Little Fishes Pre-School

Little Fishes Pre-School St Mary's Church Centre, Churchgate Street, Old Harlow, Essex, CM17 0JR

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 15 October 2015 19 September 2011

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Inadequate 4

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Inadequate 4

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This provision is inadequate

 The systems for informing Ofsted about changes that affect the registration are not sufficiently robust. This has resulted in a failure to notify Ofsted of changes to the management committee within prescribed timescales.  Children who speak English as an additional language do not always have enough opportunities to hear and use their home language in a meaningful way.

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It has the following strengths

 The quality of teaching is consistently good and sometimes outstanding. Key persons have excellent knowledge of their individual children. They tailor their teaching precisely to the individual needs of children.  Practitioners are highly skilled in helping children to develop their communication and language skills in English. They use very effective strategies to engage children and to support them in listening to and speaking with other children and adults.  Partnerships with parents are very successful. Parents speak highly of the team, the care and learning opportunities they offer the children and the support for families. Parents are very well informed about their children's progress and practitioners offer plenty of guidance about how to support learning at home.  Practitioners monitor children's progress very closely. They use the information from observations to assess children's abilities and then effectively plan for children's next

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It has the following strengths

steps in learning.  Children are developing their personal, social and emotional skills. Practitioners effectively support children in making relationships with other children and help them to develop their confidence.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To meet the requirements of the Childcare Register the provider must:

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Due Date

 notify Ofsted of changes of circumstance as soon as they occur and no later than 14 working days after the change occurs. 29/10/2015

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Due Date

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

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Due Date

 strengthen the provision for children who speak English as an additional language to offer them further opportunities to hear and use their home language.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the pre-school manager.  The inspector and the pre-school manger had short meetings at appropriate times throughout the inspection. The inspector spoke to practitioners and children.  The inspector looked at relevant documentation, such as the pre-schools self-evaluation and evidence of the suitability of practitioners and committee members working with the children.  The inspector spoke to a small selection of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

The arrangements for safeguarding are ineffective. The provider has failed to notify Ofsted of changes to the committee and to ensure systems for keeping Ofsted informed are robust. Therefore, Ofsted has not been able to check the suitability of committee members who make key decisions about the running of the pre-school to help ensure children's safety and well-being. However, practitioners understand their responsibilities for safeguarding children. They provide a safe physical environment and are knowledgeable about how to recognise and report any child protection concerns. The team is well qualified and experienced. Managers monitor practice effectively and use supervision sessions to help practitioners develop their skills and improve their teaching. Practitioners engage in continuous professional development and successfully put this into their practice. There are strong links with other professionals and practitioners work

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

closely with local services that support children and their families.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Children enjoy a wide range of activities and practitioners offer plenty of variety throughout the session. The balance of adult-led experiences and those chosen and led by children are carefully considered to ensure all areas of learning are covered. Practitioners engage children extremely well. Children sit and listen attentively during large-group activities. They concentrate on what is being said and participate in the discussions with enthusiasm. Practitioners make the most of the opportunities to observe children. They frequently make pertinent notes about children's developing capabilities, which they use to inform their teaching. Children demonstrate their keen interest in writing and make effective attempts to write their names on their work. Children are very imaginative and practitioners use the children's enthusiasm for this to develop their learning by asking probing questions. When children play with the dough practitioners listen attentively to

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

conversations, in order to inform their questioning. During marble painting, practitioners are enthusiastic about the different ways children are exploring the resources and children are very proud of their achievements.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are inadequate

The failure to meet the requirements undermines children's security and well-being. Children behave well. They know what is expected of them by the practitioners. Children explain the behaviour cube that reminds them, with words and pictures, of how they should behave at pre-school. Children know about the hygiene routines. They understand that they wash their hands to keep clean and to stop germs spreading. Children are responsible and helpful. They confidently pour their drinks and clear the table when they have finished their snack. They get out the extra resources they need and willingly participate in tidying up. Practitioners make sure they include regular outdoor play for all of the children. Sessions outside are a mix of planned adult-led experiences and a chance for children to move freely in the fresh air.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are making good progress in their learning. Practitioners are making sure children have the necessary skills that will help them in the next stage of their education. Children are independent, keen to write and use their knowledge of letters and sounds to count reliably.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 402043 Local authority Essex Inspection number 868952 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 26 Number of children on roll 32 Name of provider Little Fishes Pre-School Committee Date of previous inspection 19 September 2011 Telephone number 07790929274

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Setting details

Little Fishes Pre-School was registered in 1992. The pre-school employs eight members of childcare staff. Of these, six hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 and above. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday during term time. Sessions are from 9.15am until 12.15pm. The pre-school provides funded early education for three- and four-year-old children. It supports children who speak English as an additional language.

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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

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Setting details

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