Little Lambs (Longlevens) Ltd

Inspection of Little Lambs (Longlevens) Ltd Paygrove Lane, Longlevens, GLOUCESTER GL2 0AU

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Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

The quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement Personal development Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Requires improvement

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The provision requires improvement

Children do not make good enough progress in their learning and development because of ongoing weaknesses in the quality of teaching. Although staff are caring and kind, some lack the necessary knowledge and skills to deliver a well-sequenced and ambitious curriculum which supports all children to make the progress they are capable of.

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The provision requires improvement

That said, settling-in procedures are good and help children to be ready for the move from home to nursery. Staff invite children and parents to attend stay and play sessions, which they tailor around their individual needs. Children arrive happy and separate from their parents or carers with ease. They form secure relationships with staff and greet them with a smile and a hug. Older children demonstrate a sense of belonging. They take responsibility for their belongings, and hang their bag on their named pegs. Children have daily opportunities to play outside in the fresh air. They develop good physical skills as they climb and balance on apparatus. Staff support babies' drive to stand and walk. They carefully hold under their arms to support their balance. Staff offer reassurance and comforting cuddles to babies throughout the day. These positive interactions support children's emotional security and well-being. Children behave well because they know what staff expect

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The provision requires improvement

from them. They play cooperatively with their friends and are learning to share and take turns.

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need to do better?

n Leaders have made some improvements at the nursery since the last inspection. For example, staff work with external agencies, such as the inclusion team to help them meet the needs of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). However, the quality of teaching is not consistently good throughout the nursery. Leaders do not monitor the curriculum or staff practice effectively. They do not ensure that all staff have a secure understanding of child development or the knowledge and skills to deliver an ambitious and sequenced curriculum. As a result, children do not make the progress they are capable of. n Staff plan a range of activities based on children's interests. For example, they ensure that popular resources, such as dinosaurs and train tracks, are available when children arrive. Staff make regular observations of children's play to assess their progress. They use their assessments to plan for children's future learning.

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need to do better?

However, children's progress is hindered because their planned next steps are often too broad and do not always link to what staff actually want them to learn next. Additionally, staff do not consistently share children's next steps with parents, to support them to continue or extend learning at home. n Staff provide children with consistent daily routines, including designated times for sleep and meals. However, staff working with the youngest children are not

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need to do better?

22 May 2025 always well prepared or organised during these everyday routines. Staff focus on completing tasks, such as cutting up food, organising sleep arrangements or helping babies to wash their hands. This means babies and toddlers are not engaged in meaningful learning or high-quality interactions because they are left waiting for extended periods of time with minimal interactions with staff. n Overall care and hygiene practice is effective. Pre-school children are independent and attend to their personal needs with minimal support. Children are reminded to wash their hands regularly throughout the day. They enjoy healthy, nutritious meals and snacks prepared by the onsite cook. Staff remind children to wear sun hats and ensure they have sun cream applied before playing outside. However, staff do not consistently offer children clear explanations about the importance of these practices, which limits children's

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need to do better?

understanding of how to maintain their health and safety. That said, the youngest children sleep peacefully in a comfortable and secure environment. Staff regularly check on them to ensure they are safe and well n Children are assigned a key person when they first begin to attend. Key persons develop secure relationships with children and their families from the outset. They share information with parents about children's time at the nursery through daily discussions and adding information to their online learning records. Parents speak positively about the caring staff team and how happy their children are to attend.

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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 interest first.

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Due date

improve the monitoring of staff practice to swiftly identify weaknesses and raise the quality of teaching to a consistently good level 30/06/2025

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Due date

22 May 2025 ensure staff receive appropriate training and professional development opportunities to improve their knowledge and skills and enable them to successfully plan and implement a sequenced and ambitious curriculum that meets the developmental needs of all children 30/06/2025

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Due date

ensure children's planned next steps in learning are precise and accurately identify what children need to learn next to fully support their ongoing progress 30/06/2025

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Due date

improve the organisation of every day routines to ensure staffs' interactions promote children's engagement in meaningful learning experiences and supports their understanding of how to keep themselves healthy and safe. 30/06/2025

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2734549 Local authority Gloucestershire Inspection number 10359652 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 95 Number of children on roll 116 Name of registered person Little Lambs (Longlevens) Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01452 380662 Date of previous inspection 21 June 2024

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Information about this early years setting

Little Lambs (Longlevens) Ltd registered in 2023 and is located in Gloucester. It is ope Monday to Friday, all year round, except for bank holidays and one week at Christmas. Sessions are from 7.30am to 6pm. The nursery employs 23 members of childcare staff. Of these, 16 hold appropriate early years qualifications to at least level 2. One member of staff holds early years professional status and four hold a level 6 qualification. The nursery provides funded early education for children aged from nine-months to four-years.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The operations manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n Children spoke 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 Staff spoke to the inspector about how they support children with SEND. 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 inspector observed the interactions between staff and children. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation of everyday routines, such as mealtimes. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n The manager showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate the suitability

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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

22 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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