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Early years · Report card

Little Scallywags Day Nursery

Inspected 10 Dec 2025 · URN 2759200

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Summary

No overall grade in this frameworkSafeguarding met

Sue Bradford

What we read, and from where

Click a reading to see it highlighted in the report.

  • Achievement verified

    Strong standard

  • Behaviour, attitudes and routines verified

    Expected standard

  • Children's welfare and wellbeing verified

    Strong standard

  • Curriculum and teaching verified

    Expected standard

  • Inclusion verified

    Strong standard

  • Leadership and governance verified

    Expected standard

  • Framework verified

    Report card

  • Group verified

    Little Scallywags Day Nursery Ltd

  • Inspection datesingle source

    10 Dec 2025

  • Inspectors verified

    Sue Bradford

  • Postcode verified

    B34 6BP

  • Name on report verified

    Little Scallywags Day Nursery

  • Safeguarding verified

    Met

  • URN verified

    2759200

Page 1 of 9
Page 1 of the report

Deep dive

What this report says

In plain English

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Grade profile

Each judgement on its scale, weakest to strongest.

  • AchievementStrong
  • Behaviour, attitudes and routinesExpected
  • Children's welfare and wellbeingStrong
  • Curriculum and teachingExpected
  • InclusionStrong
  • Leadership and governanceExpected

Tone of the report

How positive or critical the inspectors' language is, from the words they chose. No AI involved.

+83Very positivemore positive than 74% of reports of this type

In line with other reports of this type.

Praiseeffectivelypositiveconsistentlythriveenjoyfeel safeexcellentrich
Criticismgapsconcernsnot consistentlylow

How the report reads, start to finish

Every paragraph in order, sized by length. Tap one to see it on the page.

FindingsSafeguardingAbout the inspectionLeadershipWhat needs to improve positive critical
  • Findings1375w+84
  • Leadership219w+84
  • Safeguarding51w−11
  • What needs to improve79w+56

Strengths

Quoted from the report. Tap to see it on the page.

Concerns

Quoted from the report. Tap to see it on the page.

No strong criticism found.

Next steps

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What the report dwells on

Topics by how often they come up, coloured by how they are described. Open one for an example.

Anatomy of the report

How the report is built, against others of the same type and grade.

Pages
9
Words of findings
1,724
about usual (typical 1698)
Reading level
Hard
Flesch 35, typical 43
Average sentence
15 words
Next steps
3
typical 3
Hedged sentences
1%
“some”, “not always”, “most”…

Where the words go

Findings 64%Leadership 10%Safeguarding 2%What needs to improve 4%About the inspection 20%

Full report text

Little Scallywags Day Nursery

Unique reference number (URN): 2759200 Address: Scallywags, 34 Bucklands End Lane, Birmingham, B34 6BP Type: Childcare on non-domestic premises Registered with Ofsted: 03/11/2023 Registers: EYR, CCR, VCR Registered person: Little Scallywags Day Nursery Ltd

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Safeguarding standards met

The safeguarding standards are met. This means that leaders and/or those responsible for governance and oversight fulfil their specific responsibilities and have established an open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and concerns are actively identified, acted upon and managed. As a result, children are made safer and feel safe.

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How we evaluate safeguarding

When we inspect settings for safeguarding, they can have the following outcomes:

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How we evaluate safeguarding

Met: The setting has an open and positive culture of safeguarding. Not met: The setting has not created an open and positive culture of safeguarding. Not all legal requirements are met.

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Achievement Strong standard

Children make robust progress. For example, babies confidently move to activities on low tabletops, developing their stamina and large-muscle development. Children make accomplished progress in their language and communication skills. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities develop their communication and language skills in an environment rich in language. Children develop a love of books, sharing and recalling events of stories with their friends, developing their conversation and social skills.

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Achievement Strong standard

Disadvantaged children close gaps in their learning quickly and broaden their life experiences. Children enjoy their learning and make choices as they play, building independence and confidence. This prepares them well for the next stage of their education at school. Children engage in activities enthusiastically and demonstrate perseverance when playing and completing activities. All children thrive and achieve in this nursery. Despite some minor areas of weakness in the quality of staff's interactions with children, they still make excellent progress in their language and communication skills.

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Children's welfare and wellbeing Strong standard

Children consistently demonstrate positive relationships with staff. For example, babies demonstrate that they feel safe and secure in the care of familiar adults.

