Little Explorers Mansfield LTD

Inspection of Little Explorers Mansfield LTD Little Explorers, Priory Road, Mansfield Woodhouse, Mansfield NG19 9LP

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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 Not applicable

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The provision is good

Leaders have successfully created a home-from-home approach at this friendly and caring nursery. Staff are extremely knowledgeable about the children they care for. They develop strong relationships with parents, which helps support children's development. Parents share children's activities and interests at home, which contributes to children's learning. For example, a child who helped to change a tyre on the family car then developed an interest in vehicles. Staff then supported the child by providing a range of toy cars to play with and introducing new vocabulary such as 'roundabout'.

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The provision is good

Leaders make sure that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are supported very effectively. Staff have high expectations for what all children can achieve. They develop individual next steps in learning tailored to each child's stage of development. This helps staff and leaders to monitor the progress children make.

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The provision is good

Children are developing all the skills they need to move on to the next stage in their education. Staff support children to be kind and courteous to their friends. Children from a young age develop positive attitudes to learning. Babies show great affection for staff and reach out for cuddles and reassurance during their play. Parents are highly appreciative of the care that staff show for their children.

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need to do better?

n Leaders and staff plan and design a curriculum which helps children to make progress in all areas of learning. During the inspection, staff explained to children the importance of VE day in an age-appropriate way. This helps children to make links with what they already know about soldiers and aspects of history. Children are developing a curiosity about the world around them and broadening their knowledge through the experiences the curriculum offers them. n Staff focus on developing children's communication and language skills effectively. They model language and introduce new words for children to learn and use in their play. Outside, older children sit and chat to each other about their pretend food delivery service using toy vehicles. Children are becoming confident communicators. n The key-person system is highly effective. Staff take time to get to know children and their families well. Staff understand the individual characteristics of the

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need to do better?

children they care for. For children with SEND in particular, this insight helps staff to plan a curriculum tailored to each child's needs. Staff support children and their families to work with other professionals. Strong relationships between staff, children and their families help children to thrive at the nursery. n Staff support children to become increasingly independent. Babies are

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need to do better?

8 May 2025 encouraged to feed themselves. Staff model new language to babies as they show them how to 'scoop' their jacket potato at lunchtime. Older children manage their own toileting needs and put on their coats before going outside. Children develop an increasing maturity as they are encouraged to think and plan for themselves during their play. n Children are developing good listening and attention skills. They respond positively when staff ask them to help tidy up in the toddler room. Children enjoy the added responsibility that this brings them. They listen attentively to staff requests and follow instructions well. Staff support children to manage their behaviour effectively. n All staff feel very well supported by leaders. Staff comment that there is an 'open door policy' at the nursery, which means they can always speak to leaders if they need to. Leaders manage staff workload well and help staff with the

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need to do better?

routines of the day to allow them to have appropriate breaks. Leaders and staff work together as a team highly effectively. n Leaders continue to reflect on their practice and make changes where needed. They recognise that planning and delivering group activities for children could be strengthened. During the inspection, some children were not as focused as others during story sessions. This limited opportunities for them to benefit from the planned learning. Leaders understand the nursery's strengths and weaknesses accurately. They use this information to drive further improvement.

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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 strengthen the impact of group activities by ensuring the planning and delivery of sessions accurately meets the needs of the children.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2747813 Local authority Nottinghamshire County Council Inspection number 10402206 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 70 Number of children on roll 64 Name of registered person Little Explorers Mansfield Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 07305388120 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Little Explorers Mansfield, located in Mansfield Woodhouse, Nottinghamshire registered in 2023. The nursery opens Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm. The nursery employs 14 members of childcare staff. Of these, 11 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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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 Children spoke to/communicated with the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector spoke with the nominated individual about the leadership and management of the setting. 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 Leaders and the inspector carried out a joint observation during lunchtime. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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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

8 May 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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