Little Stars Pre-School Scole

Scole Pre-School Group c/o Scole Community Centre, Ransome Avenue, Scole, Diss, Norfolk, IP21 4EA

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 22 March 2017 30 September 2016

p.1

3

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

p.1

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

 The planning and presentation of activities and the overall learning environment do not fully capture children's attention or provide them with good opportunities to explore, investigate and develop their own ideas for doing things.  Staff do not obtain enough information on children's initial starting points. Assessments of children's learning and development are not always used to best effect to support groups and individual children to make good progress.  Staff do not complete progress checks for all children between the ages of two and three years and provide a short written summary for their parents.  Staff miss opportunities to encourage parents to support children's learning in the pre- school and at home. Partnerships with other settings are not well established to ensure that the transition onto school is smooth for all children.

p.1

It has the following strengths

 The committee, new supervisor and staff team have made positive changes since the last inspection to improve practice. They have worked closely with the local authority. They have drawn up targeted action plans and undertaken training to develop their knowledge and understanding.  Behaviour is good. Children understand appropriate rules and boundaries, which are in place to keep them safe and help them enjoy their time together.  Children settle quickly because staff are welcoming and routines are in place to support children's emotional wellbeing.

p.1

What the setting needs to do to improve further

To meet the requirements of the early years foundation stage the provider must:

p.2

Due Date

 review and improve the presentation of the learning environment as a whole, in order capture children's curiosity and imagination and encourage them to independently explore, experiment and create with the available resources 08/05/2017

p.2

Due Date

 obtain accurate information about children's initial starting points on entry to the pre-school. Ensure that assessments are used effectively to support groups, and individual children, to make the best possible progress in their learning 08/05/2017

p.2

Due Date

 ensure that the progress check for children between the ages of two and three years is consistently completed and shared with parents. 08/05/2017

p.2

Due Date

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

p.2

Due Date

 improve partnerships with parents by engaging them further in their children's learning and development and providing ideas and strategies how this learning can be continued in the home  improve partnerships with the schools that children will go on to attend so that the children's transitions are smooth and well supported.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact this has on the children's learning.  The inspector completed a joint observation of an activity with the pre-school supervisor.  The inspector held a meeting with the nominated individual on behalf of the committee and the pre-school supervisor and spoke with staff and children during the inspection.  The inspector discussed self evaluation and considered action plans for improvement.  The inspector looked at relevant documentation, such as policies and procedures and evidence of suitability of staff working in the pre-school.  The inspector took account of parents' views from her discussions with them during the inspection.

p.3

Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

The committee and staff understand their roles and responsibilities. Recruitment and vetting procedures are clear and thorough; child protection procedures have been reviewed and improved and the committee and staff have a clear understanding of these procedures. The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. A new supervisor has recently been appointed. She has made some improvements already and further areas for improvement have been identified, but not yet actioned. There are new arrangements for supervision and performance management and these are starting to show positive improvements.

p.4

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

Methods for engaging with parents are improving. Daily diaries have been introduced to share information and story books are available to take home, however parents are not encouraged as well as they could be to be involved in their children's learning and support learning at home. Staff use observation and assessment of children's achievements to plan some relevant learning experiences across the seven areas of learning. While staff obtain some information from parents when their children first start, they do not clearly identify children's developmental starting points. The progress check, used to review progress of children between the ages of two and three has been completed for some, but not all, eligible children. In addition, assessments are not always accurate or regular or monitor the progress of groups of children.

p.4

Personal development, behaviour and welfare require improvement

Staff work closely with parents to ensure settling-in procedures for children are effective. Children of all ages build secure emotional relationships with staff. Staff are responsive to children and accommodate their individual needs well. Outdoor play is incorporated into the daily routine so all children spend time enjoying the fresh air. There is an appropriate range of suitable toys and resources for children to choose from, but resources are not yet presented in a way that best captures children's attention and motivates them to engage. Children behave well as staff are calm, positive roles models. Children are encouraged to make healthy choices at snack time and pour their own drinks. Children's transfer onto school is not currently well supported as partnerships have not been well maintained.

p.4

Outcomes for children require improvement

Children make steady progress and develop some key skills needed for the next steps in their learning. However, gaps in the learning environment and assessment do not help children to make consistently good progress. Nevertheless, children are involved in planning and choosing activities that they would like to play with. They develop early language, literacy and mathematical skills. They practise the sounds that some letters make, count and compare numbers and shapes. They practise speaking in a group at circle time. They confidently join in with songs and rhymes and listen and watch with interest at story time.

p.4

Setting details

Unique reference number 254260 Local authority Norfolk Inspection number 1086086 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 2 - 5 Total number of places 20 Number of children on roll 10 Name of registered person Scole Pre School Group Committee

p.5

reference number

Date of previous inspection 30 September 2016 Telephone number 07925 093 551

p.5

reference number

Scole Pre-School Group registered in 1970. The pre-school employs three members of childcare staff, one of whom holds an appropriate early years qualifications at level 6, one at level 3 and one at level 2. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday 9.30am until 12.30pm during term time only. The pre-school provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

p.5

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.

p.5

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.

p.5

reference number

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/, write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.6

reference number

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our website for news, information and updates at www.ofsted.gov.uk/user.

p.6

reference number

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

p.6