Little Learner Pre School

Little Learner Pre School 4 Farrington Avenue, BUSHEY, WD23 3DG

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 6 May 2016 13 October 2015

p.1

This inspection: Inadequate 4

Previous inspection: Requires Improvement

p.1

This inspection: Inadequate 4

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Inadequate 4

p.1

This inspection: Inadequate 4

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Inadequate 4

p.1

This inspection: Inadequate 4

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Inadequate 4

p.1

This provision is inadequate

 The provider fails to produce evidence to demonstrate that all staff are suitable to work with children.  Staff do not keep written records of all accidents involving children. They do not always inform parents of injuries sustained by children and first-aid treatment given.  The manager does not supervise, monitor or coach staff practice. Staff do not fully understand their roles and responsibilities. This has a negative impact on children's well-being and on the continuous improvement of services.  Supervision of children during activities is not effective. At times, children have accidents and staff are unable to explain what has happened.  Partnerships with parents are not good enough. The manager fails to inform parents about staff changes. There is limited parental involvement in children's assessments and learning.  There are no links with other settings to ensure continuity in children's learning.

p.1

This provision is inadequate

 New assessments and planning procedures are not yet effective in supporting children to make good enough progress.

p.1

It has the following strengths

 Since the last inspection, staff have increased the levels of support for children who speak English as an additional language. Children benefit from suitable opportunities to use their home language in play.  Children learn to keep themselves safe as they play. They learn the rules and boundaries for expected behaviour at the pre-school and staff praise their achievements.

p.1

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:

p.2

Due Date

 provide evidence to confirm that all staff have suitability checks in place 20/05/2016

p.2

Due Date

 keep written records of all accidents involving children and share this information with parents on the same day or as soon as practicably reasonable 20/05/2016

p.2

Due Date

 develop appropriate procedures for the supervision, coaching and support of staff so that they fully understand their roles and responsibilities 20/05/2016

p.2

Due Date

 ensure the effective deployment of staff to ensure that children are adequately supervised and their needs are met 20/05/2016

p.2

Due Date

 ensure that parents are kept informed of any staff changes and develop effective communication to engage parents in their children's learning 20/05/2016

p.2

Due Date

 enable a regular two-way flow of information with other settings that children attend 20/05/2016

p.2

Due Date

 embed the new procedures to use the information gained from assessment, in order to plan purposeful activities and support for individual children's needs. 20/07/2016

p.2

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 conducted evaluations of activities with the manager.  The inspector held meetings with the manager and discussions with staff. She looked at relevant documentation, such as, evidence of the suitability of staff, their qualifications and training.  The inspector spoke to a small selection of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

p.2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective. The provider is unable to demonstrate that all staff have suitability checks in place. However, staff attend child protection training. They know the steps to take should safeguarding concerns arise. The manager does not provide supervision sessions, coaching or support to help improve staff practice. Consequently, staff do not fully understand their roles and responsibilities. Accidents involving children are not always recorded or their parents informed. There are no links with other settings that children attend to help provide continuity in children's learning. Partnerships with parents are not efficiently focused on promoting children's learning. In addition, parents do not receive information relating to changes of staff working in the pre-school.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is inadequate

The supervision of children is poor and children sustain unexplained injuries during their play activities. Since the last inspection, training by the local authority has helped staff to shape a new cycle of observation and planning. Staff have started to plan purposeful activities based on children's next steps in learning. For example, they have identified that some children needed support in manipulating writing tools and a number of mark-making activities are now available. However, this has not yet improved the quality of teaching to a good enough level. Staff allow time for children to play. For example, children sit in large trays and pretend that they are boat racing. They enjoy daily reading and singing sessions, access to books and crafts activities. Children extend their play between both, indoors and outdoors play areas.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are inadequate

The weaknesses in leadership and management have a significant negative impact on children's welfare. Despite this, staff obtain information from parents about children's care needs on entry. Children attend settling-in sessions to ease them in gently and they settle well. Since the last inspection, staff have been trained in new strategies to manage children's behaviour. Children learn to share, deal with conflicts and voice their feelings. Risk assessments of play areas are conducted. Meal routines have been recently adapted. Staff have increased the opportunities for children to become independent and learn about healthy lifestyles. Children learn about cultures and develop social awareness. They know to include each other.

p.3

Outcomes for children are inadequate

Children do not make good enough progress from their starting points. They are not well prepared with the key skills needed for the next stage in their learning or for their eventual move to school.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY431661 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 1030838 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 22 Number of children on roll 24 Name of provider Arunakumar Arunachalam Date of previous inspection 13 October 2015 Telephone number 02089502772

p.4

Setting details

Little Learner Pre School was registered in 2011. The pre-school employs nine members of childcare staff, three of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 and 3. The manager and deputy manager hold relevant degrees at level 5 and 6. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday with sessions from 9am to 3pm, during term time only. It provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. The pre- school supports children who speak English as an additional language.

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 reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/, write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.5

Setting details

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our website for news, information and updates at www.ofsted.gov.uk/user.

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