Little Gems Day Nursery

Inspection of Little Gems Day Nursery 54 South Lane, Waterlooville, Hampshire PO8 0RY

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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 know children well at this nursery and are quick to establish close bonds with them. The leadership team has designed a curriculum that focuses on children's emotional security, knowing that children learn best when they feel safe and secure. Babies who are new to the nursery receive lots of cuddles and they settle quickly with reassurance from their key person.

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The provision is good

A key strength of this setting is its links with the local community. Managers understand the importance of helping children to learn about their local area. Staff take children to visit the elderly in a local care home, and children make poppies for Remembrance Day and take them to the church. Children go on walks and see newborn lambs at nearby farms and parents get involved too, for example, by bringing a tractor to the nursery.

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The provision is good

Staff are positive role models and children are well behaved, polite and helpful. For example, older children enjoy helping to prepare snack for their peers. They develop good physical and independence skills as they use safety knives to cut fruit and pour their own drinks.

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need to do better?

n Leaders and staff are passionate about their roles and ways to continuously improve children's learning experiences. Staff have regular opportunities to complete additional training in order to improve their practice. There is a strong focus on staff well-being, with staff regularly receiving rewards from the vending machine, such as extra time on their lunch breaks or going home early. This helps to motivate staff, which contributes towards a positive environment for children. n Overall, teaching is good and staff know children well. Staff plan a range of interesting activities. However, in each room, staff do not always precisely consider what it is they want children to learn or who the activities are best aimed at. Staff's interactions with children during the implementation of activities are not consistently of a high quality and there are times when opportunities to extend children's learning are overlooked.

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need to do better?

n Staff have high expectations of children's behaviour. Children listen to staff, follow instructions and join in with the daily routines. When there are minor disputes between friends, staff know when to intervene to help resolve these. n Staff are very competent in facilitating children's messy and exploratory play. Babies enjoy exploring natural materials, such as sand, leaves and pine cones. Toddlers look at toy bugs mixed in with oats and cocoa powder and pre-school children make potions with milk, water, citrus fruits and flowers. Staff provide uninterrupted periods of play that enable children to become deeply involved in

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need to do better?

2 September 2025 exploring their interests. n Leaders understand the importance of promoting children's communication skills. However, there are times when staff do not make the most of opportunities to enhance children's use of language. Although staff often narrate children's play, they are not consistent in encouraging children to talk and expand their vocabulary. n Children enjoy playing outside whatever the weather and staff fully support this. Younger children enjoy digging in the sand pit and remove their socks so that they can feel the sand between their toes. Older children spend a considerable amount of time at the mud kitchen, mixing a range of ingredients. They are introduced to simple mathematical concepts as they play games, such as 'What's the time Mr Wolf?' and count the number of steps they take. n Children across the nursery are supported to learn about healthy eating. They grow their own fruit and vegetables and then participate in cooking activities,

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need to do better?

learning how to make bread, soup and fruit tarts. n Staff build strong partnerships with parents. Parents comment very positively on how well staff share information about their children's learning and the help given should extra support be needed. Baby room staff work collaboratively with parents and guide them through developmental milestones, such as weaning.

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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 improve the planning and implementation of activities so that staff focus more precisely on supporting children's learning intentions n support staff to make better use of opportunities during activities to enhance children's vocabulary and use of language.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY396145 Local authority Hampshire Inspection number 10407306 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 40 Number of children on roll 68 Name of registered person Bexsters Services Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 0239 259 4001 Date of previous inspection 3 January 2020

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Information about this early years setting

Little Gems Day Nursery registered in 2009. It operates from a detached house in Clanfield, near Waterlooville, Hampshire. The nursery is open for 51 weeks of the year, Monday to Friday, from 7.30am to 6pm. There are 18 staff employed to work directly with children, of whom 17 hold a relevant childcare qualification. The nursery provides government funded early education places for children aged from nine months to four years.

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Inspection activities

n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. 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 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 carried out a joint observation of an activity with the deputy manager. n The inspector spoke with the nominated individual and manager about the leadership and management of the setting. 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

2 September 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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