Little Learners Ltd.

Inspection of Little Learners Ltd. Little Learners, Day Centre, Sandwell Business Development Centre, Oldbury Road, SMETHWICK, West Midlands B66 1NN

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Overall effectiveness Inadequate

The quality of education Inadequate Behaviour and attitudes Inadequate Personal development Inadequate Leadership and management Inadequate Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Good

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The provision is inadequate

Children's safety cannot be assured due to weaknesses in safeguarding procedures. Leaders and staff do not remind parents and carers of the important policies which affect children's safety and well-being. Furthermore, staff show a lack of understanding of some safeguarding issues. This leaves children vulnerable to harm.

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The provision is inadequate

The lack of support from leaders impacts on the quality of teaching. Staff complete mandatory training, such as food hygiene and paediatric first aid. However, they do not receive enough ongoing training or professional development opportunities to consistently enhance their practice and better support children's learning and development. For example, when children choose not to join in with activities, some staff do not consider how to encourage them to join in or provide them with an alternative activity to meet their educational needs. In addition, some staff are not aware of children's next steps to enable them to provide appropriate activities that build on children's learning.

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The provision is inadequate

Staff frequently check in with children to make sure that they are feeling happy. When young children become upset, staff respond with care, offering them reassurance through comforting gestures like rubbing their backs. Staff encourage children to make choices about their day. For example, during group time, older children say which song they would like to sing. This builds on their confidence as they express their preferences.

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need to do better?

n Staff do not receive the necessary training and support to keep their knowledge of safeguarding up to date. As a result, they demonstrate insufficient understanding of safeguarding issues that may be present in the local community. This lack of awareness can lead to gaps in protecting children from harm. n Leaders and staff do not ensure that safeguarding policies and procedures regarding the safe use of mobile phones are consistently followed. For example, they fail to remind parents of the rules about using mobile phones in the setting. As a result, parents use their mobile phones during stay-and-play sessions, which compromises children's safety. n Arrangements for staff's continuous professional development are poor. Staff express a strong desire for additional training to enhance their skills and better support the children in their care. However, although leaders recognise weaknesses in staff's practice, they do not provide enough training or

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need to do better?

professional development opportunities to help them to improve. n Learning intentions for activities are not effectively aligned with children's

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need to do better?

17 December 2024 individual next steps in learning. Although key persons observe and assess children's progress to identify what they need to learn next, this information is not effectively shared or used by all staff who work with the children. Consequently, staff do not consistently provide children with experiences that will enhance their ongoing learning. This negatively impacts on all children achieving their next steps. n Staff do not provide sufficient support for children who speak English as an additional language. For instance, they do not always gather key information from parents about their child's home languages to use alongside English words. This means that staff are yet to identify whether there are any potential delays in children's speech. Consequently, these children's emerging speech and language in English is not supported fully. n Partnerships with parents vary. For instance, staff do not ensure that all parents

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need to do better?

receive developmental reports, which highlight children's learning and progress. As a result, some parents are unaware of their children's specific next steps and the progress they have made, and how they can continue to support children's learning at home. Additionally, some parents are unsure of who their child's key person is. Despite this, parents are happy. They say that their children are settled and build bonds with all staff. n Leaders use additional funding to provide eligible children with one-to-one support. This is particularly beneficial to those children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) as key persons have time to focus on their individual needs. Key persons liaise with external professionals, such as speech and language therapists, to implement strategies that further support children with SEND. This contributes towards their overall development. n Children enjoy participating in physical activities, such as painting and colouring.

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need to do better?

They practise 'jumping like a kangaroo' and 'stomping like an elephant' and learn to throw and catch a ball. These activities help to improve children's fine and gross motor skills and coordination, which are essential for everyday tasks, like feeding themselves and writing. n Staff support children in washing their hands regularly throughout the day to promote their health and hygiene. Children learn to roll up their sleeves before washing and dispose of their wipes in the bin once they are finished. This encourages their independence.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

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Safeguarding

There is not an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

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Due date

ensure staff have up-to-date knowledge of safeguarding issues in the wider community 31/12/2024

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Due date

ensure all staff implement the safeguarding policy in relation to how mobile phones are used at the setting 31/12/2024

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Due date

put in place effective arrangements to ensure staff undertake appropriate training and professional development, to enable them to offer quality learning experiences for children 28/01/2025

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Due date

ensure key persons share information with other staff about children's next steps, so that they can effectively engage children in experiences which help them to achieve the best outcomes 28/01/2025

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Due date

provide children who speak English as an additional language with the support they need to enable them to make good progress in their communication and language skills 28/01/2025

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Due date

improve partnerships with parents, ensuring all parents receive up-to-date information regarding the setting's policies and procedures, key persons, children's next steps and how to support their children's learning at home. 28/01/2025

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY430677 Local authority Sandwell Inspection number 10372556 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 52 Number of children on roll 45 Name of registered person Little Learners Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 0121 544 3875 Date of previous inspection 25 April 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Little Learners Ltd. registered in 2011. It is situated in Smethwick, West Midlands. The nursery employs 10 members of staff, all of whom hold an appropriate early years qualification at level 2 or 3. The nursery opens Monday to Friday, from 7am to 6.15pm, for 50 weeks of the year. It provides funded early education for any eligible children who attend.

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Inspection activities

n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk to discuss the intentions for children's learning. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager. n The inspector held discussions with leaders and staff, including how leaders evaluate practice and about safeguarding. n The inspector observed the interactions between staff and children throughout the day and evaluated the impact on children's learning. n The inspector held discussions with the manager, staff, parents and children at appropriate times during the inspection. n Relevant documentation was reviewed by the inspector, including evidence of the suitability of those working with children.

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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

17 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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