Little Characters

Inspection of Little Characters Brimington Methodist Church, Hall Road, Brimington, Chesterfield, Derbyshire S43 1GH

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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 thoroughly enjoy their time at this nurturing and welcoming setting. Staff know the children well and provide a variety of learning opportunities through carefully planned experiences and routines. For example, staff encourage children to count the number of strawberries they are serving themselves at snack time. Staff check children's understanding by helping them re-count the strawberries on their plate. Children eagerly line up in readiness for outdoor play, where staff help children count their friends. They count backwards from six to one, and children exclaim 'blast off!' Staff are good role models and support children to develop positive behaviours. This sees children be kind to their friends, use their manners and take turns during play.

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The provision is good

Staff lead small-group activities, allowing children to share previous learning with their friends. For example, children are keen to view the setting's caterpillars. Children eagerly recall that caterpillars eat their eggs to gain energy to help them grow. Staff introduce new vocabulary, explaining the caterpillars 'hatched' from eggs and they will soon 'transform' into a butterfly. Children show interest as they are supported by staff to take turns to view the caterpillars. This builds on children's emerging interests.

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need to do better?

n Staff encourage children to develop independence skills from a young age. For example, children are supported to wipe their own nose and mouth and then dispose of their dirty tissue in the bin. In addition, children wash their hands before meals, tidy away activities, and complete simple tasks, such as using sweeping brushes to clean the floor. Toddlers confidently ask to use the potty. They show pride when they receive a sticker for their achievement. This helps children learn to do as much for themselves as possible. n Children are provided with opportunities to develop their small-muscle skills. These activities help them practise the skills that are needed for early writing. For example, children concentrate as they use tweezers, spoons, pots and scoops to collect flower petals as part of a craft activity. In addition, staff recognise that some pre-school children have started to take an interest in

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need to do better?

letters. Staff write letters from their name on the whiteboard, which children carefully trace. Staff provide words of encouragement, which sees children smile with pride. n Leaders and managers are committed to providing good-quality care and education for children. They are reflective, enhancing activities and reviewing the environment to benefit all children. There is a strong focus on staff training, development and continuing support. For example, staff have recently undertaken training to ensure effective support is in place for children with

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need to do better?

20 March 2025 special educational needs and/or disabilities. n Staff understand the importance of children having access to daily fresh air and exercise. However, the curriculum for outdoor play is not as well planned as indoors. For instance, staff do not consistently plan to encourage children to take part in large physical play. As a result, not every child has a sufficient range of opportunities to strengthen their large-muscle skills each time they attend the setting. n Children enjoy taking part in group story time. Staff are enthusiastic storytellers and they ensure story time is active and engaging. For example, staff work with children to act out a story about teachers being captured by funny monsters. Children laugh as they stomp around the room looking for the monsters who are hiding. Furthermore, staff have thoughtfully placed books around the setting, which children readily access. This helps children develop a love of books and

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need to do better?

stories. n Overall, children experience high-quality interactions from staff during activities and daily routines. This helps children build on what they already know and can do. For example, staff show babies how to play musical instruments as they enjoy song time together. However, on occasion, not all staff interact effectively with children to provide them with the required information to complete an activity or to extend on 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 develop planning to provide more consistent opportunities for children to enjoy physical play to help develop their large-muscle skills n develop the consistency of staff interactions with children to fully support and extend each child's learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY435957 Local authority Derbyshire Inspection number 10392256 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 39 Number of children on roll 65 Name of registered person Burnand, Joanne Louise

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reference number

Telephone number 07845040533 Date of previous inspection 13 August 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Little Characters registered in 2012 and is located inside Brimington Methodist Church, Chesterfield. The nursery employs 10 members of childcare staff. Of these, eight hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 7am until 6pm and the nursery offers before- and after-school care. The nursery provides funded early education for nine month old children and above, including two-, three- and four- year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want their children to learn. n Children spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector spoke with the nominated individual about the leadership and management of the setting. n The special educational needs coordinator spoke to the inspector about how they support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The inspector observed the interactions between staff and children. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation during outdoor

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Inspection activities

play. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. 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

20 March 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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