Littlesteps Preschool

Littlesteps Preschool Littleover Methodist Church, Constable Drive, Littleover, Derby, DE23 6EP

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 17 July 2017 4 April 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

 The managers are passionate about providing a high-quality provision for children. They identify areas to improve successfully through regular evaluation. They have addressed the recommendations from the previous inspection. For example, staff provide children with a wide range of opportunities to develop their outdoor learning.  Children are very happy and well settled. Staff know children well and successfully meet their individual needs. Children respond well to the staff's caring and kind nature and build affectionate bonds with them.  Partnerships with parents are well established. Staff encourage parents to be involved in their children's development. For example, they discuss children's progress together and invite parents to share information about learning at home.  All children, including those who have English as an additional language are progressing well. Staff accurately assess children's learning and identify the next steps

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This provision is good

in their development. They then plan exciting activities to help support their learning.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Some staff do not consistently build on opportunities that arise during spontaneous play to help extend older and most-able children's learning, in order to help them make the best possible progress in their development.

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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

 provide the older and most-able children with extra challenge, to help extend their learning and progress even further.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector had a tour of the pre-school and looked at the toys the children use. She observed the interactions between the staff and children during activities indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact these have on children's learning.  The inspector held discussions with the staff and spoke to the children at appropriate times during the inspection. She carried out a joint evaluation of an activity with one of the managers.  The inspector took into account the views of parents spoken to during the inspection.  The inspector discussed with the key persons the children's development and the progress they were making in their learning.  The inspector checked evidence of the suitability and qualifications of the staff. She also discussed the self-evaluation process, training opportunities and safeguarding procedures.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. Staff have a secure knowledge of current safeguarding issues. They understand the signs that may indicate a child is at harm and who to contact if they have a concern about a child in their care. Recruitment procedures are robust and help to ensure the suitability of staff. The managers carry out detailed induction procedures, followed by comprehensive staff supervisory meetings and appraisals. These help the managers to identify any training needs and support for staff. The educational programmes are monitored effectively. From their monitoring and tracking of children's development the managers identified a need to improve the programme for mathematics. Staff attended training and now this area is taught well. Staff work closely with other settings children attend, sharing information frequently to help continuity of learning.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff understand that children learn through play. Overall, they interact in positive ways which motivate and inspire the children to learn. Staff support children's communication and language development effectively. There are many opportunities for children to develop their small-muscular skills. For example, they use stencils, paint brushes and play dough tools skilfully, to help them create and make caterpillars. Children learn about nature very well. For example, they learn about snails. Children are excited to watch the snail as it eats the cucumber. Staff talk to the children about the snail, which evolves into children drawing pictures of snails and looking at books to find out more facts about where snails live and what they eat.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children are confident and move around the pre-school freely, choosing their own play. They are independent and developing skills to help them care for their own needs. Staff are good role models and help children to be kind, sociable and thoughtful. Children behave well, they share, take turns and are beginning to respect other children's views and opinions. Staff place a high priority on children's awareness of leading healthy lifestyles. They encourage children to eat healthy options, promote good hygiene procedures and provide the children with opportunities to develop their large muscles. For example, children ride on sit-and-ride toys, balance on crates and chase balls as they roll down the slope. Staff promote children's safety well.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children develop a wide range of skills to help support them in their future learning and the move on to school. They participate enthusiastically in activities and maintain good levels of concentration during play and group activities, such as singing time. They are secure in their communication and language, physical, personal, social and emotional skills.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY385725 Local authority Derby, City of Inspection number 1088070 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 3 - 4 Total number of places 26 Number of children on roll 28 Name of registered person Littlesteps Preschool Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 4 April 2014 Telephone number 07963314745

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reference number

Littlesteps Preschool registered in 2008. The pre-school opens Monday, Thursday and Friday from 9am until 12 midday, Tuesday 9am until 3pm and Wednesday 9am until 1pm, term time only. Children have the opportunity to stay for lunch on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The pre-school receives funding for the provision of free early education for three- and four-year-old children and supports children who have English as an additional language. There are 10 members of staff working directly with the children. Of these, nine staff hold a child care qualification at level 2 or 3. One of the managers is a qualified teacher and holds early years professional status.

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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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