Litlington Pre-school

Litlington Pre-school Village Hall, Meeting Lane, Litlington, Royston, Hertfordshire, SG8 0QF

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 12 June 2017 29 January 2015

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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 form very good partnerships with parents and involve them in every aspect of their children's learning. Parents receive detailed feedback about their children's good progress and the activities they have enjoyed. They describe the staff as 'amazing'.  Staff plan stimulating activities that embrace children's interests. For example, children thoroughly enjoy using their vivid imagination to make mud pies outdoors. They discover that the consistency of the mud changes as they add more water.  Children demonstrate that they feel relaxed and confident in this welcoming pre-school. They form warm and secure bonds with their key person and all members of staff. For instance, children sit close to them as they read them their favourite stories.  The newly appointed leader and dedicated staff team continuously evaluate and reflect on their practice. Staff effectively use their individual qualities and interests to develop

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This provision is good

the pre-school further. For example, some staff with a keen interest in gardening have exciting plans to further enhance children's understanding of growth in the outdoor space.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The current supervision arrangements are not yet thoroughly embedded to raise the quality of teaching to an even higher level.  On occasion, staff do not fully promote all children's listening and speaking skills during large-group activities.

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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

 build on the existing arrangements for the supervision of staff to focus even more sharply on raising the professional development of staff to the highest level  strengthen opportunities for all children to express their thoughts and listen to others during large-group activities.

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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 spoke with staff and children during the inspection at appropriate times.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the leader and reviewed how the pre- school reflects on the service it offers.  The inspector held a meeting with the leader, deputy leader and chairperson of the committee. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of committee members and staff working in the pre-school.  The inspector spoke to parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff are aware of the procedures for identifying and responding to any concerns about a child's welfare. Staff deploy themselves well in the indoor and outdoor environments to ensure that children remain in their sight at all times. Staff have good training opportunities to update their skills. Recent training has enhanced staff's knowledge of how to adjust their teaching to effectively support boys' learning. The leader thoroughly monitors children's progress. Swift action is taken to address any gaps in children's learning. Successful partnerships with staff at other provisions that children attend, and with teachers of the schools that children move on to, make a strong contribution to meeting children's continuing needs.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Children are motivated and demonstrate a positive approach to learning. For example, they persevere using tweezers to pick up ice cubes. They discover how this becomes more challenging as the ice melts. Children demonstrate that they enjoy the freedom of choosing their preferred environment in which to play and learn. For example, in the outdoor area children are inquisitive and use magnifying glasses to hunt for bugs. They make predictions of what they might find underneath the large wooden logs and use mathematical language, such as 'large', 'small' and 'tiny', help to describe different bugs. Indoors, children concentrate for long periods of time as they carefully balance differently shaped foam blocks on top of each other to create complex structures.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Effective arrangements are in place to help children to feel comfortable and swiftly settle when they begin attending. Children positively benefit from staff being good role models. They behave well and develop secure and friendly relationships with each other. For example, they patiently wait their turn to fill up their watering can and share the cloth to wipe their chalkboard clean. Children learn how to protect themselves when playing outdoors in the sun. For instance, staff provide them with clear messages about the importance of wearing a sun hat. Children learn to assess risks for themselves as they negotiate equipment and large apparatus to develop their physical skills. For instance, they carefully stand upright on balance boards and climb the steps of the slide.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are independent and make good progress in relation to their starting points. They manage their outer clothing and complete age-appropriate tasks. For example, they clear away their own plate and cup when they have finished eating without being asked to. Children learn to identify and write her own name. They gain the necessary skills needed to help prepare them for their future learning at school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 221801 Local authority Cambridgeshire Inspection number 1090088 Type of provision Sessional 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 22 Name of registered person Litlington Pre-school Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 29 January 2015 Telephone number 07984 935193

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reference number

Litlington Pre-School registered in 1985 and is managed by a voluntary committee. It is situated in the village of Litlington. The pre-school employs seven members of staff, of whom, four hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. It opens Monday to Friday during term time. Sessions are from 9.15am until 1pm on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, 9.15am until 12.15pm on Tuesday and 11.45am until 2.45pm on Friday. The pre-school provides funded early education for 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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