Little Ferns Pre-School

Little Ferns Pre-School Scout Headquarters R10, 106 West Street, Ewell, Epsom, Surrey, KT17 1XR

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 11 July 2017 16 September 2014

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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

 All children make good progress based on their starting points, which are clearly identified when children first start attending. Gaps in achievement are promptly identified and targeted through close monitoring and focused support from staff and external agencies, which the manager proactively arranges.  Staff plan and provide a very good range of activities that interests and challenges children and which helps them to gain a strong understanding of their immediate and wider world. For example, they learn that a quill is a feather pen, that gold is mined in Africa, about the features of the moon, and animal and creature habitats.  Children form strong and trusting relationships with staff who are kind and caring. Children confidently ask questions, share their ideas, engage in independent play and learn to manage their own personal care exceedingly well.  The provider and manager are very good mentors to staff and students. For example,

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This provision is good

the manager leads whole-group activities, such as group time, with immense skill. They use weekly team meetings effectively to review and improve their activity planning.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Arrangements for assessing, tracking and planning for most children's individual progress are not frequent or exact enough to support them in making better than good progress, with the exception of children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities.  Not all parents are provided with enough information about their child's individual progress and future learning needs to enable them to provide continuous support.

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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

 make more use of information gained from observations of children's learning and development to assess, track and plan for their progress more regularly and precisely  provide regular opportunities for parents to be more involved in supporting children's learning.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed children engaged in activities and staff interactions with them indoors and outdoors.  The inspector sampled a range of documentation related to safeguarding, children's progress, staff suitability and self-evaluation.  The inspector sought and took account of the views of parents.  The inspector held a meeting with the provider and manager and conducted joint observations with them.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. Children's welfare is closely monitored. Managers and staff have a clear understanding of their individual responsibilities for acting on concerns about a child. Staff recruitment and vetting procedures are thorough. Staff receive good induction, supervision, mentoring and coaching from managers. Recommendations from the last inspection have been well met. For example, the organisation of whole-group time and strategies used to promote early reading and independent learning are now key strengths of the provision. Overall, managers make good use of self-evaluation to identify areas for improvement and staff training needs. They recognise the weaknesses raised in this inspection and have planned improvements for September.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff recognise and consistently exploit opportunities to promote all areas of learning. Even though not all children have a precise learning plan in place, they make good progress because of this teaching quality and the fact that activities provide good challenge for a range of capabilities. For example, staff provide clues for helping children to find snails in the garden. Activities are well planned to include a balance of play and practical experiences, such as shopping for ingredients to make sushi as part of their learning about Japan. Children are intrigued by photographs shown to them of African tribal jewellery, which inspires them to make their own. Younger children's language development and social skills are encouraged well by staff as they engage them in singing, role play and reading them simple stories.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children are cared for in a stimulating and safe environment which encourages sustained and inclusive play. Behaviour is exemplary. Children are encouraged and enabled by staff, and the organisation of the environment, to make independent decisions about their play and well-being needs. For example, they decide when to break for snack and help themselves from a good selection of healthy fruits and carbohydrates. Children engage in lots of active physical play outdoors. They have a good understanding of the importance of following hygiene and safety rules, such as for handwashing, crossing roads and behaving safely around dogs in the park.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are well prepared emotionally and practically for starting school. They acquire good social skills, competently manage their own personal care, develop strong listening and attention skills and the confidence to speak out in a large group. Children recognise their names, and older children write them, for instance, to label their artwork. They develop strong numeracy skills and the ability to calculate.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY411980 Local authority Surrey Inspection number 1071295 Type of provision Full-time 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 33 Name of registered person Melanie Jane Merchant

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 16 September 2014 Telephone number 07881754558

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reference number

Little Ferns Pre-School registered under the current provider in 2010. It operates from a Scout hall in Ewell Village, in Epsom, Surrey. The pre-school operates during term time only. Sessions run from Monday to Friday between 9am and midday, with the additional option for children to attend the lunch club between midday and 1pm. Sessions for two- year-olds are provided Monday to Thursday between 12.45pm and 2.45pm. The provider receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years. Seven staff work with the children, including the provider and manager. Four members of staff, including the provider and manager, hold childcare qualifications at level 3.

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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

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