Little Learners Day Nursery

Inspection of Little Learners Day Nursery 156 Whitehorse Road, CROYDON CR0 2LA

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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

Managers do not ensure that children are consistently safe in the nursery. There are weaknesses in staff deployment and the supervision of children. This means that staff do not always notice when children hurt themselves. Managers do not ensure that they provide the support needed to address and strengthen staff's understanding of their roles and responsibilities to keep children safe.

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The provision is inadequate

Staff plan the curriculum for children. However, they do not implement this consistently well to build on children's learning. Staff's interactions with children are variable. Their engagement with children is limited and not of high quality to fully extend children's learning. Although there is a key-person system in place, along with a 'buddy system' for when children's key persons are off, this is not effective. Staff do not have all the information about children, such as if there is additional support in place for individual children.

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The provision is inadequate

Staff identify children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). However, they do not have support plans in place for children with SEND. This means that staff do not engage children with SEND effectively in learning experiences. As a result, children do not receive the targeted support they require to make swift progress in their learning. Despite the weaknesses identified, staff are friendly and welcoming, and children arrive happy. Children settle and make relationships with staff and their peers.

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need to do better?

n Managers complete a daily risk assessment of the nursery. However, the deployment of staff and the supervision of children are not consistently well organised. This impacts on the quality of interactions children experience. The provider does not take enough action to identify shortcomings in staff's practice to ensure that children are consistently safe. n Managers and staff accurately record all accidents and injuries to children and ensure that parents are notified swiftly. These secure systems for recording accidents have been put in place following managers identifying gaps in the procedures, where some information was not recorded as required or notification made to parents. The action put in place by managers mean that statutory requirements relating to accident or injury are now met. n Staff with lead responsibilities for supporting children with SEND have not developed or implemented strategies to meet individual children's needs.

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need to do better?

Although they have spoken to parents and made referrals to the local authority, they are yet to put support in place in the meantime to help children to make swift progress. n While staff attend some training, staff team meetings and have one-to-one

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need to do better?

31 July 2025 supervision sessions, managers do not monitor staff's practice effectively. Managers do not ensure that staff understand and implement what has been learned and discussed effectively. This means that managers do not support staff to develop knowledge of their roles and responsibilities and improve children's learning and safety. n Staff do not ensure that they tailor children's learning to meet their individual needs. Key persons do not have all relevant information about the children they are responsible for. For example, they are unsure whether children have a specific plan or strategy in place to meet their needs. This does not help children to make swift progress. n There are lots of quality resources available and some of the interactions with children are warm and engaging, particularly in the baby room. However, the quality of staff's interactions with children and the support they provide is not

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need to do better?

consistent. For instance, while children play in the garden, staff do not use this opportunity to engage in children's play. They do not implement focus activities well to help maximise children's learning. This does not encourage children's thinking and promote their communication and language development. Staff do not offer the support all children need to raise their level of learning and further enhance their progress. n Children at times are not able to express their wants and needs during play appropriately. They become frustrated and emotional when they are not able to have what they want. Staff do not provide support to help children to understand and learn to regulate their emotions during minor disagreements. n Children know the routine well. Older children sit at the lunch table and feed themselves. Babies sit in their high chairs and staff support and encourage them to have a go at feeding themselves. Staff support children successfully with potty

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need to do better?

training, which supports them for the future. n Staff complete mandatory training, such as first aid. They know the procedure to follow for whistle-blowing. Staff are aware of who the designated safeguarding leads are. They know where to find the nursery's policies and procedures if they are not sure.

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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

31 July 2025 improve the deployment of staff and the supervision of children to meet the needs of all children and keep them consistently safe 12/09/2025

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Due date

make sure that children with SEND receive the appropriate support they need to make swift progress in their learning and development 12/09/2025

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Due date

monitor staff's practice more effectively to help them to understand their roles and responsibilities and to keep children safe 12/09/2025

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Due date

strengthen the key-person system so that staff have the information they need to be able to meet children's needs and provide consistency 12/09/2025

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Due date

ensure that staff implement the curriculum and provide all children with ambitious and appropriate activities to help enhance their learning 12/09/2025

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Due date

provide further support for children to help them learn to manage their emotions. 12/09/2025

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2742392 Local authority Croydon Inspection number 10411549 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 28 Number of children on roll 20 Name of registered person Whitehorse Nursery Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 02086832476 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Little Learners Day Nursery registered in 2023. It is located in the London Borough of Croydon. The nursery operates all year round, from 7.30am until 6.30pm, Monday to Friday. There are seven members of staff who work with children. Of these, six staff hold childcare qualifications at level 3 and one member of staff holds a qualification at level 6. There are three apprentices working towards a level 3 qualification. The nursery provides government funded places for 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 the inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector talked to staff, parents and children 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 on children's learning. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and requested evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. n Staff spoke to the inspector about how they support children with SEND. n The inspector had a meeting with the provider.

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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

31 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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