Little Lambs Day Nursery

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision requires improvement Children enjoy playing and exploring the toys and activities that staff provide for them inside and outdoors. Staff ensure that children understand their expectations for behaviour and how to follow the nursery routines.

They remind children, including babies, that when play sessions are about to end, they help to tidy away the toys for lunchtime. Staff's support for children's learning is variable throughout the nursery. Some members of staff are unclear on how to implement an effective curriculum for all children.

Staff who work with babies are clear on what they need to do to support the intended learning for each baby... they care for. For example, they encourage babies to build their confidence and try new activities as they develop their sensory skills while exploring pumpkin seeds. However, staff who work with two-year-old children do not consistently plan purposeful play and support for their learning.

This results in some two-year-old children being less focused and not concentrating during play. Nevertheless, all children enjoy exploring pumpkins, water and conkers. They learn to use spoons safely to scoop up conkers and put them into containers.

Staff help children to learn new words, such as 'scoop' and 'slippery'. Children proudly repeat these new words as they expand their range of vocabulary.

What does the early years setting do well and what does it need to do better?

Babies thrive as their development is supported by attentive and caring staff.

They build secure attachments with the staff who work with them. Babies develop confidence as they explore their environment, try new skills and enjoy learning.Children's health is promoted well by staff.

Older children learn to understand the importance of brushing their teeth regularly to keep their bodies healthy. Staff help the children learn how to use toothbrushes to clean their teeth and gums correctly. All children, including babies, spend plenty of time outside in the fresh air.

Staff encourage them to practise their physical and imaginative skills well.The management team ensures that staff receive regular support meetings and ongoing supervision to monitor their practice. However, despite this, not all staff are clear on how to deliver an ambitious curriculum to ensure that all children learn as much as they can, particularly staff who work with two-year-old children.

Consequently, two-year-old children are not consistently provided with tailored activities and experiences to entice them to explore and acquire new skills during play.Staff encourage older children to take calculated risks outside as they develop the confidence to try new skills. For example, children are supported to carefully attempt to walk down the wooden steps and a concrete slope to practise their balance and coordination skills.

Overall, the children behave well and are happy at this nursery. Children learn to take turns, share toys, listen to staff's instructions and carry these out well. However, some two-year-old children are not as engaged in their learning as the babies and the older, most able children.

Staff who work with two-year-old children do not always interact with or encourage them to be involved in activities or experiences to support their learning. Consequently, these children are sometimes disengaged in their play and do not learn as much as possible. However, staff engage well with babies and the older, more confident children to help them remain interested in activities.

Children enjoy counting as a way to support their mathematical development. Staff help children to count fir cones, leaves and conkers. They further help children as they encourage them to compare the shapes and sizes of different conkers.

Parents say they are happy with the service and that their children enjoy attending the nursery. Additionally, parents say they are familiar with the complaints policy and procedures. They know to follow them should they have a concern about staff's practice or their child's welfare.

Parents also say that staff are approachable. They feel listened to and kept up to date regarding their child's experiences.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Staff are secure in their knowledge and understanding of their role and responsibility to protect children from harm. They undertake regular child protection training, including updating their knowledge of the 'Prevent' duty. Staff understand the policies and procedures they must follow should they have a concern about a child's welfare or the practice of a colleague.

Daily risk assessments of the environment are carried out by staff to ensure that the areas children access are safe and secure. Staff deploy themselves effectively to ensure that children are supervised sufficiently.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To meet the requirements of the early years foundation stage, the provider must: Due date ensure that all staff understand and consistently implement a clear and ambitious curriculum to support all children's ongoing learning and development 07/11/2023 plan and provide activities that focus on what two-year-old children need to learn next based on their stage of development, emerging needs and interests 07/11/2023 ensure that staff's interactions help younger children, particularly two-year-old children, to consolidate their learning and remain focused during their play and learning.

07/11/2023