Little Badgers Child Care

Inspection of Little Badgers Child Care Little Badgers Child Care, Shaftoe Trust Primary School, Haydon Bridge, Northumberland NE47 6BN

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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

Staff build strong, trusting relationships with children. They create a calm, purposeful environment, where children feel secure and respected. Staff warmly welcome children into the setting. They know children well and have good knowledge of their backgrounds, families and individual experiences. Prior to children starting, staff find out about children's needs and discuss children's development with parents. Settling-in visits help children to adjust to attending the setting.

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The provision is good

The curriculum gives children a strong foundation for future learning. Children develop a love of books. They enjoy looking at them on their own or with a member of staff. Staff talk to children about the pictures. They help children to talk about what they can see. They pause at intervals so children can recall what happens next.

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The provision is good

Children are curious and motivated to learn. Staff support children to focus on activities and give praise when they learn new skills. Staff are positive role models. They show respect to the children as they ask permission before they check whether they need to change a nappy. They guide children's behaviour through gentle reminders and diverting their attention elsewhere. Children behave well.

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need to do better?

n The provider made a notification to Ofsted. However, this was not within the required timescales for notifying Ofsted of significant events. The provider now appreciates what she needs to do in any such future event. n The provider has a curriculum that is based on the needs of individual children. She works closely with staff. She models how to interact with children. Good support is offered to staff through regular supervision and observations of their interactions with children. This helps to identify areas of practice that need development to enhance staff's knowledge. n The provider supports parents to access funding that they may be entitled to, such as early years pupil premium. They ensure children's specific needs are met. Funding is used appropriately for children. For example, additional experiences are provided that children may have missed out on. n Children who speak English as an additional language and those who need

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need to do better?

support with their communication and language development make good progress from their starting points. Staff interact well with children, they get down to their level and join in with their play, narrating what is happening. n Staff ensure children's physical well-being is well supported. Children engage in energetic outdoor play. They take safe, controlled risks that strengthen their balance and coordination. For example, when they come down a slope on a

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need to do better?

23 June 2025 balance bike. Staff join in with children's play. For instance, they give children directions to run round different coloured cones. They encourage children to smell the herbs that are growing. This promotes conversations about the plants. n Staff promote opportunities for children to learn about the local community. They have regular outings where they visit places, such as the church, library and museum. They have walks by the river. Staff have helped children to understand about being kind to others. They have delivered random acts of kindness to local people. n Although the learning environment is very well planned, a lack of consideration has been given to how all children access it. This means that occasionally non- mobile children have difficulty in accessing appropriate space and resources that meet their needs. n Overall, staff deployment is effective. Staff engage with children as they play

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need to do better?

and extend their learning. However, there are times that staff do not fully support all children. This is because, on occasion, staff are busy with routine activities, such as organising handwashing or clearing away after snack. When this happens, there are babies that are not engaged in meaningful learning activities. n Children are prepared well for their move to the on-site school nursery. Children visit the school nursery prior to starting. Staff have ongoing transition meetings with school nursery staff. This helps children to make a smooth transition when the time comes.

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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 review the arrangements for accommodating non-mobile children so that they access appropriate space and resources at all times n strengthen the quality of staff interactions with children, to fully support each child.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2830561 Local authority Northumberland Inspection number 10409337 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 26 Number of children on roll 61 Name of registered person Little Badgers Child Care Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01434 684446 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Little Badgers Child Care re-registered in 2025 and is located in Haydon Bridge, Northumberland. The nursery employs seven members of childcare staff. Of these, all staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3, including one who holds early years professional status. The nursery opens all year round from 8am until 6pm, Monday to Friday for 51 weeks of the year and is closed on bank holidays. The nursery offers government funded places for children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The provider and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n Staff and children spoke with the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector observed the interactions between staff and children. n The provider and the inspector carried out a joint observation of activities. n The inspector took account of parent's 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

23 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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