The Light Academy

Inspection of The Light Academy 25 Edgehill Road, Leicester LE4 9EA

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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 Not applicable

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The provision is inadequate

Children do not benefit from a well-sequenced, ambitious curriculum. Staff do not evidence that they know how to help children make progress in their learning. Although children occasionally play with resources staff provide, staff interactions with children are limited and lack purpose. Children are not supported by staff to develop their communication skills. Staff do not plan activities to support children to build on what they already know and can do. Consequently, children become bored and wander around. Leaders lack the capacity to identify weaknesses in practice or provide effective support to staff.

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The provision is inadequate

Children are not supported to understand right from wrong. Staff do not manage behaviour effectively. Staff tell children to share, but do not explain what this means or how to do it. As a result, children frequently argue with their friends and do not learn how to resolve conflict. Furthermore, leaders fail to ensure there are consistently enough qualified staff available to work with children and meet their needs.

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The provision is inadequate

Despite the weaknesses, most children are generally well settled and have fun playing in the garden. They enjoy playing with sand and using the slide. Some children learn how to play musical instruments, such as tambourines. Staff support children to develop healthy lifestyles as they provide nutritious home-cooked meals. Children benefit from opportunities to develop their physical skills such as visiting local parks.

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need to do better?

n The provider and staff lack a secure understanding of what a suitable curriculum or high-quality teaching should be. The provider is not able to identify weaknesses in the quality of teaching, or support staff to plan and deliver a high-quality curriculum. The provider acknowledges that children spend lots of time playing alone, but do not understand why children need well-planned and well-sequenced activities which build on what they already know and can do. As a consequence, staff do not receive effective coaching, support and guidance to help them improve their knowledge and teaching skills. n Leaders have developed a clear curriculum. However, they do not ensure staff plan and follow this curriculum in practice. For example, some staff demonstrate a limited understanding of what they want children to learn; not all staff understand this. Staff do not plan activities which build on what children already

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need to do better?

know and can do. For example, staff try to teach number recognition to young children and do not understand that this is too difficult and not always appropriate for their age. Staff plan activities beyond children's capabilities and do not teach them the key skills they need for future learning.

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need to do better?

8 July 2025 n Staff do not support children's communication and language development well enough. Often, when children want to talk, staff tell them to be quiet and that is it not their turn to talk. At times, children sit in silence, for example at mealtimes. Staff do not support children to articulate what they know and understand. Children are not encouraged to hold thoughtful conversations with others. As a result, children do not become confident communicators. However, on occasion, staff invite children to sing nursery rhymes with them and sometimes read books. n Staff do not apply behaviour expectations consistently or fairly. Children do not learn how to behave in appropriate ways as staff do not teach them how to regulate their behaviour. For example, when children struggle to share as they do not understand how, staff remove the toy that children argue about. This does not teach children how to manage conflict and resolve problems with other

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need to do better?

children. n Staff lack the knowledge and skills to fully support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Although they work with external professionals such as the inclusion team, and occasionally offer targeted interventions such as using visual aids to support communication, these are not consistently implemented by staff. Children with SEND receive limited interactions from staff and often become dysregulated and upset. They do not make the best possible progress in their learning. n The provider does not ensure that staff are deployed effectively. Although there are sufficient numbers of qualified staff at the nursery, the provider does not use these effectively to consistently meet children's learning and care needs. Children who attend at the end of the day in particular, lack purposeful learning opportunities. n Leaders ensure that all staff who work with children have their suitability

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need to do better?

checked to ensure they are safe to work with children. They also ensure that staff receive safeguarding training and fully understand local reporting procedures. n Parents comment positively about the setting. They say that the nursery shares information with them about the food their children have eaten and activities they have participated in. Staff get to know families well when children first attend the nursery. They speak confidently about how they will make adaptations to meals to take into consideration children's allergy and dietary needs.

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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

provide effective coaching, support and training to improve staff knowledge and skills to raise the quality of teaching 18/08/2025

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Due date

implement an ambitious curriculum that meets every child's individual learning needs and enables them to make the progress they are capable of 18/08/2025

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Due date

improve staff knowledge and skills to support children's developing communication and language skills 18/08/2025

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Due date

ensure staff manage children's behaviour in an appropriate way, to help children to learn how to behave well 18/08/2025

p.4

Due date

implement consistent support for children with SEND to help them make the best possible progress 18/08/2025

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Due date

deploy staff well to ensure children's individual care and learning needs are met consistently. 18/08/2025

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2734830 Local authority Leicester Inspection number 10409579 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 16 Number of children on roll 11

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Name of registered person

The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Covenant of Grace

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reference number

Telephone number 0116 216 3000 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

The Light Academy registered in 2023 and is in Leicester. The nursery employs five members of childcare staff, of whom four hold an appropriate early years qualification at level 2 or above. The nursery is open from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday all year round. The setting provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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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 deputy manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. 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 Staff spoke to the inspector about how they support children with SEND. n The inspector spoke with the nominated individual about the leadership and management of the setting. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. 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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