Little Wellies Day Nursery

Inspection of Little Wellies Day Nursery Oundle Lodge, Stoke Road, Oundle, Peterborough PE8 5TN

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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 are warmly welcomed by the staff when they arrive at this inspirational nursery, which is located on a working farm where children spend considerable time learning outdoors. The nursery works to a high staff: child ratio, which allows staff to spend lots of time directly with children in small groups or individually. As a result, children develop strong and positive attachments to staff. They are confident to take part in conversations and activities. Children practice doing things themselves, such as squeezing syrup onto a measuring spoon. When it overflows, staff ask them to think about how to prevent it from happening again. Babies and toddlers approach staff for cuddles and reassurance, and staff respond, putting their arms out to them. Toddlers become fully engaged as staff encourage them to follow their interests as they cuddle dolls and put them to bed.

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The provision is outstanding

Children quickly become familiar with activities they do regularly. They know where to find the equipment they need for a baking activity. Staff offer exceptional support for children. Children listen as staff ask them to check if they have everything they need, reminding them to look at the recipe and to set the scales to zero when they put the bowl on top. Children learn to recognise the numbers on the recipe and that these need to be the same as on the scales.

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The provision is outstanding

Children learn about kindness and friendship, as staff place a high emphasis on being positive with children and each other. Children concentrate and work exceptionally well together, becoming deeply involved in play with their friends and staff. They are expertly supported by staff to build on the knowledge they have already. For example, children learn about where food comes from. Throughout the year, children visit the farm. They watch oats being planted, visit them as they grow and see them harvested. Children spend time with the farmer and compare the oats the cows eat with the oats they make into flapjacks.

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need to do better?

n Leaders and managers value staff's skills and support them to continue their professional development to higher levels. Staff are involved in designing and refining the curriculum and are encouraged to contribute to the nursery's highly reflective ethos. This collaborative, reflective approach, alongside the staff's understanding of the local demographic, results in changes which positively impact children's well-being. Staff are confident to take ideas forward to continually develop their interactions and how they teach the children. n Children's vocabulary and speaking skills develop rapidly. Staff place a high focus on reading stories to children and engaging with them in a supportive way to promote confident speakers. Babies and toddlers find books and take them to staff to look at together. Staff talk about the pictures, and children point to the

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need to do better?

10 February 2025 animals and make the animal sounds. Pre-school children listen intently to staff as they use descriptive language during play. Children confidently use new words, such as delicious and dissolved, when baking. They talk about how resilient they and their friends are when they persist in a challenging task. n The staff know the children extremely well and facilitate their learning. Children are excited to suggest how they can take their interest in favourite stories outside in the woodland. Staff help them think about resources they might need, and children gather items, such as wooden paw print shapes and teddy bears, to help them re-enact a story. Staff support children to develop their confidence through new experiences alongside activities children are familiar with. Children interested in role play indoors use pots, pans and spoons outdoors. Staff play alongside helping children to engage in messy play and widen their experiences.

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need to do better?

n Staff are wonderful role models for the children. Everyone is treated with the utmost respect and care. Staff swiftly identify children who need additional support to recognise and manage their feelings. Staff use books and characters to help children verbalise the big feelings they have. Staff follow a consistent approach that helps children understand they can ask for help; they know the staff will be there for them. This results in, children managing their feelings in a highly positive way that leads to them cooperating and working extremely well together. n Staff provide children with inspiring activities that promote their well-being. Staff ensure babies experience the outdoors; they go for walks in the countryside and inside, staff hold them so they can see the rain falling, talking to them about the sky and the trees. Staff recognise the benefits of fresh air on how well babies sleep at nap time. Staff help toddlers begin to consider the risks involved in their

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need to do better?

activities. When children find long sticks in the woodland, staff talk about why the sticks need to be pointed at the ground to keep everyone safe. n Staff provide the same high level of commitment to nurture and well-being for parents and children. They offer genuine support for families; they keep in regular touch with parents and send photographs when children cannot attend. This ensures children's links with the nursery continue. Staff take time every day to speak to parents when they drop off and collect. They give parents detailed, personalised feedback about their child's care routines. Parents receive information and photographs during the day about what their children learned from the activities and how they can continue learning at home.

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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 2694966 Local authority North Northamptonshire Inspection number 10367725 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 89 Number of children on roll 75 Name of registered person GL Gent & Son Partnership

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reference number

Telephone number 01832 770324 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Little Wellies Day Nursery registered in 2022 and is in Oundle, Peterborough. The nursery employs 24 members of staff. Of whom 19 staff hold early years qualifications between level 2 and level 6, including five who have Qualified Teacher Status. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, for 48 weeks of the year. Sessions are from 8am until 5.45pm. The nursery provides government funded places for children aged nine months to four years.

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Inspection activities

n Both managers and the inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this was having on children's learning. n The inspector spoke with both managers about the leadership and management of the nursery. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector and one manager carried out a joint observation together of a baking activity. n Children spoke with the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. She also took account of written feedback from parents.

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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

10 February 2025 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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