Little Squirts Pre School

Little Squirts Pre School The Old School, Dunstable Road, Bedford, Beds, Mk45 1hn, MK45 1HN

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 21 June 2016 Not applicable

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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:

 Staff do not continually use the information gained from observation and assessments to plan meaningful and challenging learning experiences for individual children. Children are not consistently motivated to engage in purposeful play and are not effectively supported to make the best possible progress.  Staff supervision arrangements are in their infancy. The management team does not effectively monitor the quality of staff's teaching to ensure that all children are supported to make consistently good progress in the learning.  Children who learn best outdoors are not always provided with activities and resources that provide sufficient challenge to promote their interest and enjoyment.

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It has the following strengths

 Children demonstrate that they feel safe and secure within the pre-school and build strong bonds with staff.  Children confidently make independent choices when playing freely, selecting from a range of appropriate toys and resources.  Parent speak well of the staff team. They state that staff support their children during times of change, such as when they join the pre-school. Parents comment that their children are making good friendships. They believe that children are making progress especially with their speech and language skills.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To meet the requirements of the early years foundation stage the provider must:

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Due Date

 ensure that information from observations and assessments are used consistently and effectively to plan purposeful and challenging activities that are precisely matched to the children's individual learning needs so that they make the best possible progress 23/01/2017

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Due Date

 ensure the arrangements to monitor staff are fully effective, in order to improve the overall quality of teaching and consistently coach and support staff to improve their individual effectiveness. 23/01/2017

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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

 enable children who learn best outside, to play, explore and engage in activities that capture their interest and provide challenge and enjoyment.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching and the impact this has on children's learning, both inside and outdoors.  The inspector spoke to the manager, staff and children at appropriate times throughout the inspection and spent time interacting with the children.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the pre-school manager.  The inspector held meetings with the provider and pre-school administrator.  The inspector reviewed children's records, planning documentation, and a range of other documentation, including policies and procedures and those relating to staff suitability.  The inspector spoke to a selection of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff have a clear understanding of the signs and symptoms of possible abuse and how to report any concerns regarding a child's welfare. Effective vetting and recruitment procedures are in place. The management team has recently introduced staff supervision meetings to monitor staff performance. However, this does not effectively evaluate the quality of staff's teaching to identify where there are weaknesses in practice. Staff undertake addition training to enhance their knowledge and skills. That said, this is not always observed in practice. The provider demonstrates an ability to continue to improve. She has developed some plans with the staff team and local authority to evaluate the provision. Some weaknesses have been identified and plans put in place to drive forward further improvements.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

The quality of teaching is variable and lacks focus to support children to make the best progress. Staff do not always use observations and assessments to plan purposeful activities to motivate children to learn or offer them appropriate levels of challenge. This leads to children often occupying themselves, which sometimes leads to minor disagreements. Children's communication skills are developing well. They question staff, seek help when required and talk confidently with visitors. Staff understand the importance of working collaboratively with others, such as parents, other providers and agencies to complement children's learning and development.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare require improvement

Children enter the pre-school happily. Staff welcome the children and their families warmly. Staff encourage parents to share relevant information, ensuring that children's care needs are updated. All parents spoken to understand who their child's key person is and state that they have regular opportunities to talk with them. Children behave well and display adequate cooperative skills when playing with friends. Staff are positive role models and they effectively manage children's behaviour. Children have regular access to the outdoors and enjoy being physically active. However, children who learn best outside are not adequately supported to follow their own interests and build upon what they know and can do.

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Outcomes for children require improvement

Most children make reasonable progress in their learning and development as they develop the basic skills for future learning. However, staff do not always plan purposeful activities to effectively support and challenge children to fully extend their learning. That said, children generally enjoy their time at pre-school and are developing some skills needed for school. Older children know how to take turns and share resources. Staff understand how to support children to become independent. Older children enjoy taking on age-appropriate tasks, such as helping to sweep floors and understand this is to prevent their friend from slipping on the sand.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY484457 Local authority Central Bedfordshire Inspection number 1002360 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 31 Number of children on roll 24 Name of registered person Little Squirts Pre School Ltd

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reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 07734044318

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reference number

Little Squirts Pre School was registered in 2015. The pre-school employs five members of childcare staff. Of these, three hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. The pre-school opens all year round from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays. The pre-school provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year- old children.

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reference number

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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reference number

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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reference number

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

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