Little Cubs Academy Honor Oak

Inspection of Little Cubs Academy Honor Oak 25-27 Boveney Road, London SE23 3NP

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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 Good

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The provision requires improvement

Staff create a welcoming and supportive environment where children are confident to explore their surroundings. They form positive and secure attachments with children. Staff are kind and warm towards children. They offer comfort when children are upset and respond to their needs appropriately. For example, when children are tired, staff ensure they have appropriate times and spaces to rest. However, inconsistent staff deployment, ineffective routines and a lack of consistent behaviour management strategies lead to children's loss of focus in the activities. This results in poor behaviour which, in turn, impacts other children's experiences in the setting.

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The provision requires improvement

Children enjoy imaginative play with their friends. For example, they pretend to go on a bus trip and build a train out of chairs. Staff encourage children's curiosity and support their independent play and social interactions. They ask questions about their destination and what they will see once they get there. Children learn about hygiene routines through role play and washing dolls in water containers. Young babies explore spinners and learn to climb small structures. Staff encourage children to have a go at things, such as riding the tricycles and crawling through tunnels in the garden. Children play peekaboo and explore using magnifying glasses. These experiences support children's development.

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need to do better?

n Staff act as good role models. They say 'please' and 'thank you' and encourage children to say this back. Overall, children respond well. However, due to inconsistent expectations, children sometimes exhibit unwanted behaviours during free play, such as pushing, grabbing and throwing things. Although staff will sometimes intervene, such as by distracting children's attention, they are not consistent in applying behaviour management strategies. As a result, children do not learn what is expected of them or the impact their behaviour has on others. n Routines and staff deployment do not always support children's understanding of what is happening around them. Waiting times are too long for the ages of children. Staff spend periods of time away from children while completing routine tasks, such as tidying up after mealtimes. During these periods, children lack appropriate guidance, and activities do not secure their attention.

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need to do better?

Ultimately, this affects children's attitudes towards their own learning and impacts on their ability to focus and participate in meaningful activities. n Leaders are committed to meeting children's individual needs through a sequenced curriculum. Activities are age-appropriate and mostly reflect children's milestones and next steps. For example, children in pre-school learn about the life cycle of a butterfly and connect that to the bugs they see in nature. Babies learn about the texture of things and how to use their bodies to

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need to do better?

3 June 2025 move around the room. This helps them understand the world around them and supports their overall development. n Staff ensure children have daily opportunities to hear stories and sing songs to support their language skills. Younger children practise repeating the sounds in familiar songs. Older children learn how to identify the sounds in letters and learn new words during play, such as 'steering wheel'. n Children develop some independence skills. For example, staff teach children how to take off their shoes and wash their hands by themselves. Babies attempt to use spoons during mealtimes. Staff talk to children about healthy foods and how to keep healthy. They have appropriate awareness of risks and how to care for children with food allergies. n Partnership with parents is positive. Parents say that staff are caring and attentive to their children's needs. Staff invite parents to spend time at nursery

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need to do better?

and offer suggestions on how they can extend their children's learning at home. This ensures that there is a continuum of care and education, which supports children's progress. n Staff speak highly of the team spirit that exists between colleagues and the kindness shown by leaders. The nursery is under new ownership, and there are dedicated plans to improve the quality of the provision through targeted support for all staff. n Leaders follow appropriate procedures to deal with concerns and complaints. However, they have recently overlooked that they need to notify Ofsted of a significant event. Despite this, they have an appropriate knowledge of this requirement, and this has had no impact on the children.

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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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Due date

implement behaviour management strategies, that support staff to be consistent in their approach, and promote children's understanding of the expectations for their behaviour 24/06/2025

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Due date

3 June 2025 improve the effectiveness of staff's deployment so that children consistently benefit from positive interactions, purposeful activities and ongoing support 24/06/2025

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Due date

improve daily routines to minimise waiting times and meet children's individual needs. 24/06/2025

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2574630 Local authority Lewisham Inspection number 10400026 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 66 Number of children on roll 73 Name of registered person Little Cubs Academy Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 0208 291 8367 Date of previous inspection 19 July 2022

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Information about this early years setting

Little Cubs Academy Honor Oak registered in 2020 and is located in the London Borough of Lewisham. The provider employs 14 members of staff. Six staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or 6. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round except for bank holidays, from 8am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for eligible children.

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Inspection activities

n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want the children to learn. 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 The special educational needs coordinator spoke to the inspector about how they support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. 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 and manager carried out joint observations of group activities. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n The manager showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate the suitability of staff.

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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

3 June 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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