Little Adventures Nursery (Taunton)

Inspection of Little Adventures Nursery (Taunton) Space Adventures, 32-34 Frobisher Way, Taunton TA2 6BB

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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

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The provision requires improvement

Upon their arrival, children are greeted warmly by the friendly and caring staff team. Children form close bonds with their key persons and hurry over excitedly to speak with different staff when they see them around the nursery. When new babies are unsettled, staff give them affectionate cuddles and distract them with toys. However, due to weaknesses in staff deployment, children are unsettled and upset at times. For example, staff who are cuddling and comforting the new babies walk away to tend to other tasks, which upsets the children.

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The provision requires improvement

Staff set out appropriate toys and resources for children to explore and help them to share with their friends. Children are interested in what is going on around them and are keen to have a go. For example, babies rush over to staff for song time and pre-school children build models using construction toys after seeing staff use them. However, staff do not consider how to provide tailored support for children to build on their prior learning. Consequently, staff do not provide a good level of challenge to help children make good progress. During children's self-chosen play, staff encourage the children to be curious and to persevere. For instance, they help two-year-old children to explore the texture of play-foam and pre-school children to develop their balance and coordination while using stilts in the garden.

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need to do better?

n Leaders reflect accurately on the standards of care and education at the nursery. They have identified the main areas for development and begun to implement an action plan to address the breaches in requirements. For example, they have recently reviewed the planning of the curriculum, to support staff to meet children's learning needs more effectively. However, their action plan is still in the early stages and has not yet had a significant enough impact to drive improvements. n Despite recent incidents where additional breaches of requirements have occurred, leaders have reviewed their risk assessments to reduce the likelihood of re-occurrence. For instance, staff have been reminded of the importance of conducting headcounts regularly when they move children around the premises, to make sure that all children are accounted for. Additionally, the menu has been revised to remove certain allergens and the meals for children with dietary needs

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need to do better?

are now labelled. n Leaders have a clear vision for what they want children to learn at the nursery and staff know the children well. However, the delivery of the curriculum is not always effective. Staff do not consistently build on children's next steps in learning or adapt the support they provide, based on what they know about the children. As a result, the activities that staff plan are often too simple. For example, some babies receive little encouragement from staff to develop their

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need to do better?

9 April 2025 physical skills to help them learn to walk. n Staff model language well for children. They sing songs throughout the day and talk to children about their play. However, staff's interactions with children do not consistently support and encourage the children to develop their speech. For example, staff ask children questions that only require a one-word response and do not interact enough with the children who are learning to speak English as an additional language. n Staff deployment is not well organised to ensure that staff are able to meet each child's needs consistently. During busier times, staff sometimes prioritise other tasks and leave the room. Due to a lack of support and direction from staff, some children become unfocused and overexcited. Staff do not notice quickly when children throw toys at each other, fall backward from their chairs, leave the table at mealtimes before they have been cleaned up and run around

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need to do better?

excitedly. This creates a chaotic and very noisy environment. n Staff remind children to use good manners and talk to children about the need to take turns when they bicker over toys. However, staff do not always encourage pre-school children to recognise and talk about their feelings and to try to resolve minor behaviour issues for themselves. n Parents praise the regular updates they receive from staff about their children's experiences and the relationships that staff form with their children.

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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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Due date

review the organisation of staff at busier times and when new children are present, to help children to settle, understand the routines and engage in their play and learning 02/05/2025

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Due date

improve the delivery of the curriculum to meet children's individual learning needs, to challenge and engage children and support them to make the progress that they are capable of 16/05/2025

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Due date

9 April 2025 provide effective support and coaching for staff to improve their interactions with children, including those who speak English as an additional language, to develop children's speech. 16/05/2025

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should:

n provide more support to teach the pre-school children to learn about and recognise their feelings and to try to resolve minor behaviour issues independently.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2660796 Local authority Somerset Inspection number 10397676 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 57 Number of children on roll 118 Name of registered person Ocean Adventurers Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01823 351663 Date of previous inspection 13 December 2022

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Information about this early years setting

Little Adventures Nursery (Taunton) registered in 2022. It operates from a separate accommodation within a soft play centre in Taunton, Somerset. The nursery opens each weekday from 7.30am until 6pm, throughout the year. The nursery receives government-funded places. The nursery employs 17 staff to work directly with the children, of whom 10 have early years qualifications at level 2 or above.

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Inspection activities

n We carried out this inspection as a result of a risk assessment, following information we received about the provider. n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n Children spoke with the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector spoke with parents and staff to take account of their feedback. n The inspector spoke with the provider and leaders about the leadership and management of the nursery. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The manager and the inspector carried out joint observations during group activities.

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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

9 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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