Little Stories

Inspection of Little Stories Croft Day Centre, Ulleries Road, Solihull B92 8ED

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Inspection date: 27 March 2025 - 30 April 2025

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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

Staff are kind and attentive and build strong bonds with children. They greet children warmly as they arrive at this vibrant and welcoming nursery. Babies are relaxed and content with the staff, who know them well. Staff support children to learn about the importance of a healthy lifestyle. Children know to wash their hands before they eat. They learn about good oral health. Children take part in regular physical activities. They play chasing games, kick and throw balls and adeptly use wheeled toys. They develop good balance and coordination as they negotiate an obstacle course in the garden. Staff teach children to be independent and do things for themselves. For example, children can put on their coat and manage their own personal needs.

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The provision is good

Staff are good role models. They speak politely to the children and each other. Staff teach children good manners and help them to learn right from wrong. Children behave well. They are kind to each other and inclusive in their play. Children develop a positive attitude towards their learning. They are developing essential key skills that will assist them as they move to the next stage in their learning, including their eventual move on to school.

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need to do better?

n Leaders have robust safeguarding procedures in place, which are implemented in the event of allegations being made against a member of staff. However, recently there was an occasion where leaders failed to notify Ofsted of an allegation, which is an offence. That said, there was no impact for children as leaders took swift and prompt action to investigate and reported to the local safeguarding partnerships as appropriate. n Leaders are clear about what they want children to learn. They have devised a curriculum that covers all areas of learning, takes account of children's interests and builds on what they already know. Consequently, children make good progress from their starting points. n Staff know the children well. They make regular observations and assessments of children's learning and plan for what they need to learn next. n Overall, staff support children's communication and language skills effectively.

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need to do better?

Throughout the nursery, staff engage children in conversation, sing songs and introduce new words as children play. However, at times, some enthusiastic staff do not always give children time to think and formulate their response before answering their own questions or asking another one in quick succession. This does not fully support children to develop their problem-solving skills or express their thoughts and ideas. n Staff support children to learn about the world around them. Children enjoy activities that enhance their understanding of the world. For example, children

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need to do better?

27 March 2025 learn about the life cycle of different creatures, including frogs. They become deeply engrossed in books on the topic with staff. Children proudly recall what they have learned about the stages from frogspawn to frog. n Staff help children to develop their mathematical skills. Throughout the nursery, children learn to count and to recognise numbers and shapes. However, on occasion, some staff do not always take account of the ages and abilities of children during group activities, so children become fidgety and disengage. Consequently, children do not fully benefit from the learning being offered. n Staff manage behaviour effectively. They ensure that children are aware of what is acceptable behaviour and what is not. Staff teach children to be kind to their friends and to take turns during play activities. This has a positive impact on the way children behave. n Staff help to build on children's self-esteem and confidence. They provide lots of

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need to do better?

praise and encouragement for children's efforts and achievements. n Partnerships with parents are strong. Parents comment on how much their children enjoy attending and the good progress they make. Parents talk about the regular updates they receive from staff about their children's learning and ideas on how they can support their children's learning at home.

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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 support staff to improve their questioning techniques to give children time to think, consider and formulate a response so that they can share their thoughts and ideas n support staff to consistently tailor activities to support the age and stage of development of the children taking part.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY548525 Local authority Solihull Inspection number 10395469 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 62 Number of children on roll 99

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Name of registered person

Once Upon A Time Children's Day Nursery Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 0121 213 5866 Date of previous inspection 11 June 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Little Stories registered in 2017 and is located in Solihull. The nursery is open from Monday to Friday, from 7.30am to 6pm, except for bank holidays. The nursery employs 16 members of childcare staff, 13 of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or level 3. The nursery provides funded care and early education for children aged from nine months up to four years.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors Karen Laycock Josephine Heath

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Inspection activities

n The inspection started on 27 March 2025. Inspectors returned on 30 April 2025 to gather additional evidence in line with Ofsted inspections and visits: deferring, pausing and gathering additional evidence policy. n The inspectors held meetings with the nominated individual and the management team. n The inspectors observed the quality of teaching indoors and outdoors to assess the impact of this on the children's learning. n Parents spoke to one inspector and gave their views of the nursery. n The inspectors spoke to staff and the children at convenient times during the inspection. n The inspectors looked at relevant documentation and evidence of staff suitability. n The manager and one inspector carried out a joint observation to evaluate the impact of teaching on the 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

27 March 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

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

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