Little Discoveries : Yeovil

Inspection of Little Discoveries : Yeovil Westfield Academy, Stiby Road, Yeovil BA21 3EP

p.1

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

p.1

The provision is good

Children and their families receive a warm welcome from the friendly and caring staff at this setting. Children separate happily from their parents and are keen to start playing with their friends. Staff form trusting relationships with children and their families. They effectively use information from parents to ensure the care and learning experiences they provide meets each child's individual needs. Children show they are happy, safe, and secure. For example, older children enthusiastically play a paint splatting game with staff. They laugh and cheer as they correctly guess the colour of the paint. Babies and toddlers beam with joy as they hold their arms out for a cuddle from their key person. Staff consistently respond to these interactions with positivity, praise, and encouragement. This helps build children's self-confidence and supports children to value themselves and their uniqueness.

p.2

The provision is good

Staff offer a range of motivating activities and resources for children to play with inside and outdoors. These learning experiences help children develop their knowledge and skills across all areas of the curriculum. For instance, older children talk confidently about famous artists they have been looking at. Younger children show their developing physical skills as they accurately stack hoops on a wooden pole.

p.2

The provision is good

Children behave well. They listen to staff, follow instructions and join in with routines and boundaries that staff have successfully embedded. Staff sensitively support children of all ages to share and take turns. Children show they are learning how to make friendships. They invite their friends to play with them and pick up things their friends have dropped.

p.2

need to do better?

n The leadership team has designed and implemented an ambitious and well sequenced curriculum to enable all children to make progress from their individual starting points. There is a clear focus on preparing children for school and providing children with a broad range of experiences. For instance, children painted stones for the local community centre garden as part of a 'random acts of kindness' project. These valuable experiences help children feel part of their local community and helps them understand the world around them. n Recently, the leadership team has focussed on ensuring the environment gives younger children more opportunities to explore and interact with older children. This flexible approach means younger children have the freedom to investigate new learning in the pre-school room, while still being able to seek comfort and reassurance from their key person. This helps younger children transition into

p.2

need to do better?

their next room smoothly and with confidence. n Positive staff deliver the curriculum with energy and enthusiasm. Children show

p.2

need to do better?

14 April 2025 enjoyment as they engage and learn from the wide range of activities staff provide. Older children for instance, quietly giggle as they play 'silly sausages' with supportive staff. This carefully planned activity successfully develops older children's listening and attention skills. However, staff do not always have a clear focus on what they want to teach children through the activities they provide. As result, children do not always focus and engage in some activities for long periods of time to fully extend their learning. n Partnerships with parents are strong. Staff provide lots of opportunities for parents to become involved in children's learning. For example, parents are invited to termly 'family learning sessions' around various themes. Parents value these opportunities to find out more about helping their children learn at home. They talk about how these sessions and 'friendly and approachable' staff have

p.2

need to do better?

given them confidence in their parenting. Parents say the opportunities and support staff gives them and their children makes a 'big difference'. n Staff's interactions and engagement with children are always warm and positive. Staff join children's play, answer children's questions, and encourage children to share their ideas and make their own choices. However, at times staff do not always make the most of opportunities to fully support the youngest children's early language and communication. At times some staff miss valuable opportunities to comment on what the youngest children are doing, echo back what children say, or introduce new words. n Staff place a priority on developing children's independence skills ready for school. Staff give children many opportunities to try to do things for themselves, while offering support and guidance to children who need it. Older children for example, persevere with putting their own coats on and pulling up their zips as

p.3

need to do better?

they get ready to go outside. When children manage these tasks for themselves, staff ring a special bell to share children's successes. Children proudly say 'I did it! I did my own zip!' as their friends cheer and clap. These wonderful moments build children's independence, resilience, and self-esteem.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

p.3

should:

n ensure staff understand and have a clear focus on what they want to teach children through the activities they provide to fully extend children's learning n continue to work with staff to help them make the most of all opportunities to support the youngest children's early language and communication.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY545417 Local authority Somerset Inspection number 10388595 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

p.4

inspection

Total number of places 34 Number of children on roll 79 Name of registered person Little Discoveries Childcare Limited

p.4

reference number

Telephone number 01935 477122 Date of previous inspection 18 July 2019

p.4

Information about this early years setting

Little Discoveries registered in 2017. It is located in Yeovil, Somerset. The setting employs 12 members of staff. Of these, one member of staff holds a level 6 qualification, eight hold a level 3 qualification, and one member of staff holds a level 2 early years qualification. The setting opens Monday to Friday from 8am until 6pm. The setting offers government funded places.

p.4

Inspection activities

n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises with the manager. n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about her curriculum and what she wants children to learn. n Staff talked to the inspector throughout the inspection and discussed how the curriculum is planned and implemented and how children's progress is monitored. n The inspector spoke to parents and took their views into account. n The manager carried out a joint observation of a creative activity with the inspector. n Children spoke to the inspector. n The inspector observed interactions between staff and children throughout the inspection.

p.5

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.

p.5

Inspection activities

14 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.

p.5

Inspection activities

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.6

Inspection activities

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk

p.6

Inspection activities

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.6

Inspection activities

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.6