Little Learners Lawefield

Inspection of Little Learners Lawefield Lawefield Primary School, Lawefield Lane, Wakefield, West Yorkshire WF2 8ST

p.1

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

p.1

The provision requires improvement

Staff plan broad, challenging and generally effective educational programmes for children aged from two upwards, especially those who are rising three and above. Consequently, children enjoy learning, make continuous progress and develop skills for school, such as learning to put on outdoor clothing, wash their hands and pour drinks. Children engage well, for example, as they develop imagination skills while playing with dough and role-play resources. Staff introduce early mathematics as children build models, collect leaves and make wiggly worms with dough. Older children use dough tools, which helps to increase their small-muscle strength and hand-eye coordination in readiness for early writing. However, leaders do not deploy staff, or use space and resources, well enough to fully promote the care, learning and development needs of children under two years of age.

p.2

The provision requires improvement

Staff give families a warm and friendly greeting, which helps children to settle quickly and play happily. Children confidently enter and place their name and photo on the registration board, which helps them to develop a sense of belonging and early literacy skills. Children generally have close bonds with staff, which helps them to feel secure and safe. Children enjoy manoeuvring wheeled toys, balancing on wide planks placed on tyres and throwing hoops over thin tree stumps. Such activities develop their physical skills. Staff create a positive, calm and orderly environment, enabling children to focus. Staff are good role models. They help children to learn respectful and kind behaviours and other important social skills, such as sharing, taking turns and building friendships.

p.2

need to do better?

n Leaders have recently started to care for toddler-aged children from approximately 16 months upwards. However, they have not effectively considered or planned for this change to help this age group make good progress. There is no separate area for children under two, and therefore, toddlers are integrated with all other age groups. This does not meet their emotional and learning needs well enough. n Although there are staff who have relevant qualifications, training, skills and experience, those designated as a key person for children under two years old do not. Toddlers lack support and interactions from other staff while their key person undertakes the lengthy nappy changing routine. This impacts on their confidence and motivation to learn. n Although there are weaknesses in the provision for children under two, toddlers happily explore. They engage incidentally with particular activities and resources

p.2

need to do better?

set out for everyone. For example, toddlers develop small-muscle strength as they poke and squash dough and fill and empty utensils in the exploratory kitchen outdoors.

p.2

need to do better?

9 December 2024 n Staff support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities or a developmental delay, such as in their speech and language, effectively. They work in excellent consultation with other professionals, meticulously following children's individual support plans. Staff set up effective interim interventions where children are awaiting appointments or assessments. n A key focus of the curriculum is supporting children's early language development, many of whom speak English as an additional language. Designated 'communication champions' undertake excellent training and set up various initiatives. Staff use pictorial aids to help overcome communication barriers, and bilingual staff use children's home languages alongside English. n Children love songs, rhymes and stories, which further supports their early language development. Staff create a richly resourced story and singing area

p.2

need to do better?

with, for example, a wealth of enticing books, 'song' spoons, puppets and 'tapping' sticks that children collected on a nature trail. n Staff have undertaken training on sharing stories, which is reflected in their confident and animated storytelling. However, because all children join together for the same story, younger two-year-old children become restless and distracted. This is also observed during other group activities, such as registration time. n Staff demonstrate motivating interactions as children develop their creative skills in exciting ways. For example, children love exploring tactile media, such as cinnamon-scented, glittery red dough. They feel the soft cotton wool balls that form part of a winter-themed activity tray. n Staff, overall, promote children's good health effectively. For example, they provide healthy snacks and support children to brush their teeth to fun songs. However, staff do not actively reinforce policies relating to healthy eating and

p.3

need to do better?

good oral hygiene to fully support children's understanding of healthy lifestyles when parents provide food. n Staff celebrate and reflect the diversity of the families who attend. They help children to learn about everyone's special celebrations, inviting parents to share family photos and information about their culture. n Staff involve parents in children's learning, for instance, through stay-and-play events, activity boxes and a lending library. They share ample information with parents electronically and through progress meetings and reports. However, day- to-day information is not as successfully shared where handovers are not completed by children's key person. This does not fully promote continuity of children's care.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

p.3

Due date

ensure that the use of space meets the needs of children under two years of age, to fully support their learning 06/01/2025

p.4

Due date

support staff working with children under two to undertake appropriate training and professional development opportunities, to ensure they take full account of and effectively plan for toddler's individual needs, interests and development. 06/01/2025

p.4

should:

n refine the curriculum for the youngest two-year-old children so that activities and daily routines are consistently aligned to their stage of learning n provide clearer information for parents about healthy options for children's food to promote children's physical well-being and understanding of healthy lifestyles to a higher level n strengthen information sharing with parents as they drop off and collect their children to more effectively support children's daily transitions.

p.4

Setting details

Unique reference number EY542862 Local authority Wakefield Inspection number 10367306 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

p.5

Registers

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

p.5

inspection

Total number of places 40 Number of children on roll 50 Name of registered person Butterfield, Nicola Michelle

p.5

reference number

Telephone number 01924609330 Date of previous inspection 4 February 2019

p.5

Information about this early years setting

Little Learners Lawefield registered in 2016. The nursery is owned and managed by a private provider. It employs eight members of staff. Of these, seven staff hold relevant qualifications; two are at level 2, four are at level 3 and one is at level 6. The nursery opens Monday to Friday, from 7am to 5pm, all year round, except for bank holidays and two weeks at Christmas. The provider offers government funded childcare and receives specific funding for disadvantaged children. The provider offers wraparound care for children who attend Lawefield Primary School.

p.5

Inspection activities

n The inspector carried out a learning walk with the nursery manager. This helped her to understand how staff, the early years provision and the curriculum are organised. n The inspector observed the quality of education, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact of this on children's learning. n The inspector carried out a number of observations throughout the inspection with the nursery manager. n The inspector spoke with staff and children during the inspection. n The inspector held discussions with the nursery manager throughout the inspection and spoke with the provider. n The inspector sampled relevant documents, including that which confirmed the suitability of staff. The provider also shared photos and information to and from parents via the online app.

p.6

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.

p.6

Inspection activities

9 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.

p.6

Inspection activities

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspection activities

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk

p.7

Inspection activities

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Inspection activities

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.7