Little Fingers Pre-School

Little Fingers Pre-School The Gospel Hall, Vernham Dean, Andover, Hampshire, SP11 0LD

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 15 June 2015 15 June 2010

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This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Good 2 How well the early years provision meets the needs of the range of children who attend Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Good 2

The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the early years provision Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

The setting meets legal requirements for early years settings

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This provision is good

 The quality of teaching is good and occasionally outstanding. Managers and staff provide an extensive range of interesting and challenging activities. As a result, children are eager to learn and are highly motivated.  The key-person system is well established and effective. All children are emotionally secure and are able to develop positive relationships with adults and their friends. This promotes high levels of confidence and self-esteem.  Children have a wonderful time in the pre-school. Resources are stored in a way that enables children to choose them and lead their own play. As a result, children are independent and keen learners.  Partnerships with parents are strong. Managers and staff are knowledgeable about family backgrounds and children's home lives. This helps to ensure children receive consistency in their care and learning.  The manager is highly effective in driving improvement. For example, all previous

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This provision is good

recommendations have been addressed well and there is a clear process for ongoing developments. Staff have attended various training courses that have improved children's communication and language, such as sign language and singing. This means the outcomes for children are good.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Occasionally, managers and staff do not challenge children's mathematical learning fully by encouraging them to write their own numbers or by introducing them to simple addition or subtraction problems during play.

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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

 challenge children's mathematical learning further, for example, by encouraging children to write numbers and introduce simple addition or subtraction during play.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities throughout the pre-school and outside play area.  The inspector held discussions with the pre-school manager and spoke with children and staff at appropriate times throughout the inspection.  The inspector sampled a range of documentation, including staff suitability checks, the self-assessment information, children's observation, assessment and planning records, and documentation linked to managing children's progress.  The inspector conducted a joint observation with the pre-school manager.  The inspector took into account the views of parents and carers spoken to on the day.

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who attend. This is good

Managers and staff observe, monitor and assess children regularly and use this information to plan and enhance further learning experiences. This results in children making good progress, given their starting points, and prepares them well for their future learning in school. Managers and staff promote children's communication skills well. For example, staff asked children many purposeful questions that helped children to recognise shapes, colours and recall how they carried out different tasks. Children develop good pre- writing skills. For example, they jotted down notes and took cake orders for their cafe. This allows children to consolidate a range of skills. Children benefit from a range of sensory experiences. They use sand and water on a daily basis, exploring consistencies as they have fun with pouring and scooping. Children count objects and each other with ease as they play favourite games. However, managers and staff do not always extend this to

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who attend. This is good

encourage children to write their own numbers and incorporate simple addition and subtraction. This means that children's mathematical skills are not always fully promoted.

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outstanding

Children show an extremely strong sense of belonging within the pre-school and their behaviour is exceptional. For example, children consistently say 'Please' and 'Thank you' and adhere to simple rules and boundaries extremely well. As a result, children feel valued and important. Children learn about making healthy food choices as they have a selection of fruits at snack time. Children grow their own vegetables and fruits and know which foods are good for them. For example, they discuss which food groups contain a lot of sugar. This gives them an excellent understanding of the benefits of a healthy diet. The outdoor play area is a real strength of the pre-school. For example, managers and staff provide children with the freedom to watch animals and plants grow, explore safely and play exuberantly. As a result, children's physical development and well-being are excellent.

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provision is good

Managers and staff are clear and well informed of their responsibilities for safeguarding children. They have attended safeguarding training and are well informed about the procedures to follow if they have a concern about a child. This means child protection is given a high priority. The manager monitors staff's teaching and children's progress extremely closely. For example, ongoing staff training, appraisals, staff meetings and supervisions mean that all staff receive good support, direction and coaching to build on their already good practice. As a result, children effectively reach their full potential. Managers and staff have good partnerships with external agencies and other providers. This makes a positive contribution to meeting children's needs.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 110092 Local authority Hampshire Inspection number 845979 Type of provision Sessional provision Registration category Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 0 - 5 Total number of places 18 Number of children on roll 34 Name of provider Little Fingers Pre-School Committee Date of previous inspection 15 June 2010 Telephone number 01264 737735

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Setting details

Little Fingers Pre-School opened in 1991. The pre-school is situated in the village of Vernham Dean, in Hampshire. Sessions are term time only from 9am until 3.30 pm on Monday to Thursday and from 9am to 1pm on Friday. There are six members of staff, three of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications and two are currently undertaking a scheme to gain appropriate qualifications. The pre-school receives funding for the provision of free early educations for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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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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