Little Owls Pre School

Little Owls Pre School Hutton Scout and Guide Headquarters, Off St.Marys Road, Hutton, Weston-Super- Mare, Somerset, BS24 9QP

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 6 June 2017 12 October 2016

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Previous inspection: Requires Improvement

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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:

 Staff do not provide all children, particularly those who are very able, with sufficient challenge. As a result not all children make as much progress as they can so that they reach their full potential.  Some staff do not use their assessment of children’s development well enough and are not accurately identifying what children need to learn next.  The daily routine does not have a balance of adult-led and child-initiated play. Activities are not sufficiently focussed to help children make good progress because staff do not always identify the next steps in children’s learning.  Although managers identify areas of weaknesses in practice, they do not do enough to improve the provision.

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It has the following strengths

 Children's behaviour is good. They form strong friendships with one another and they learn to share and take turns, for example by playing games together.  Staff swiftly identify children who may have additional needs. They work well with parents and other agencies to provide appropriate support.

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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

 ensure information gained through observation and assessment is used to accurately identify children’s next steps in learning 19/07/2017

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Due Date

 provide challenging experiences based on what children need to learn next so that they all progress as much as they can. 19/07/2017

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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

 build on the action plan following the self-evaluation to make further improvements.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector spent time observing children at play in all areas of the nursery.  The inspector met with the management team and discussed how the nursery is led and managed.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the nursery manager.  The inspector looked at a range of documentation, including policies, records of the progress children have made, the setting's self-evaluation and improvement plan and evidence of suitability of staff working in the nursery.  The inspector spoke with parents, children and staff.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

Leaders carry out some self-evaluation to improve their practice. They use various sources of information such as their previous inspection report and the views of the local authority and parents. They work with the local authority to identify gaps in children's learning. Although they have identified that children’s progress in communication and language is not as strong as in other areas of learning, leaders have not taken effective steps to make necessary improvements to ensure all children make good progress. Leaders’ monitoring of teaching is not robust and they are not checking whether staff assessment of children’s progress is accurate. Safeguarding is effective. Staff have a good understanding of safeguarding issues and their knowledge is tested during meetings so that they keep up- to-date with policy and procedures.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

Staff do not sufficiently use the information they gather about children. They do not plan a wide enough breadth of activities which engage and develop children further. Staff join children in the activities they have chosen and allow children to lead their own play. However there is very little guidance from adults to challenge the children in most aspects of their play, particularly in developing their communication and language. Nevertheless, the nursery has a good focus on mathematics. Staff incorporate this area of learning in most activities such as circle and snack time.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare require improvement

Children are not always provided with sufficient stimulation because activities do not always challenge and motivate them to learn. Some activities provided indoors do not have a clear purpose such as a table with computer key boards not connected to anything else. Children are familiar with the daily routine and staff teach them how to follow rules, work together and have regard to the feelings of others. Staff manage children’s behaviour well so that children are aware of what is acceptable. For example, when children are upset because they want the same toy, staff diffuse the situation well using different strategies such as comforting the child, explaining how to share and providing alternative toys. Staff communicate well with parents and use the information they receive to get to know the children. As a result, children form good relationships with all staff and approach them for comfort when they are upset.

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Outcomes for children require improvement

While children make steady progress in most areas, more able children do not make the progress they can due to the lack of challenge. Gaps have been identified in children’s communication and language development but staff are not yet doing enough to ensure these gaps close. Nevertheless children develop some skills that support them in readiness for school. For example, they use the toilet and put on their coats independently. Children with additional needs are well supported.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY377876 Local authority North Somerset Inspection number 1099594 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 - 5 Total number of places 25 Number of children on roll 39 Name of registered person Martin Howell and Serena Howell Partnership

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 12 October 2016 Telephone number 07757201694

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reference number

Little Owls Pre School registered in 2008 and operates from a scout hut in Hutton, Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset. The pre-school opens each weekday, except for bank holidays and some school holidays. Sessions run from 9am to midday and 12.45pm to 3.45pm, with the option for children to stay at lunchtime from midday to 12.45pm. The pre-school is in receipt of funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four years. There are six members of staff working with the children, including the manager. Of these, five hold a qualification at level 3.

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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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