay-and-play sessions for parents alongside the well- considered settling-in sessions for children. This sets the scene for children to thrive when they start at the nursery. n Staff benefit from the many training opportunities and thorough induction that they receive. For example, the provider recently arranged for staff to complete important training about the role of the key person. Staff receive regular

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need to do better?

coaching and mentoring to improve their work with children. As a result, children make good progress in their learning.

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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 strengthen the curriculum to identify the literacy knowledge that staff should teach to children n improve the organisation of the routines in the preschool room so that children are consistently engaged and benefit from the intended learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY297752 Local authority Wigan Inspection number 10373977 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 116 Number of children on roll 110 Name of registered person Little Foxes (Wigan) Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01942 227972 Date of previous inspection 24 November 2022

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Information about this early years setting

Little Foxes (Wigan) Ltd registered in 2004. It is situated in the Highfield area of Wigan. The nursery employs 22 members of childcare staff. Of these, 13 hold appropriate early years qualifications ranging from level 2 to level 7. The nursery opens Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 7am until 6pm. The setting offers government-funded places for children aged nine months to four years. The setting also receives funding for disadvantaged children.

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Inspection activities

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 Staff spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n Children spoke with the inspector during the inspection. n Staff spoke to the inspector about how they support children with SEND. n The area manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation during a group activity. n Parents shared their views of the nursery with the inspector. n The manager showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate the suitability of staff.

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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

19 November 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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