Little Lambs Nursery

Inspection of Little Lambs Nursery 70 The Ridings, Portsmouth PO2 0UF

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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 Not applicable

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The provision is good

Children gain good levels of confidence and independence and an interest in learning. Staff place a strong focus on creating an environment that promotes children's sense of belonging. They build relationships with children that are respectful, kind and trusting. In turn, children develop the early foundations for their personal, social and emotional development, which supports them through the nursery and onwards to their next stage in learning. Staff have high expectations, including for children's behaviour. For instance, toddlers learn how to take turns as they build sandcastles. They learn that some things are theirs and some are their friends. Children show kindness towards others and they behave well.

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The provision is good

Children have positive attitudes towards their learning and are inquisitive individuals. For instance, as staff read favourite stories, younger children listen attentively. They search for matching animals, roaring loudly for the lion and hiss for the snake. Staff make learning exciting and capture these opportunities to extend children's good communication skills. Children demonstrate good levels of independence as they get themselves dressed to go outdoors, wash their own hands and tidy up toys when they finish playing. Staff ensure that all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), get the support that they need. All children make good progress from their starting points.

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need to do better?

n Leaders and staff share the same vision for children's care and learning. The environment is well organised, with activities that appeal to children's interests and motivate them to explore and investigate. For instance, as toddlers build towers, they experiment with placing different-sized blocks to see what happens. Children squeal with delight as towers topple and fall. Staff encourage them to repeat building. Children persevere and say 'I did it'. Staff focus on supporting children to be independent, confident and curious. This helps children to build strong foundations for future learning, including their eventual move to school. n Staff and leaders work well together. Staff say that they enjoy their roles in the nursery and feel valued. Leaders create opportunities for staff to get involved in discussion and decision-making. There are regular staff meetings that contribute to positive and open communication. Staff feel that their thoughts and ideas are

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need to do better?

listened to, which contribute to the good-quality provision that children receive. Staff have supervision meetings with leaders to support their ongoing development. However, these are still in their infancy and leaders acknowledge that further focus on a stronger professional development programme for all staff would enhance their understanding and delivery of the curriculum. n Leaders, staff and parents communicate effectively to ensure that children with

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need to do better?

1 April 2025 SEND receive the support they need. Effective partnership working with parents and other professionals means that children receive targeted support where they need it the most. It is clear to see that the warm and trusting relationships between staff and children with SEND contribute to their progress. Funding is used well to meet all children's individual needs. n Staff have a good knowledge of their key children, including their unique interests and abilities. Staff plan and create learning experiences that motivate children's learning. Staff observe and assess children's key achievements regularly to monitor their development. Staff know children's current level of progress and, overall, they understand what they want children to know next. However, sometimes, children's next steps in learning are not precise enough or sequenced fully to help staff tailor teaching as precisely as possible.

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need to do better?

n Partnerships with parents are good. Staff use their relationships with parents to keep them updated with children's progress. Parents feel well informed and involved in their children's learning and development. They appreciate the regular communication with their child's key person, including advice and support when children are being toilet trained. n Staff place a strong focus on promoting children's mathematical knowledge. For instance, as pre-school children play games, staff help them to count the number of beanbags that they successfully throw into the hoop to work out who has the most and who is the winner. Children learn how to count, recognise numbers and use mathematics purposefully as they play.

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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 focus staff supervisions to provide a stronger personalised professional development programme, which enhances their understanding and delivery of the curriculum n review children's next steps in learning to ensure that staff have a more precise idea of the knowledge and skills that they want children to learn next.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2770460 Local authority Portsmouth Inspection number 10391643 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 46 Number of children on roll 46 Name of registered person Little Lambs Nursery (Portsmouth) LTD

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reference number

Telephone number 07305364326 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Little Lambs Nursery registered in 2023 and is located in Portsmouth, Hampshire. The nursery is open Monday to Friday from 8am to 4pm, for most of the year. There are 10 members of staff who work at the setting. Of these, nine hold early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The nursery provides government funded early education for all eligible children.

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Inspection activities

n Children told the inspector about their friends and what they like to do when they are at nursery. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector carried out joint observations of a group activity with the manager. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. 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 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

1 April 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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