Little Ducklings Pre-School (Barnwell)

Little Ducklings Pre-School (Barnwell) The Princess Alice Centre, Barnwell, PETERBOROUGH, PE8 5PG

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 16 November 2016 10 December 2012

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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

 Key-person relationships are strong. Children quickly form close, emotional bonds with staff. They show high levels of confidence and participate in activities with enjoyment.  Staff maintain a good overview of the learning programme at all times, which ensures that children participate in a broad range of experiences. Staff observe children and regularly review their development.  Older children are warm and caring towards their younger peers. They engage with them in activities, talking to them and providing reassurance. Older children are also articulate, confident communicators who proudly talk about their families and personal experiences with adults.  The new manager has a good overview of the pre-school and understands the strengths and weaknesses in practice. She seeks the views of her staff and parents and welcomes support and advice from the local authority.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Although staff communicate with parents on a daily basis about their children, they are not always sharing sufficient detail about the precise learning targets set. Parents are not consistently encouraged to share information about children's learning and interests at home to help strengthen the planning of activities.  Staff do not always represent the cultural backgrounds of the children attending when planning activities to promote and explore diversity.

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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

 share more detail with parents about the specific learning targets set for their children and use information from home more precisely to inform the planning of activities  support children's growing awareness of diversity and differences in society in a meaningful way that reflects the cultures and backgrounds of the children attending.

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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 completed a joint observation with the pre-school manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the pre-school manager. She looked at relevant documentation, such as the pre-school's policies and procedures and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the pre-school.  The inspector spoke to a small number of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The new management structure has only been in place for a short period of time. Despite this, staff have worked hard to implement changes and bring about improvements to the pre-school to further benefit the children's experiences. The planning of activities has been reviewed and this has placed greater focus on planning for children's interests and individual targets for development. Staff practice is beginning to be more regularly monitored and addressed through a program of supervisions and yearly appraisals. Staff complete training that helps to develop their knowledge and skills. The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff have good knowledge of child protection and understand the procedures to take in the event of a safeguarding concern. Adults working with the children have had their suitability checked. Positive relationships are in place with parents who speak fondly of the pre-school and the staff.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff use their knowledge of the children, their interests and learning needs to provide activities that motivate them to learn. They effectively observe and assess children, so they can quickly identify areas for development and confidently shape children's future learning. Children enjoy familiar stories that are enthusiastically read by staff. They listen with anticipation and join in with the repetitive phrases. Fun props help to bring the story to life. Children have good opportunities to practice their counting skills and learn mathematical concepts in activities. Children are encouraged to count the number of circles in a game on the laptop and the number of monkeys hanging on a tree. They use their thinking skills to decide if the doll's shoes are too big or too small for her feet. Partnerships with the local schools are effective in providing a smooth move from the pre- school to a school environment.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff warmly greet children and their families as they arrive. They provide affection and reassurance to any new children to help them settle. Children behave well and use good manners when talking to adults and each other. Children enjoy balanced and nutritious meals and snacks, that take account of their dietary needs and preferences. Children enjoy exploring the outdoor play areas. They have good opportunities to be physically active. Children ride their scooters, showing good balance and control to stop themselves when they reach a wall. They enjoy the challenge of jumping from hoop to hoop and spinning the hoops around their waists. Staff are well deployed to ensure that children are continuously supervised. Children move around independently and choose where they would like to play.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children make good progress from their individual starting points. They build good skills in readiness for their move to school. Staff support children to recognise their name and they make good attempts to write their name on their work. Children are independent in their self-care skills. Older children are able to dress themselves for outdoor play. Children make close friendships and play cooperatively together.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY446790 Local authority Northamptonshire Inspection number 1060214 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 40 Number of children on roll 28 Name of registered person Little Ducklings Pre-School (Barnwell)

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 10 December 2012 Telephone number 01832358085

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reference number

Little Ducklings Pre-School (Barnwell) was registered in 2012. The pre-school employs four members of childcare staff. Of these, three hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday all year round. A holiday club also operates during school holidays. Sessions are from 8am until 5.30pm. 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

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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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