Lighthouse Kids Pre-School

Lighthouse Kids Pre- School Scouts Headquarters, The Pitt, Stoke Road, Hoo, Rochester, Kent, ME3 9DG

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 19 November 2015 22 March 2010

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Outcomes for children Requires improvement

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

 The nominated person and committee have failed to follow the correct procedure to inform Ofsted of changes to the committee. This is also a breach of the requirements of the Childcare Register.  Although risk assessments are in place, staff do not consistently follow the actions identified to overcome all potential hazards.  Staff do not provide many opportunities for children to share their own experiences and learn more about other cultures and diversity in the local and wider community.  Staff do not always monitor children's learning accurately, which means they do not always tailor activities to meet their individual needs.

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It has the following strengths

 Management and staff form good partnerships with other professionals, local schools and children centres to ensure children receive appropriate support to meet any additional needs.  Children are encouraged to lead healthy lifestyles. For example, they have healthy snacks and drinks as well as opportunities to play outside in a well-resourced area.  Staff ensure the moves from home to pre-school and pre-school to school are smooth. They tailor the settling-in period when children first attend to the individual needs of each child and ensure they support their emotional needs. They forge strong links with local schools so they can assist children with moving confidently into school.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

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

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Due Date

 ensure the nominated person and committee have a clear knowledge and understanding of their responsibilities and the requirements to inform Ofsted of any changes to members of the committee 20/11/2015

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Due Date

 ensure risks identified and actions taken to overcome these are consistently followed, in particular with regard to the way chairs are stacked to ensure the safety of children 20/11/2015

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Due Date

 ensure observations and assessments of children's development are used accurately to monitor progress and plan next steps in children's learning tailored to their individual needs. 20/12/2015

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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

 provide more opportunities for children to share their own experiences and gain an understanding of different cultures and the wider community in which they live.

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Inspection activities

 The inspection observed children during activities, inside and outside.  The inspector spoke to staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector viewed a range of documents, including children's development records, policies and procedures and risk assessments.  The inspector spoke to parents to gain their views of the setting.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

The nominated person and committee do not have a clear understanding of the procedures and have not informed Ofsted of changes to the committee. However, as the committee does not have unsupervised contact with the children, their safety is not compromised. Safeguarding is effective. Staff understand the correct procedure to follow if they have any child protection concerns about a child in their care. The manager regularly monitors staff practice and sets targets for staff to develop their skills. For example, the manager identified creativity as a weaker area and organised further training, which resulted in improvements to staff practice. There are some monitoring systems to check children's progress overall and that they are ready for their next stage in learning. However, assessments are not always accurate which means activities do not always meet children's individual needs. Management has met the previous recommendations. They

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

have updated all policies and there is a more effective system for evaluating practice.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

The key person works in partnership with parents to identify children's starting points for learning and plan their next steps from these. Although staff observe children and plan activities each week, they do not always meet their needs in all areas of learning. In addition, staff miss some opportunities to teach children more about valuing and respecting diversity. Staff use regular meetings to share information with parents and encourage them to contribute to children's learning. Staff encourage children's communication skills throughout the session and children approach them to share their thoughts. Children develop their early writing skills and make their own unique creations on the painting table. Staff encourage children to be independent. Staff support mathematical skills through a variety of ways, including regular counting as well as using language such as 'That went high' when playing ball.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare require improvement

Children learn to be independent in their self-care routines. For example, they take themselves to the toilet and wash their hands independently when it is snack and lunch time. Overall, children have access to a suitable range of resources inside and a well- equipped outside area. Most of the premises are secure and safe and staff take appropriate action if children have an accident. However, staff do not always remove all potential hazards, such as chairs that are stacked too high and pose a risk if they fall.

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Outcomes for children require improvement

Although children make steady progress from their starting points, progress is not yet good. Children gain the basic skills they need in readiness for moving on to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY344068 Local authority Medway Towns Inspection number 828459 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 26 Number of children on roll 25 Name of provider Lighthouse Kids Pre-School Committee Date of previous inspection 22 March 2010 Telephone number 07901 704298

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Setting details

Lighthouse Kids Pre-school registered in 2006. The pre-school is open each weekday during school term times from 9.15am to 12.15pm Monday to Friday. Older children stay for lunch club until 1.15pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The pre-school employs six staff. All staff hold an appropriate early years qualification; three are qualified to level 3 and two to level 2. The pre-school receives funding to provide free early years education for children aged two, three and four years.

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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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