Little Fishes Pre-School

Little Fishes Pre-School Furze Platt Memorial Hall, Furze Platt Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 7NG

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 9 February 2015 9 November 2011

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Previous inspection: Good 2 How well the early years provision meets the needs of the range of children who attend Requires improvement The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children Requires improvement The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the early years provision Requires improvement The setting does not meet legal requirements for early years settings

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This provision requires improvement. It is not yet good because:

 Staff do not organise routines and activities to maximise children's learning. This is because the management does not monitor children's learning experiences and the quality of teaching well enough.  Staff do not consistently challenge children's learning to ensure all children make good progress.  Some staff's knowledge of safeguarding is not fully secure. They have a basic awareness of possible signs that would raise their concerns and limited understanding about reporting concerns outside the pre-school.  The safeguarding policy lacks details of the actions to follow in the event of allegations being made against a member of staff.  Not all records of staff suitability checks were available for inspection, as required.

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It has the following strengths

 Staff and parents benefit from positive partnerships and communicate well with each other.  Children arrive happily at the pre-school and enjoy their freely chosen play.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To meet the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage the provider must:

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

 improve the quality of teaching through more rigorous monitoring to ensure staff provide experiences, interaction and activities that challenge children so they make good progress  ensure all staff have a good understanding of safeguarding issues, and that the policy includes procedures to manage allegations against staff  ensure records of staff suitability are available for inspection.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

 review routines so that children can persist with activities without interruption, and to minimise waiting times for children  develop outdoor activities for children that will support their early writing skills.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector spoke with staff, children and parents as part of the inspection process.  The inspector viewed documentation, including children's progress records, policies and procedures, and evidence of some suitability checks.  The inspector observed children's play, activities and their interactions with staff indoors and outside.  The inspector completed a joint observation and held a meeting with the supervisor.

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who attend. This requires improvement

Staff complete regular observations and assessments to identify children's learning needs. However, they do not plan activities which consistently challenge children to extend their learning. Staff develop their understanding of children's starting points and individual needs well through home visits. Children sit on the carpet and join in the singing time appropriately, learning to sit, listen and participate. Staff follow set routines, which at times disrupts children's play and activities. Children wait to wash their hands and then wait again at the snack table and are not engaged in purposeful learning at these times. Staff provide a broad range of resources and activities for children to choose from. However, they do not always ensure activities appeal to children to help them make the best possible progress. For example, outdoor writing resources are not interesting or inviting, so children do not use them. This does not support children who learn better

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who attend. This requires improvement

outside to develop skills ready for their next stage in learning. However, children develop some good self-help skills as they learn to change their shoes and put on their coats.

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requires improvement

Children mostly behave well. Staff intervene appropriately to manage children's behaviour and help to redirect their interest in suitable play activities. Children develop a good sense of belonging and learn to be responsible. For example, they help put up word labels and some staff encourage children's awareness of the meaning of these. Children enjoy being active outside, which supports their good health and physical skills. For example, children balanced on a line of blocks and negotiated space on wheeled toys. Staff manage children's care needs sensitively, ensuring children feel at ease when changing clothing. Staff complete daily risk assessments to promote children's safety. However, some staff's understanding of safeguarding issues is not fully secure to support children's well-being.

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provision requires improvement

The management has not ensured the safeguarding policy includes actions to manage allegations. There is suitable information available about Local Safeguarding Children Board procedures. However, not all staff are fully familiar with these as management do not thoroughly check their understanding. The supervisor takes some suitable steps to monitor the quality of the provision, such as through supervision meetings and completing a written self-evaluation. However, these are not rigorous enough to ensure staff understand their roles fully. Some staff have completed training linked to supporting two- year-old children. This helps them to consider suitable toys to put out for children's different ages. Staff link with other settings and professionals to share information, helping to promote a consistent approach. They support children with additional needs and those learning English with suitable strategies. Parents state that the weekly reports

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provision requires improvement

they receive help them to support their children's learning at home.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 108462 Local authority Windsor & Maidenhead Inspection number 835813 Type of provision Sessional provision Registration category Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 2 - 5 Total number of places 30 Number of children on roll 42 Name of provider Little Fishes Pre-School Committee Date of previous inspection 9 November 2011 Telephone number 07855572336

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Setting details

Little Fishes Pre-school opened in 1995. It operates from Furze Platt Memorial Hall on the outskirts of Maidenhead, Berkshire. The pre-school is open five days a week during term time from 9.15am to 1pm, which includes a lunch club from 12.15pm to 1pm. The pre- school employs seven members of staff to work with the children. Of these, the supervisor holds a level 5 qualification, three staff hold level 3 qualifications and two staff hold level 2 qualifications.

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Setting details

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted 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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Setting details

procedures set out in the guidance ‘Complaints procedure: raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted. If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. 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 Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, 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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Setting details

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Setting details

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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