Little Pillars

Little Pillars 81 Evelina Road, London, SE15 3HL

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 8 November 2016 Not applicable

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3

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

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3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Outcomes for children Good 2

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This provision requires improvement. It is not yet good because:

 The provider does not complete recruitment and vetting processes in a timely manner to ensure new staff, who already have DBS checks, are suitable.  At times, staff are not fully successful in providing a broader range of activities to reflect the preferences of some children who enjoy learning outdoors.  Staff do not make best use of opportunities to encourage children to manage tasks by themselves, to enhance their independence skills.

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It has the following strengths

 Staff are warm, friendly and they form strong relationships with the children. They provide good levels of care to help children feel secure.  Children generally benefit from a well-organised and stimulating indoor environment.  Teaching is good. Staff have a good knowledge of how children develop. They check children's individual progress and use the information to plan for their needs. All children make good progress.  Children requiring additional help receive effective support to ensure they learn well.  Staff conduct regular safety risk assessments to check the suitability of the premises, to reduce any potential hazards. Children know how to behave well.  Staff have established strong relationships with parents who speak highly of the care their children receive.

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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

 improve the system for vetting staff to ensure those transferring with existing Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks from other settings undergo suitability checks for this setting promptly. 15/12/2016

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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

 extend learning opportunities in the outdoor area, particularly to help children who enjoy spending time outdoors, to make the best possible progress  use all opportunities to help children do more things for themselves, to further develop their independence.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed children as they played and took part in daily activities.  The inspector spoke with children, staff and the manager at appropriate times during the inspection.  The inspector looked at children's learning profiles, planning documentation, evidence of the suitability check of staff working in the provision and a wide range of other documents including policies and procedures.  The inspector considered the views of parents she spoke to on the day of the inspection.  The inspector took part in a joint observation with the manager.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

The provider and manager generally reflect on and evaluate the quality of the provision and work together well to raise current standards of care and education for children. However, the provider does not complete vetting processes in a timely manner for new members of staff coming from other settings. However, there is no significant impact on children as these staff have DBS checks from other settings, and leaders are present at all times and supervise staff sufficiently. Leaders suitably monitor staff's daily performance and they offer ongoing training and support. For example, all staff understand child protection issues and keep up to date with current guidance and legislation. The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff use information gathered from parents and their initial observations to plan effectively for children's next steps of learning. They engage well with children and generally provide many opportunities such as a variety of role-play activities. For example, children enjoy pretending to be pirates and staff skilfully join in to extend their play, although opportunities to strengthen learning outdoors are still ongoing. Staff support children to gain good mathematical skills to build on their next steps in learning. For example, they encourage children to count building blocks. Staff effectively help children who are learning to speak English as an additional language. For example, they model correct pronunciation of words and repeat phrases while children play together.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare require improvement

Staff suitably understand their role to protect children from any risk of harm and, although leaders do not follow thorough procedures for the safe recruitment of some staff, children's are always supervised appropriately. Staff talk kindly and respectfully to children, and help them to understand rules and boundaries well. Children develop a strong sense of belonging and confidently make choices as they play. They enjoy being physically active and learn about hygienic practices. For example, they wash their hands before eating. However, staff miss opportunities to encourage children to do more things for themselves such as putting on their own coats. Staff encourage children to understand the wider world. For example, they celebrate a range of festivals and learn about their own cultures and those of others.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are happy, active and creative. They make good progress in their learning from their individual starting points and are well prepared for their next stage of learning. For example, they sit and listen attentively to stories and have plenty of opportunities to practise their early writing skills.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY487100 Local authority Southwark Inspection number 1010044 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 0 - 3 Total number of places 30 Number of children on roll 7 Name of registered person Little Pillars Montessori Ltd

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reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 07886983752

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reference number

Little Pillars registered in 2015. It operates from a church hall in Nunhead, Southwark. It is open weekdays for most of the year. There are four members of staff. The manager holds a degree in Childhood Education and two members of staff hold qualifications at level 2 and level 3. The nursery receives funding for the provision of free 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

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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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