Little Ducklings Preschool Afterschool and Holiday club

Inspection of Little Ducklings Preschool Afterschool and Holiday club Edward Street, Kirkby in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire NG17 7JQ

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Overall effectiveness Inadequate

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Inadequate Leadership and management Inadequate Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not applicable

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The provision is inadequate

Children's safety is not assured. Leaders and managers do not implement robust safeguarding policies and procedures. They do not have a secure understanding of their roles and responsibilities to protect children from possible harm and neglect.

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The provision is inadequate

Nevertheless, children arrive happily, excited for the day ahead. They are warmly welcomed by staff, who know them well and help them feel valued. Children form strong bonds with staff, which gives them a sense of security and belonging. They benefit from a secure, well-planned environment that enables them to explore confidently. Staff engage children in a broad range of activities that support their learning and development. In the toddler room, younger children learn about their emotions as they choose an 'emotion monster' toy to help them articulate and express feelings. Children learn to behave well. Staff encourage older children to take responsibility for small tasks, such as tidying up, putting rubbish in the bin, placing their belongings away at the beginning of the day and accessing their drink bottles. Staff provide appropriate support, allowing children to develop self-help skills. For example, during snack and lunchtime, children are encouraged to

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The provision is inadequate

persevere as they attempt to open food packets, following the staff's 'pinch and pull' method.

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need to do better?

n Leaders and managers do not ensure the pre-school's safeguarding policies and procedures are robust and implemented effectively. They do not recognise the significance of ongoing safeguarding concerns or swiftly identify possible child protection issues. Leaders and managers do not take action to report and progress safeguarding concerns. They do not follow up or escalate ongoing concerns to the relevant agencies to ensure action is taken to protect children. This compromises children's overall safety and well-being. n Staff provide good support for children's physical development. Children learn to ride balance bicycles, climb and dig in the sand pit. They practise their fine motor skills by using paint brushes and sponges dipped in water to create marks on a fence. Staff extend children's learning by modelling language, like 'squeeze' and 'drip'. They introduce early mark making and emotional vocabulary by

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need to do better?

drawing happy and sad faces. n The provision for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities is good. Staff understand the diverse needs of the children who attend, including those who are non-verbal and have complex medical needs. They adapt their support and provide spaces to meet the needs of individual children. Staff work closely with other professionals, such as speech and language therapists. This enables strategies to be put in place early to ensure that all children make good progress.

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need to do better?

3 April 2025 n Staff promote children's exploration and imaginative play. Children develop their senses as they explore play dough. They use toy dinosaurs to make footprints and add water to dry sand to make a 'river'. Children show curiosity and confidence as they explore water play. n Overall, staff provide language-rich activities that help build children's vocabulary and social confidence. Children are eager to join in singing and action rhymes. Staff skillfully encourage older children to sing missing words, helping to develop listening and language skills in fun, interactive ways. However, staff occasionally use long, complex sentences that younger children struggle to understand. During conversations with toddlers, staff sometimes forget to pause and allow children to think and respond. n Strong parent partnerships are a key strength. Parents speak highly of the support they receive, the communication with staff and how their children's

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need to do better?

individual needs are met. Staff maintain close relationships with families, ensuring parents are involved and informed about their child's progress and development. They offer thorough settling-in periods that are tailored to each child's needs. n Staff are positive role models and promote children's independence skills effectively. They constantly praise children, offering them gentle reminders regarding the pre-school rules and their expectations. For example, mirrors are placed at the children's height next to the bin. Staff encourage children to look at their reflections while wiping their noses and to put the tissues in the bin afterwards.

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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 safeguarding policies and procedures are robust and understood by managers and staff to help them identify, monitor and follow up on any concerns about a child 14/04/2025

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Due date

3 April 2025 ensure managers and staff take swift action to report and escalate safeguarding concerns with external agencies. 14/04/2025

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should:

n strengthen staff skills in supporting children's early communication and language.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2717193 Local authority Nottinghamshire County Council Inspection number 10388293 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 37 Number of children on roll 66 Name of registered person Little Ducklings Preschool LTD

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reference number

Telephone number 01623754397 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Little Ducklings Preschool Afterschool and Holiday club registered in 2023 and is located in Kirkby in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire. The pre-school employs 11 members of childcare staff. Of these, nine staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above. The pre-school opens Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 7am until 6pm. The pre-school provides government funded places for children aged nine months to four years.

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Inspection activities

n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector spoke to parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working at the pre-school. 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.

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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

3 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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