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Children's welfare and wellbeing Strong standard

Staff very carefully adapt the learning environment and activities effectively to meet the specific needs of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Staff consistently promote their engagement in all activities. For example, they offer a range of tools for children to use to promote their inclusion and participation in painting activities. Leaders adapt the learning environment to support children's wellbeing effectively. For example, they consider the safe and suitable placement of adapted furniture for children. Staff use a calming sensory space to stimulate and engage children. This helps children to manage their emotions and reduce anxiety, securing a sense of emotional wellbeing.

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Children's welfare and wellbeing Strong standard

Children have opportunities to exercise indoors and outdoors, building their experiences and developing important physical skills. During lunchtime routines, children consistently demonstrate independence skills as they are encouraged to cut up their food and feed themselves. Children enjoy mealtimes and learn how the foods they eat are good for them.

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Expected standard

Children learn good handwashing skills and understand how this helps to keep them safe and healthy. This consistently promotes children's health and wellbeing, supporting them to thrive in a safe and caring environment.

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Inclusion Strong standard

The setting promotes a highly inclusive environment, where all children are welcomed and valued. Leaders and staff have high expectations for all children. They prioritise working closely with parents and carers, using their insight to assess children's individual needs. This helps to shape the highly personalised support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) receive.

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Inclusion Strong standard

Leaders and staff work highly effectively in collaboration with a range of additional agencies and professionals. This helps them to produce highly tailored plans for children with SEND, that reflect and target their individual needs effectively. Skilful assessment and observation of children's learning ensures consistent and integrated support for all children. Staff know the children in their care extremely well. They receive ongoing and timely training that is specifically tailored to help meet the individual needs of the children in their care. For example, staff develop the use of dual language story books, sending them home. This further supports the language skills of children who speak English as an additional language.

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Inclusion Strong standard

Leaders and staff consistently plan and adapt their practice and learning environment to ensure that every child can fully access and participate in all activities. For example, young children receive choices about the tools they use to create paintings. Leaders use early years pupil premium funding creatively to widen learning opportunities for disadvantaged children. For example, a furnished sensory play room promotes children's emotional development. This broadens their experiences, helps to close any gaps in their learning and promotes their achievement. This inclusive approach supports all children to thrive, feel valued and develop a sense of belonging.

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Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines Expected standard

A calm and nurturing environment ensures that children feel safe and supported. Warm and caring relationships between staff and children are evident. Generally, children's behaviour is reinforced through positive praise, promoting their confidence and self-esteem.

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Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines Expected standard

Staff model positive behaviours and thoughtfully encourage children to share toys and be kind to their friends. Staff typically help children to gain an understanding of the rules and expectations for their behaviour. For example, they remind children with the use of objects, such as toy microphones, about using 'indoor' and 'outdoor' voices. These visual cues support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those for who speak English as an additional language effectively and help them to understand how they are expected to behave. The learning environment is well planned, and children typically follow established routines throughout the day. For example, children respond to timers that signify tidy-up time. They happily help to tidy away toys in readiness for lunchtime. As a result, children display positive attitudes towards learning and show enthusiasm to engage in the activities offered.

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Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines Expected standard

Leaders promote children's attendance positively. They proactively encourage parents to take up children's full entitlement of funding across the week. Leaders encourage and facilitate flexible provision for children across the week, supporting and reflecting the needs of families and children. This inclusive approach encourages and promotes regular attendance effectively.

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Curriculum and teaching Expected standard

Leaders and staff implement a curriculum that supports children to make progress across all areas of learning. They ensure that assessment is used effectively to tailor teaching to each child's age and stage of development. Regular observation and monitoring of children's progress helps to identify any gaps in learning, helping children to prepare for the next stage of their education. Leaders and staff adapt the curriculum effectively to meet the needs of all children. Leaders ensure that staff plan intentful learning opportunities with a sharp focus on children's next steps. They give a priority to promoting children's language and communication skills. Staff generally interact well with children, sharing new vocabulary and modelling clear speech and pronunciation for children. However, the quality of staff's interactions with children varies across the setting. For example, staff do not consistently

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Curriculum and teaching Expected standard

adapt or extend activities for babies to develop their enjoyment of sensory experiences.

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Curriculum and teaching Expected standard

Leaders prioritise children's personal, social and emotional development. Children develop confidence, independence and resilience as well as demonstrating positive attitudes to learning. These skills successfully underpin all other learning. Children typically learn mathematical language and how to solve problems. This develops their understanding of mathematical concepts as they play. Children greatly enjoy opportunities to play outside in the fresh air, developing balance, agility and coordination skills, as they navigate obstacle courses. Leaders adapt their curriculum effectively to provide resources and learning experiences that ensure all children achieve. This intentional approach supports children's learning and builds their confidence. This enables children to thrive within an inclusive and supportive setting.

