Little Scarecrows

Little Scarecrows Preston Road, Manston, Ramsgate, Kent, CT12 5BA

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 13 July 2017 8 May 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

 The management team and staff have a clear understanding of how children learn and develop. They provide a wide range of stimulating and challenging activities inside and outside. All children make good progress from their starting points.  Children explore with confidence. Their behaviour is good and they are constantly praised for their achievements, to help to support their emotional well-being and self- esteem.  The management team and staff have a good knowledge of safeguarding matters and give high priority to children's safety. For example, they are constantly vigilant throughout the day, such as making sure large construction balancing beams are safe for children to walk along.  Staff forge strong partnerships with parents. For instance, they keep them fully updated about their children's day. They inform parents of the food their children have eaten and activities they have undertaken, which helps to support children's learning at

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Not all staff make effective use of opportunities to challenge and extend children's learning to the highest levels.  Staff do not consistently consider how to extend younger children's understanding of simple mathematical concepts, such as the relationship between numbers and quantity.

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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

 continue to support staff to develop their skills and knowledge, to ensure they consistently extend children's learning  review and improve the opportunities for younger children to develop an interest in and build on their early mathematical skills.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector talked to the provider about the service she provides and discussed her action plan.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with one of the deputy managers.  The inspector spoke to staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection.  The inspector sampled a range of documentation including the children's learning folders, safeguarding policies, and procedures and risk assessments.  The inspector spoke to parents and read letters of reference to take into account their views on the service they receive.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The management team fully understands its role in child protection and has a good understanding of the procedure to follow in the event of a concern, to help maintain children's welfare successfully. The management team supports staff's practice, for instance, by encouraging staff to undertake training to improve their qualification levels. The management team has developed positive relationships with other early years professionals to provide a shared approach to children's learning. For example, it has good links with teachers and shares information about children's progress prior to starting school to help provide a continuity of care. The management team uses self-evaluation systems well to help identify strengths and areas for improvement. For example, it has recently reviewed and updated the observation and assessment systems. The team monitors and tracks children's progress to help ensure it meets the needs of all children.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

For example, it has increased resources, and some staff have attended specific training to support children's literacy skills further.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Children make strong progress in their speech development. They hold conversations and give explanations using complex sentences. For instance, they chatter with staff about the buried treasure they have found in the sand. Staff complete thorough assessments of children's development and have a clear picture of the progress of individual children. They make effective use of assessments to plan activities based on children's next steps. Staff provide children with a good range of resources to help develop their early writing skills. For instance, children use clipboards and pens to make lists, as well as brushes and water to practise making marks, to help expand their interest in literacy.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children learn about the importance of a healthy lifestyle. For instance, staff provide them with nutritious foods and they grow a wide variety of fruits and vegetables in the garden. Staff offer children daily opportunities to practise their physical skills. For example, children enjoy running around and riding bicycles in the large garden, and they go on trips to the local park to use the large climbing equipment. Staff help support children to learn how to take turns and share. For instance, staff encourage children to share their 'pirate treasures' so that their friends can join in their play.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are keen to investigate and join in with activities, such as making large pots of 'stew' in the garden. They enjoy being imaginative and older children are eager to describe what they are doing. For example, they use leaves and soil to represent the spicy ingredients in their stew. Children have good opportunities to expand their interest in the world around them. For instance, they like to go for walks to visit the alpacas and explore the local countryside. Children make good progress and develop a wide range of skills to support the next stage in their learning and eventual move to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 127366 Local authority Kent Inspection number 1089345 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 1 - 4 Total number of places 17 Number of children on roll 25 Name of registered person Lisa Jayne Hartridge

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 8 May 2015 Telephone number 01843 823 918

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reference number

Little Scarecrows registered in 1993 and is one of two nurseries owned by the provider. It operates in Manston, near Ramsgate, Kent. The nursery is open each weekday from 7.30am to 5pm, for 49 weeks of the year. The provider receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years. There are six members of staff including the owner. All staff whom hold a relevant early years qualification at level 2 or above.

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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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