Little Ducklings Preschool

Little Ducklings Preschool School Hill, Reedham, NORWICH, NR13 3TJ

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 27 June 2016 Not applicable

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This inspection: Good 2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

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This provision is good

 Children are eager and active learners. Staff have a secure knowledge of how children learn. They provide a rich, varied and imaginative programme of activities and play opportunities. Detailed observations, assessments and planning for individual children contribute to them continuing to progress well in their learning and development in preparation for school.  Partnerships with parents and external agencies are a key strength and are highly effective in ensuring all children receive the support they need. Staff effectively engage with parents to support children's learning in the pre-school and provide ways to support learning at home.  Staff offer children good first-hand opportunities to explore and learn about their local community. They enjoy trips to the river and woods, take part in school events such as sports day and visit the local shops and post office.  Children are well supported for their move on to school. They are familiar with the

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This provision is good

onsite school environment as they share facilities, such as the playground and planned visits are arranged. The provider has good links with the teachers and shares useful information about children's achievements and needs to ensure a smooth transition.  The provider demonstrates clear motivation to develop the pre-school. Since registration, she has enhanced the outdoor provision, built a strong knowledgeable staff team who work well together and effectively used support from the local authority.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The provider's supervision of staff is not yet highly effective in supporting staff to achieve the highest level of teaching practice.  The provider does not monitor the progress of specific groups of children well enough to support them to make even better progress.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

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

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

 make the most of staff supervision to identify good practice and make suggestions for improvements to enhance the quality of teaching skills throughout the team even further  build on the monitoring systems more effectively to measure and support the progress that specific groups of children are making.

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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 spoke with staff and children at appropriate times throughout the inspection and completed a joint observation with the pre-school provider/manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the provider. She looked at relevant documentation, such as the pre-school's self-evaluation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the pre-school.  The inspector sampled a range of other documentation, including the learning and development records of children, the pre-school's policies and procedures and risk assessments.  The inspector took account of parents views gathered through the pre-school's own survey and spoke to a small selection of parents during the inspection.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The well-qualified provider offers strong leadership for an effective staff team. Arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff understand their role in protecting children from harm. They carry out thorough daily risk assessments of the premises. Children are involved in checking that safety measures are in place, such as ensuring that gates are secure. This means that children begin to learn how to keep themselves safe. Staff are fully aware of what to do should they have any concerns about children's welfare. Staff regularly attend training opportunities relevant to their roles and implement new ideas. This has a positive impact on the learning experiences offered to children.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff have a good understanding of each child's interests and next steps in learning. They share accurate assessments with parents, so that parents know how well their children are progressing. Parents comment very positively that their children are happy in the pre- school, making good progress and are well-prepared for school. Children develop their imagination and gain a strong understanding of the world around them. They thoroughly enjoy the hairdressing role play and invite staff to join in their play. Staff are skilled in knowing when to step in to extend children's learning further and make activities fun. They follow the children's lead, singing songs with a small group sitting in the den. Children interact well with others, form friendships and develop good social skills. They become confident communicators as they chat with each other and share ideas during play. Children become engrossed as they create a world for their play animals in the salt

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

tray. They experiment with a wide range of textures and natural materials. Staff teach children to recognise letters, shapes and numbers. Older children are keen to show their emerging writing skills. They pretend to write and post letters and some are confident enough to try to write their own name.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff work hard to create a calm, welcoming atmosphere where children flourish. The key- person system is well established and children develop positive relationships with friendly, caring staff. Children's behaviour is very good. They listen to staff and each other as they learn to play. All children are confident and their emotional well-being is effectively supported by staff who get to know them well. Staff help children to develop self-help skills by providing opportunities for them to do things for themselves. Children serve their own drinks and snacks, and tidy away when they have finished. Staff encourage children to make healthy decisions about food. Children know that fruit is healthy and learn where food comes from as they talk with the staff. Children thoroughly enjoy play and learning outdoors. They are physically active and develop good physical skills and coordination.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children make good progress in learning from their starting points, including those whose circumstances or needs require particularly perceptive intervention and additional support. Children demonstrate a positive attitude to learning and they are developing the key skills needed for school and future life.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY481490 Local authority Norfolk Inspection number 987988 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Age range of children 2 - 5 Total number of places 10 Number of children on roll 10 Name of registered person Jane Amanda Cooper

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reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 01493700271

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reference number

Little Ducklings Preschool was registered in 2014 and is privately owned and managed. There are five childcare staff who work with the children including the provider who is also the manager. Of these, four hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above. The pre-school opens Monday to Thursday during term time only. Sessions are from 8.45am until 3.15pm. The nursery 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

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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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