The Little School Limited

The Little School Limited St. John Ambulance, Priory Hall, 13 Love Lane, Andover, Hampshire, SP10 2AB

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 19 October 2016 24 May 2016

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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:

 Although the provider has made progress since the last inspection, the system for staff support, coaching and personal development, including induction, is still ongoing. Children are not reaping the benefits from a skilled, quality staff team.  The monitoring of children's progress, individually and in groups, and the quality of teaching, is inconsistent. Not all children make the best possible progress, particularly the most-able children.  Self-evaluation is not rigorous enough to identify all areas where improvement is needed to provide consistently good quality care and learning for children.

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It has the following strengths

 Children enjoy a welcoming and stimulating environment. Each day staff set up and provide a variety of resources to help engage children in play, covering most areas of learning.  Good partnerships with key professionals and agencies in children's lives help staff to understand and meet children's specific needs.  Children build strong relationships with their friends and the staff. For example, the sociable, family-oriented lunchtime nurtures friendships effectively, encouraging talking, listening and children's key skills.  Snack time is managed well and there is a good emphasis on children's personal independence, talking skills and literacy.

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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

 continue to train, support and coach staff to improve their personal effectiveness, including the induction of new staff 16/12/2016

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Due Date

 develop the teaching and monitoring of children's progress, individually and in groups, to ensure that all staff are successful in addressing gaps in children's learning. 16/12/2016

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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

 develop self-evaluation methods across the setting, including all staff in these, to ensure that points for improvement are targeted in order of priority to improve outcomes for children.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the children's play activities indoors and outdoors, looked at the available resources and read relevant documentation.  The inspector held a meeting with the provider/manager to discuss their leadership and management, including self-evaluation methods.  The inspector spoke to a sample of parents and took account of their views.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the provider/manager.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

The provider has made sound progress since the last inspection, although staff coaching, professional development and induction procedures remain an improvement priority. Safeguarding is effective. Staff are trained in child protection. They know the procedures to follow if they have concerns about children's welfare, including those at risk of extreme views. The provider follows secure employment procedures. There are appropriate arrangements to deal with any accidents and complaints, and effective supervision and assessment of risk help to protect children. Support from the local authority has enabled the provider to raise the quality of teaching. However, accurate self-reflection and prioritising weaknesses continue to be areas for development. Most staff work effectively with parents to help with children's continuity of care and learning.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

Most children's learning is suitably supported through observation, assessment and the delivery of purposeful play activities. However, the overall monitoring is not secure to ensure gaps in children's learning are successfully identified and addressed. Some groups of children do not consistently receive a good level of challenge, particularly the most-able children. Staff interaction is variable. Overall, staff plan interesting activities to support children's next steps in learning. For example, as children express themselves through different media and materials, they are encouraged to use scissors, to write their names independently and to talk about their pictures and home life.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare require improvement

Children's key person helps them to settle and feel happy at the setting. The provider completes a home visit and communicates information about children's starting points and individual needs to their key person. Staff teach children healthy routines. For example, children know they have to wash their hands before eating and spontaneously go to the sink in the playroom. Staff offer children nutritious snacks and water to drink. Children are encouraged to behave well, for example, they receive support to learn to share. Parents report that their children are well looked after and enjoy attending. Staff make the setting environment safe and complete regular safety checks.

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Outcomes for children require improvement

Children develop some suitable skills for their future lives. They enjoy their freely chosen play and show some confidence and motivation. For example, children explore the water wall outside and move their bodies in a variety of ways to music. Children benefit from teaching focused on language development for small groups. They listen well, and join in songs and games, such as matching and recognising shapes and colours. However, the quality of teaching overall does not ensure all children make the best possible progress.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY482219 Local authority Hampshire Inspection number 1053401 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 26 Number of children on roll 29 Name of registered person The Little School Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 24 May 2016 Telephone number 01264 361599

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reference number

The Little School Limited registered in 2014 and is a privately run group. It operates from Andover, Hampshire. The group is open each weekday from 8.30am to 3pm, during term time. There are five staff, of whom one is qualified at level 4, three are at level 3, one is at level 2 and two are volunteers. The group receives funding to provide early 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

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

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