Little Explorers Cleveleys

Inspection of Little Explorers Cleveleys 66 West Drive, Thornton-Cleveleys, Lancashire FY5 2JG

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

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

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The provision is outstanding

Children thrive in this exceptional learning environment. They actively and enthusiastically engage with a wide range of high-quality resources and relish taking part in imaginative learning experiences. Staff plan opportunities that are sequenced and support children as they flourish and develop. Babies enjoy using spoons to scoop and pour berry scented tea into teacups. Children in the toddler room use paintbrushes made out of natural materials, such as pine tree, to paint onto mirrored reflective surfaces. Older children enjoy using a paper and easel to paint and write their name. Learning opportunities allow children to recap and revisit their learning so they acquire new skills in preparation for future learning.

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The provision is outstanding

The curriculum is extremely considered and ambitious. It has a clear intent and is implemented superbly by a knowledgeable and experienced staff team. Staff use resources in a precise manner to interest children and engage them in learning. Staff are excellent at identifying 'teachable moments'. For example, children make a bird feeder, and staff ask children to consider the concepts of size, shape, pattern, number and symmetry. Staff do not intervene unnecessarily as children play. As a consequence, children are resilient, independent and exploratory learners, eager to learn about the world around them.

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The provision is outstanding

All staff have the highest expectations for children and discuss that everything they do is in the pursuit of excellence. Children enjoy a wide variety of meals, which are skilfully prepared and considered to nurture children's well-being. Staff are superb role models for children, they encourage, listen, support and model how to use resources. The environment is extremely calm. Children are respectful towards adults and one another. They demonstrate excellent listening and attention skills and independently help one another. Children's behaviour is superb.

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need to do better?

n Staff plan a curriculum that has a strong focus on the process and not the end product. The curriculum is challenging for all children and helps them to succeed and achieve. Staff work extremely closely across all rooms to ensure that they adapt the curriculum to meet children's needs and offer children consistent high- quality learning experiences. The whole team are dedicated to supporting the unique needs of every child. All children are superbly supported for their transition to school. n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are consistently supported. Processes of regular observation and assessment allow staff to identify gaps in learning extremely quickly. Staff are proactive in making links with other professionals and interventions are timely and focused. Parents share that their children have thrived in the care of staff and that 'the magic begins at

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need to do better?

3 December 2024 the door'. All children make excellent progress. n Communication and language is a key strength of the nursery. Staff introduce new vocabulary, repeat words, use words in context and pose questions to older children. As a result, children confidently make their needs known, make predictions and initiate their own play. Children as young as two years old use scissors to cut fresh herbs and push them into dough. They talk about the different scents as 'food' and 'grass'. Children make their own connections and develop their understanding. n Mathematics is skilfully woven throughout activities. Babies enjoy singing number rhymes and children in the toddler room explore size as they identify who is the tallest and who is holding the longest stick. This learning develops in the pre-school room as children take part in a baking activity. They explore the concept of balance, predict how heavy eggs are when compared to other

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need to do better?

ingredients and solve problems. These experiences support children to develop their critical thinking skills and acquire excellent early mathematical awareness. n Staff nurture children's emotional well-being at all times. Younger children independently go to staff for reassurance or a cuddle. Older children seek out their key person to greet them in the morning. Children explore their feelings and emotions and are learning that their voice matters. Children feel valued and secure. All children make their needs known and are confident communicators. n Staff are passionate about creating 'awe and wonder' for children every day. Children carefully plant and water pine cones on a Friday afternoon, and as they enter on Monday morning, a full size Christmas tree has blossomed. These experiences support children's imaginations and creative thinking. Children enjoy visits to the local care home, where they make friends with elderly residents and

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need to do better?

enjoy afternoon tea. Children enjoy regular visits to a local forest where they learn to take risks and explore the environment. Children learn about other faiths and cultures. They enjoy Bollywood dance sessions and listen to music from around the world. Children are beginning to explore concepts such as similarities and differences, inclusion and their unique place in the world. n Leadership is visionary. Leaders undertake continual evaluation to pinpoint with extreme accuracy how they can constantly make adaptations to meet the needs of children. Delegation of staff is purposeful and strategic. Staff have recently completed a 'boys project' as they identified that some boys were not as interested in literacy as other areas of learning. They have implemented 'story scribing' where boys tell their own stories, and as a result, children's literacy skills have increased. Staff are supported through mentoring, meetings and

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need to do better?

supervision. All staff share the same vision, which is centred on children learning through exploration.

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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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Setting details

Unique reference number 2699751 Local authority Lancashire Inspection number 10366308 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 55 Number of children on roll 91 Name of registered person Adventures in Learning Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01253 857836 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Little Explorers Cleveleys registered in 2022. The nursery employs 27 members of childcare staff. Of these, four members of staff hold qualified teacher status, 17 members of staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and above, three members of staff hold a qualification at level 2, and there are three unqualified members of staff. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 8am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The director and manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and spoke to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want the children to learn. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n Children spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector talked with staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector spoke with the directors, area manager, manager and deputy manager about the leadership and management of the setting. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the director. n Parents shared their views of the setting 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

3 December 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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