The Co-operative Childcare Walsall Wood

Inspection of Little Pioneers Nursery & Pre-School, Walsall Wood 7a Lichfield Road, Walsall Wood, WALSALL WS9 9NP

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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 Outstanding

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The provision is good

Staff are extremely knowledgeable about the children they care for at this nursery. They greet children with warm, friendly smiles, which helps them to enter the nursery happy and settled. Staff stay close to children who require extra emotional support, particularly children who are new to the setting. The effective key-person system ensures that staff quickly develop strong bonds with children, and recognise when they are feeling upset or tired. As a result, children demonstrate that they feel safe and secure while at nursery. Staff understand what children are interested in and know what stage of development they are at. This helps them to plan exciting learning opportunities for children that are motivating and interesting.

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The provision is good

The nursery curriculum is ambitious for all children and successfully supports them to build on their existing knowledge and skills. Staff are skilled at teaching. They thread opportunities for children to learn new concepts throughout their interactions with them. For example, as younger children scoop sand into buckets, staff help them to distinguish between different sizes, labelling sandcastles as big and small. Older children learn about different plants. Staff provide rosemary for children to use during an activity with play dough. They teach children about different features of the plant.

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The provision is good

Children are keen to share their exciting learning experiences with friends. They work together cooperatively and develop positive relationships with one another.

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need to do better?

n Children become confident and competent communicators. They follow instructions and express their ideas with certainty. Children are curious and ask questions when they are unsure. This helps them to learn new information. Staff are skilled at increasing children's level of vocabulary. They speak clearly to children and introduce them to more complex words as they move through the nursery. A nursery library encourages children to take books home to read with their parents. This contributes to children's early language and literacy skills. n Children's behaviour is excellent. They quickly learn what is expected of them. They are reminded to be kind to others and share resources. Staff role model positive behaviour to children. They respond to them calmly, and are consistent in their approach to teaching behavioural expectations. n Children are confident and independent. Staff provide opportunities for them to

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need to do better?

do things for themselves. For example, pre-school children take turns to serve their own meals and pour their own drinks. Children show pride in their achievements. The cleverly laid out environment enables children to independently access resources themselves from a young age. As children move through the nursery, they work things out for themselves and persevere when

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need to do better?

8 July 2025 they encounter difficulties. This supports children to be ready to move to their next stage of learning. n Staff know and understand children's needs well. For example, most children complete personal care tasks independently, without staff support. However, at times when staff are deployed elsewhere, they are not always readily available to assist children, who may need extra help. n Leaders and staff provide educational, extra-curricular activities for children. They invite other professionals into the nursery to teach children about people who can help them. For example, a police officer attended the nursery so children could find out what they do and how they help others. Staff also take children to the local care home weekly, to interact with older residents. As a result, children's knowledge of the world around them is extended. n Leaders are passionate and reflective. They spend time in rooms with staff

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need to do better?

observing practice and modelling high-quality teaching. Staff are keen to improve their own knowledge and skills and regularly engage in professional development opportunities. Consequently, learning experiences for children are constantly improving. n Parents speak extremely highly of the nursery. They receive regular communication about what their children have been doing and are given ideas of how to support children's learning at home. Parents comment on the friendly and approachable staff, and the progress their children have made during their time at nursery. Parents make the decision to secure a place for younger children at the nursery when they extend their family.

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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 deployment of staff to ensure children's personal care needs are always met, while increasing their independence.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY443864 Local authority Walsall Inspection number 10409763 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 74 Number of children on roll 134 Name of registered person The Midcounties Co-Operative Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01543 453257 Date of previous inspection 15 March 2022

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Information about this early years setting

Little Pioneers Nursery & Pre-School, Walsall Wood registered in 2012. The nursery employs 31 members of childcare staff, 23 of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 and above. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday all year round, except for bank holidays. Sessions are from 7.30am to 6.30pm. The nursery provides the government funded places for childcare and receives specific funding for disadvantaged 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 The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector observed the interactions between staff and the children. n The inspector and the deputy manager carried out a joint observation during a mealtime. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.

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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 July 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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