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 6 July 2016 19 November 2015

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This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Requires Improvement

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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

 Staff provide a good range of resources and experiences to engage and interest children. Children are well motivated and make good progress in their learning.  The staff are friendly and approachable. They are good role models and work extremely well together. For example, they are polite when talking to each other, and discuss information about children's progress and their individual needs sensitively.  Staff promote children's physical development very well. For example, children learn to balance and climb, and use a range of tools during rice and dough play.  Children learn about healthy lifestyles. For example, they enjoy nutritious foods at snack time and learn how to keep safe in the sun.  Staff help children to behave well. For example, they offer children consistent praise and involve them in agreeing the rules of the setting.  The manager involves staff and parents in the evaluation of the setting. For example,

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This provision is good

staff attend weekly meetings to share new ideas and parents provide written feedback.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The current process for monitoring staff performance does not fully identify precise areas for development in order raise the overall quality of teaching to outstanding, in particular, to provide sufficient challenge for all children.  At times, the resources available indoors restrict the opportunity for children to share books and stories without interruption in order to promote their literacy development.

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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

 continue to strengthen the performance management of staff so that targets are focused in helping raise the quality of teaching to outstanding, in order for children to make rapid progress  monitor the pre-school environment to ensure that children can always explore books and stories in order to continue to develop their literacy skills.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed staff and children playing and interacting indoors and outdoors.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector spoke to staff, children and parents to gain their feedback.  The inspector held a meeting with the manager.  The inspector looked at a sample of documents, including evidence of staff suitability, training certificates and written procedures and risk assessments.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The new manager is very motivated and enthusiastic. She is committed to providing a high-quality setting for children and families. She has met all previous actions and has developed the setting effectively since the previous inspection. For example, she ensures that Ofsted is informed of all changes of staff and committee members, and has changed the monitoring of children's progress to clearly identify next steps in learning. All staff receive mentoring and training to develop their practice further. For example, they have enhanced their understanding of communication development and ensure that children have sufficient time to respond to questions. Safeguarding is effective. All staff have a good understanding of their responsibility to protect children. They know the process to follow should they have concerns about the welfare of a child.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff have a good knowledge of how children learn and know how to join in to extend their play. For example, staff encourage children and clap enthusiastically when they use a stage area to play instruments to an audience of friends. Staff provide a range of opportunities for children to learn about the world. For example, they use magnifiers to hunt for snails and insects, and learn about different countries and traditions. Staff observe children's progress effectively to identify and plan for their next steps in learning. They share this information with parents so that they can continue to extend their children's learning at home.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff are warm and nurturing and build positive relationships with the children. For example, they take time to find out about their homes and families and show a genuine interest in their activities outside of pre-school. Staff are very attentive to children's individual needs. For example, an effective key-person approach helps staff to find out about and respect individual cultures and backgrounds. Furthermore, staff work closely with other agencies to provide identified support for children who require extra help. Staff place a high priority on children's safety. For example, they complete rigorous risk assessments and involve the children in practising the emergency evacuation procedure.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children are happy, settled, and interact well with each other. Children understand the routines of the pre-school and develop important skills, such as independence. For example, they serve themselves fruit and cereal confidently, and pour their own drinks. Children also manage their own toilet routines well. Children are very well prepared for their next stage in learning. For example, they develop good literacy skills when they recognise their names and other words of significance.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY344068 Local authority Medway Towns Inspection number 1033644 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 28 Number of children on roll 33 Name of registered person Lighthouse Kids Pre-School Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 19 November 2015 Telephone number 07901 704 298

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reference number

Lighthouse Kids Pre-School registered in 2006. It is situated in Hoo, near Rochester in Kent. The pre-school is open each weekday from 9.15am to 12.15pm, during term time only. A lunch club is offered for the older children from 12.15pm to 1.15pm on Monday to Thursday. The pre-school employs six staff, five of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. The pre-school receives funding to provide free early years education for children aged two, three and four years.

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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

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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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