Little Ashes Pre-School

Little Ashes Pre-School The Village Hall, Horsepond, Rotten Row,Great Brickhill, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, MK17 9BA

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 24 June 2015 20 January 2011

p.1

This inspection: Outstanding 1

Previous inspection: Outstanding 1 How well the early years provision meets the needs of the range of children who attend Outstanding 1

p.1

This inspection: Outstanding 1

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

p.1

This inspection: Outstanding 1

The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the early years provision Outstanding 1

p.1

This inspection: Outstanding 1

The setting meets legal requirements for early years settings

p.1

This provision is outstanding

 Children's social skills are exceptionally good. They cooperate and negotiate successfully during play, and are exceptionally well behaved, kind and helpful.  Staff use highly effective teaching methods to successfully promote children's learning and development. Children are very inquisitive, curious and keen to learn. They make excellent progress in relation to their starting points. However, the opportunities for children to practise their early literacy skills are not quite as impressive outdoors as those offered indoors.  Leadership and management are very strong, and management completes robust self- evaluation procedures. Rigorous staff supervision and further training ensures staff's continuous professional development. They use the skills they gain to enhance the daily experiences for children.  Staff establish first-class partnerships with parents and other professionals. They effectively share information about the specific needs of individual children and work

p.1

This provision is outstanding

closely together to promote children's learning and development. Staff make maximum use of every opportunity to help children achieve their best potential.  The manager ensures all staff understand their roles and responsibilities regarding child protection exceptionally well. Staff are highly focused on ensuring all children are safe from harm. They astutely assess any risk to children and ensure the environment is safe.  Strong partnerships with the other early years settings and schools that children currently attend, or will be moving to, help provide a consistent approach to building the skills children need for their future learning.

p.1

What the setting needs to do to improve further

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

p.2

What the setting needs to do to improve further

 create further opportunities for children to make marks and practise their early literacy skills when playing outside.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector observed children during activities indoors and outdoors.  The inspector observed the quality of teaching and the impact of this on children's learning.  The inspector held a meeting with the manager and chair of committee and sampled relevant documentation.  The inspector spoke to a selection of parents and children during the inspection and took account of their views.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager.

p.2

who attend. This is outstanding

Staff understand the learning and development requirements and implement them with skill and enthusiasm. Excellent settling-in arrangements for children ensure they are happy, confident and ready to learn. Staff observe and listen to children at play and use highly effective teaching approaches to extend children's learning. For example, when children build a house with blocks, staff ask a wide range of questions that enhance their thinking, develop their problem solving and encourage them to respond with their ideas. Parents are fully involved in their children's learning and development. Staff share information about their child's progress and how to support their continued learning at home. Consequently, children make rapid progress from their starting points. Staff successfully promote each child's individual interests, differing abilities and future learning needs. Staff foster children's skills as effective learners and, consequently, children are

p.3

who attend. This is outstanding

extremely well prepared to move on to school.

p.3

outstanding

Children are extremely happy and have an excellent understanding of the daily routine. They demonstrate respect for each other and the environment. Staff welcome children warmly and talk with great enthusiasm, which helps children to settle. Staff are highly effective in supporting children's confidence at every stage of their learning and, as a result, children are exceptionally confident and are highly sociable. Children's behaviour is exemplary. For example, they help each other out, help at tidy up time and ask each other if they need help to carry toys. Staff extensively encourage children to develop their independence skills throughout the session. For example, they encourage children to serve their own food, pour their drinks and wash their hands. Staff are very positive role models and continually praise children for their efforts.

p.3

provision is outstanding

The manager has exceptionally high standards for herself and for the staff. She rigorously meets the safeguarding and welfare requirements. As a result, staff provide high-quality care where they work closely with parents and other professionals to provide continuous support. Parents are overwhelmingly positive about the pre-school and the support they receive. The manager thoroughly monitors the quality of the teaching and activities, and any gaps in children's progress or the educational programme are identified and swiftly addressed. Staff are well qualified and highly skilled due to the excellent staff recruitment, performance and development procedures. The shared vision of high-quality teaching means children receive exemplary care in an inspirational learning environment.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number 140859 Local authority Buckinghamshire Inspection number 825750 Type of provision Sessional provision Registration category Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 0 - 8 Total number of places 26 Number of children on roll 28 Name of provider Little Ashes Committee Date of previous inspection 20 January 2011 Telephone number 07855 215154

p.4

Setting details

Little Ashes Pre-School has been registered since 1995 and is managed by a parent committee. It operates from the village hall in Great Brickhill, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire. The pre-school is open on weekdays during school term times from 9am until 12 noon, with a lunch club each day from 12 noon until 12.30pm. It is in receipt of funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four. The Committee employs six staff, of whom five hold relevant early years qualifications.

p.4

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.

p.4

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.

p.4

Setting details

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. You may copy all or parts of this document for non-commercial educational purposes, as long as you give details of the source and date of publication and do not alter the information in any way. To receive regular email alerts about new publications, including survey reports and school inspection reports, please visit our website and go to ‘Subscribe’.

p.5

Setting details

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

p.5