Little Stars Nursery

Inspection of Little Stars Nursery The Park Child and Family Centre, Norfolk Grove, Church, Accrington, Lancashire BB5 4RY

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Overall effectiveness Inadequate

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

p.1

The provision is inadequate

The provider has failed to take effective action to address breaches of requirements identified at the previous inspection. The provider has not ensured the safety of children in the nursery. For example, on the day of inspection a child was able to leave the playroom and enter the adjoining secure garden without staff knowledge. Poor risk assessment and inappropriate staff deployment pose a risk to children's safety. Hygiene practices are not at a consistently high standard. Furthermore, staff do not help children to understand the importance of hygiene. For example, children are not helped to know why they wash their hands before eating. As a result, children continually play with items, touch the floor and return to the bathroom area following handwashing and before eating. This puts children's health at risk.

p.2

The provision is inadequate

The quality of education remains variable. Managers know what they want children to learn and experience at the nursery. However, sufficient time has not been given to establishing the curriculum, or to supporting staff to implement it effectively. Staff do not have a shared understanding of the skills they want children to develop as they move through the setting. Children have limited access to purposeful learning. Deployment of staff is not effectively planned, as a result, children are sometimes left with minimal supervision. During these times they run around the room or lie on the floor. However, children in pre-school benefit from more structure and they demonstrate a better understanding of the expectations for good behaviour.

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The provision is inadequate

Sufficient time has not been given to improving coaching and mentoring to support the quality of teaching. However, staff are generally motivated and they show a nurturing approach. They warmly welcome children and want to do their best for the children in their care. As a result, children do settle. Staff and children have developed strong bonds. Children are happy to attend and they show confidence in the care of staff who know them well.

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need to do better?

n Risk assessments are completed daily in both the indoor and outdoor areas. These highlight any maintenance issues, which are quickly resolved. However, the provider has not taken all reasonable steps to make sure that risk assessments inform staff practice and enable them to identify and remove hazards. For example, staff fail to recognise risks such as doors being left open. They do not appropriately supervise these areas, meaning children are able to leave the room unsupervised. This compromises children's safety. n Hygiene practice is not consistent. For example, food from snack time is left on the floor within easy reach of babies and young children. This poses a risk to

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need to do better?

16 July 2025 children's health and does not help children to develop healthy eating habits. n Deployment of staff is not effective. Children are not always in the sight and hearing of staff. Furthermore, on occasion, when staff are focused on the needs of children, they do not maintain supervision of the whole group. For example, while focused on feeding young babies, staff were not aware of older babies taking food from each other's plates. Supervision of children while eating is poor. n Staffing ratios are not effective in meeting the needs of all children. For example, the time staff spend teaching children is regularly interrupted as they respond to the individual needs of children in their care. As a result, there are not adequate staff to supervise the rest of the group effectively. Children disengage and wander round the room. Furthermore, children demonstrate unwanted behaviour at these times, such as running indoors. This does not install positive attitudes

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need to do better?

towards learning. n A considerable amount of leaders' time is taken up with supervising children while other members of staff manage children's individual needs and behaviour. As a result, leaders are not always able to fulfil their role. For example, they have minimal time to implement supervision arrangements for staff, such as coaching and mentoring them. Therefore, staff are not supported to improve their teaching skills or to learn how to improve the outcomes for children. n The curriculum is not planned with clear or sequenced intent for children's learning. Staff plan activities that they know children will enjoy. However, not all staff understand how to implement learning to meet children's current needs. Furthermore, transitions are not planned. For example, children sit down for lunch while food is still too hot. children become restless while they wait for food to cool. They bang their plates, drop items on the floor and babies crawl onto

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need to do better?

the table. This does not help children to make good progress. n The nursery does work closely with parents and outside agencies to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Children with SEND benefit from clear action plans and activities planned to meet specific targets and their individual needs. As a result, these children are ready for their next stage in their learning. n The provider has responded swiftly to concerns about staff knowledge in relation to child protection. Staff can demonstrate clear knowledge of what to do if they are concerned about the well-being of a child in their care. They know the process to follow for whistle-blowing. Staff, including those new to the building, know the emergency evacuation procedures and are clear about how to exit safely in an emergency.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

There is not an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

p.3

Due date

take all reasonable steps to ensure that risk assessments effectively identify and address hazards and that they inform staff practice, to minimise risks to children 18/08/2025

p.4

Due date

ensure that staff promote the good health of children, with particular regard to good hygiene practice 18/08/2025

p.4

Due date

ensure that staffing arrangements meet the needs of all children and their safety, and ensure that children are adequately supervised, including while eating 18/08/2025

p.4

Due date

ensure that there are appropriate arrangements in place for the supervision of staff, and that these provide coaching and training that promote the interest of children. 18/08/2025

p.4

Due date

ensure that the curriculum is implemented effectively to offer quality learning and development experiences for children that continually improves. 18/08/2025

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY278820 Local authority Lancashire Inspection number 10412281 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

p.5

Registers

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

p.5

inspection

Total number of places 68 Number of children on roll 90 Name of registered person Adventure Hyndburn Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01254 357988 Date of previous inspection 14 December 2022

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Information about this early years setting

Little Stars Nursery registered in 2004. It is managed by Adventure Hyndburn. The nursery employs 13 members of staff. Of these, one holds qualified teacher status, one holds appropriate early years qualifications at level 5, eight at level 3 and one at level 2. The nursery opens from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, all year round. The nursery provides government funded places.

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Inspection activities

n We carried out this inspection as a result of a risk assessment, following information we received about the provider. n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want their children to learn. n Children spoke to the inspector about what they enjoy doing while at nursery. 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/registered individual about the leadership and management of the setting. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector.

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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

16 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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