Little Learners Day Care Ltd

Inspection of Little Learners Day Care Ltd Park Lodge, 28 Clarkes Road, Portsmouth PO1 5PR

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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 beam with delighted smiles as they arrive. Staff greet them warmly and welcome them inside. Children appear to have close and meaningful bonds with their key person. They sit together and listen to exciting story times and sing songs together. Children are comforted and are kept safe by nurturing staff that know them well.

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The provision is good

Staff have high expectations for children's behaviour. Together, staff and children discuss the different rules that are in place at the nursery and why they need to be followed. These expectations are implemented fairly and consistently. For example, staff kindly remind children about the importance of walking when inside. Children demonstrate their understanding and confidently explain the rules that keep them safe. Children behave well.

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The provision is good

Leaders have designed a curriculum that is ambitious and interesting. It places a clear focus on preparing children for the next stage of their education. For example, staff implement activities that encourage children to be excited about writing. Staff talk to them about the different letters in their name. Older children are proud of their accomplishments as they write their names with success. Children are supported to develop secure early writing skills.

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need to do better?

n Babies receive close support for their developing language. Staff sing as babies joyfully clap and practise joining in with different sounds. They utilise opportunities to build on children's vocabulary. For example, staff teach babies how to say words such as 'duck' and 'splash' as they excitedly play at the water table. Babies engage deeply as they enjoy meaningful interactions with staff. n Children's love for stories and books is positively promoted throughout the setting. Staff inspire children when they read enthusiastically and immerse them in exciting stories. Staff also use books to build children's knowledge of how to keep their brains healthy. Staff check children's comprehension by talking to them about what they have learned from the story. Children easily answer questions and explain what they know about the different parts of their brain. Children gain new knowledge through their experiences.

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need to do better?

n Staff have a good understanding of how to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Staff use assessment effectively. For example, they use children's progress check at age two to identify any gaps in children's learning. They work closely with other professionals involved in children's care, such as speech and language therapists. This enables them to work collaboratively to support children's progress. This means children benefit from a shared approach to their learning.

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need to do better?

24 April 2025 n Overall, children have opportunities to develop their independence. For example, children wash their own hands and fill their bottles up by themselves. However, at mealtimes, children do not consistently receive support to further extend their abilities. For example, staff do not always recognise when older children are ready to use a knife to cut their food and do not provide the appropriate support to increase these skills. Through this, independence skills are not consistently promoted further. n Personal care routines are conducted respectfully and sensitively. For example, staff kindly ask young children if they can change their nappies. Throughout the interaction, staff talk to children about what they are doing and sing songs to them. Furthermore, staff promptly recognise when babies are tired. They calmly settle them for a sleep in the cosy sleep room. This supports children's emotional

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need to do better?

security. n Leaders consistently provide staff with opportunities to further their professional development. For example, staff discuss how they have achieved further early years qualifications while in employment at the nursery. Staff also engage in targeted training. For instance, staff increase their knowledge of how to teach children about mental health and well-being. Staff feel valued in their roles. They speak highly of the support they receive from leaders through supervision sessions. Through all of this, teaching standards are consistently raised for children. n Leaders are reflective and proactive in their practice. They implement strategies to enhance communication with parents, for example they encourage parents to attend a parents' evening with their child's key person. Leaders also build relationships with local primary schools to increase children's experiences as they progress to the next stage of their education. Leaders recognise the

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need to do better?

importance of establishing strong partnerships.

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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 provide children with further opportunities to extend their independence skills at mealtimes.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY357086 Local authority Portsmouth Inspection number 10380512 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 63 Number of children on roll 169 Name of registered person Little Learners Day Care Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 02392 756104 Date of previous inspection 12 June 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Little Learners Day Care Ltd registered in 2007 and operates in Portsmouth. The nursery is open each weekday from 7.30am to 6pm, all year round. The provider employs 17 members of staff, most of whom hold a relevant childcare qualification between level 3 and 5. The nursery provides government funded early education for eligible children between the ages of nine months and four years.

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Inspection activities

n Leaders and the inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n Staff spoke to the inspector during the inspection. 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 manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector.

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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

24 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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