Little Learners Childcare (N.E.) Limited

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

Children very much enjoy their time at the nursery. They happily leave their parents on arrival to quickly engage in their play. Children of all ages quickly develop warm and affectionate attachments with staff, who actively help them to feel safe and gain emotional security. Children enthusiastically explore the environment. They are confident and independent learners. All children, regardless of their age, can easily select the toys they want to use from low-level shelving. This helps them to independently choose what they would like to play with. Staff implement a consistent positive approach to managing children's behaviour. This helps children to understand boundaries, behave well and have good attitudes to their learning.

Children have immense fun as they explore with real items within the role-play area. They show team spirit as they help each other to cut fruit and vegetables and make soup. Children show pride in their efforts and constantly receive praise and encouragement from staff. They enjoy listening to stories. Children collectively choose the story as they vote using counters. They giggle with delight at the story and older children predict the ending. Children are beginning to identify their name as they write letters to Santa.

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

• Children are well behaved. Staff give children gentle reminders that help them to understand the impact of their actions on others. Older children learn how to self-regulate their behaviour. They settle disputes to ensure that everyone has a turn playing with a favourite toy. Children are polite and remember to say please and thank you to staff and each other at appropriate times.
• Overall, staff have high expectations of what every child can achieve. They, generally, have a good understanding of how children learn. Staff make effective use of individual children's observations and assessments. They take account of children's interests and next steps in learning to plan a range of activities. However, at times, staff do not provide extra challenge for children and build on what they already know and can do, in order to extend their learning to the highest possible level.
• Staff place a great emphasis on supporting children's communication and language skills. They provide children from the youngest age with opportunities to practise their vocal skills and use their voices. Staff model language to children and introduce new words to children. However, at times, staff do not consistently provide children with the opportunity to think critically for themselves, test out ideas and solve problems.
• Staff understand the importance of working on children's physical skills before they can learn to hold a pen or write. Children have access to wide range of activities to support these skills. They experiment with painting and making marks on large sheets and dig in the sand. They develop their large- and small-motor skills as they play.
• The manager has a clear understanding of her staff team. She has supported them extremely well through the COVID-19 pandemic and staff work together. Children are supported as they are encouraged by staff to develop their skills for the future. Staff have access to training. They embrace training and implement new approaches. For example, staff have adapted how they organise baking activities following advice. This reflects staff's ability and commitment to improvement.
• Partnerships with parents is a real strength of the nursery and they are highly valued as partners. From the initial visit, staff work closely with parents to gather a wealth of information to ensure continuity from home. Parents are kept very well informed about every aspect of their children's progress. They are encouraged to contribute to their children's learning at home. Staff share these contributions with children which helps to support children's self-esteem.
• Parents speak very positively about the nursery. They comment that staff go above and beyond, and that their children are excited to attend. Parents comment that 'the little learners family' supports children to thrive under the care, attentions and nurture of the whole staff team.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

• develop opportunities to provide extra challenge for children and build on what they already know and can do, to extend their learning to the highest possible level
• offer children more opportunity and time to think critically for themselves, test out ideas and problem solve.