Little Learners Childcare, N.E.

Children choosing stories with counters and making soup together give Little Learners Childcare, N.E. a practical, participatory character in its December 2021 account. Small choices mattered: children could reach their own toys, and older children discussed how a story might end.

At its 7 December 2021 inspection, Ofsted judged the nursery Good overall, highlighting relationships with families while identifying a need for greater learning challenge and more independent thinking. The nursery has capacity for 26 children, with an age range from birth to five, in North Shields.

The early years foundation stage is the framework for children's learning, development and care, bringing these together rather than treating learning as a separate lesson.

In December 2021, low shelves let children select their play materials independently. Real objects in the role-play area and shared soup-making gave them opportunities to cooperate and practise practical skills. Children used counters to choose a story, giving them a concrete way to take part in a group decision.

Language was an emphasis that December: staff introduced vocabulary and encouraged even the youngest children to experiment with their voices. Large-scale painting, mark-making and digging in sand supported the physical skills needed before writing. The limitation was challenge. Activities did not consistently stretch children's existing understanding, and adults sometimes needed to leave more room for children to explore their own solutions.

At the December 2021 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and described affectionate relationships between children and staff, alongside strong communication with parents. These findings belong to that visit.

In December 2021, staff gathered information from families to connect nursery care with home life, shared children's progress and welcomed contributions about learning at home. That made communication a two-way exchange rather than simply an update from staff.

Behaviour support that month used gentle reminders about how actions affected others. Older children negotiated turns with toys, giving them practice in resolving disagreements. During food preparation, staff also discussed safe knife use with children: practical activity came with guidance about risk.

The address is St Cuthberts RC Primary School, Lovaine Place, North Shields, NE29 0BU. Opening hours are 7.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, during term time, with closure during some school holidays. That calendar matters for families needing childcare beyond the school term.

In December 2021, the nursery provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. This is a dated account of participation, rather than a current funding promise.

• Learning challenge. The December 2021 improvement priorities included extending what children already understood. Look for examples of how activities become more demanding as a child develops.
• Independent thinking. In December 2021, children needed more time to try ideas and work out solutions. How practitioners balance help with time to experiment is a useful point to explore.
• Term-time planning. Opening follows the school term and includes some holiday closures. At a visit, ask which attendance pattern and holiday arrangements would fit your family's week.

Little Learners suits families seeking term-time childcare. Practical play and participation characterised its December 2021 inspection account. Its December 2021 account gives concrete examples of children making choices and working together. The balance to weigh is between those everyday opportunities and the identified need to stretch learning and give children more thinking time.