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Leadership and governance Expected standard

Leaders demonstrate a thorough knowledge and understanding of the context of their setting. They are committed to continuous improvement and there is a culture of ongoing improvement. Leaders identify strengths and areas for further development that will impact positively on children's outcomes and achievement. For example, there is a sharp focus on children's early language and communication skills.

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Leadership and governance Expected standard

Leaders are adaptive to the setting's changing needs. They demonstrate a consistent focus on the inclusivity of all children, securing positive outcomes. Leaders recognise the strengths in their practice, particularly in supporting disadvantaged children and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities through a rich and engaging curriculum that is adapted to support their ongoing learning and progress.

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Leadership and governance Expected standard

Leaders consistently demonstrate positive relationships with parents and carers and additional agencies. Parents comment that they receive regular information about their children's learning and are overwhelmed with their sustained progress. Staff hold regular meetings with parents and additional support agencies to plan and promote the needs of children who require additional support. This promotes positive outcomes and high levels of achievement for all children.

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Leadership and governance Expected standard

Staff feel supported and that their wellbeing is consistently considered by leaders. They attend regular supervision meetings and undertake regular professional development opportunities. This helps to tailor their practice to meet the needs of individual children in their care.

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Compulsory Childcare Register requirements

This setting has met the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register.

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Register

When we check if settings meet the Compulsory Childcare Register requirements, they can have the following outcomes:

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Voluntary Childcare Register requirements

This setting has met the requirements of the voluntary part of Childcare Register.

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Register

When we check if settings meet the Voluntary Childcare Register requirements, they can have the following outcomes:

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What it's like to be a child at this setting

Children feel safe and secure within the setting. They demonstrate very secure attachments to the kind and caring staff. For example, children smile and reach out to them with open arms on their arrival. Children immediately engage in the exciting activities that staff plan for them to reflect their personal interests. Leaders and staff promote the experiences of children from disadvantaged backgrounds. For example, children experience first hand how to care for hamsters and ponies who visit the setting. This helps to broaden children's life experiences.

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What it's like to be a child at this setting

Staff promote children's language and communication skills highly effectively. For example, babies and young children excitedly request their favourite songs and nursery rhymes to sing. Children who speak English as an additional language and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities receive tailored support in response to their individual needs. For example, staff model language, translate stories and repeat words in children's home languages. This fully promotes all children's inclusion in the setting's routines and activities.

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What it's like to be a child at this setting

Children develop important physical skills as they enjoy opportunities to play outside in the fresh air. For example, babies enjoy jumping in puddles and older children develop skills of balance and coordination, as they navigate their way along balance beams. Staff promote children's independence skills effectively. For example, children learn to put on their own coats and wellington boots before going out to play. Staff work closely with parents and carers to ensure a partnership approach to toilet training. This further promotes children's self-care skills. Children learn good handwashing skills, independently washing their hands before eating food and after visiting the toilet.

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Address:

Scallywags 34 Bucklands End Lane Birmingham B34 6BP

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Address:

Type: Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Address:

Registered person: Little Scallywags Day Nursery Ltd

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Address:

Operating hours: Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday : 08:00 - 17:30

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Next steps

Leaders should ensure consistently high-quality interactions between staff and children, that develops or extends children's understanding even further.

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About this inspection

The inspector spoke with parents and carers, leaders, children, staff and the special educational needs and/or disabilities coordinator during the inspection.

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About this inspection

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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Facts and figures used on inspection

This data was available to the inspector at the time of the inspection.

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Exceptional

Practice is exceptional: of the highest standard nationally. Other settings can learn from it.

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Strong standard

The setting reaches a strong standard. Leaders are working above the standard expected of them.

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Expected standard

The setting is fulfilling the expected standard of education and/or care. This means they are following the standard set out in statutory and non ‑ statutory legislation and the professional standards expected of them.

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Needs attention

The expected standards are not met but leaders are likely able to make the necessary improvements.

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Urgent improvement

The setting needs to make urgent improvements to provide the expected standard of education and/or care.

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Urgent improvement

services providing education and skills for children and learners of all ages, and inspects and regulates services that care for children and young people.

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Urgent improvement

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Urgent improvement

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Urgent improvement

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Urgent improvement

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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