Little Stars Pre School Ifield Ltd

Little Stars Pre School Ifield Ltd Mill Primary School, Ifield Drive, Crawley, West Sussex, RH11 0EL

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 28 September 2017 25 February 2015

p.1

This inspection: Outstanding 1

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Outstanding 1

p.1

This inspection: Outstanding 1

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding 1

p.1

This inspection: Outstanding 1

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding 1

p.1

This provision is outstanding

 The pre-school provides children with an exceptional start to their education. All children, including those who need extra help with their learning and those in receipt of funding, make rapid progress.  Exemplary leadership means that senior staff meticulously monitor the quality of practice and swiftly identify areas they wish to develop further.  Staff go way beyond their usual duties to offer support to both children and their families. This means any child who may be disadvantaged receives an extensive amount of help and this accelerates the progress they make.  The dedication, professionalism and devotion of the staff is clear to see in all aspects of their practice. The partnerships they form with health visitors and schools are excellent.  Many parents described the staff as 'amazing', 'fantastic' and 'brilliant'. One parent stated, 'My child walks into Little Stars every morning with a smile on his face.' Another

p.1

This provision is outstanding

parent said, 'My children love Little Stars, and so do I!'  Children thoroughly enjoy their time at pre-school. They arrive with enthusiasm, excitement and anticipation for the day ahead.  The pre-school provides a highly stimulating environment, inside and outside. Every precaution is taken to minimise any risks and to keep children safe and secure.  Children's behaviour is exceptional. The outstanding teaching means children are fully engaged and develop a real love of learning.  Funding is used extremely well to target some children's priority learning needs. For example, external teachers visit to offer an extensive range of extra activities.

p.1

What the setting needs to do to improve further

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

p.2

What the setting needs to do to improve further

 consider making minor changes to the lunchtime routine to minimalise any disruption to children.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching and the support for children's learning, inside and outside.  The inspector talked to staff and children at convenient times throughout the inspection.  The inspector carried out observations with senior staff to evaluate how well leaders reflect on practice and identify ways to improve.  The inspector sampled a range of documentation, including looking at staff files, records of children's learning and the setting's plans to show how early years funding is used.  The inspector took account of the written feedback provided from parents and carers for the inspection.

p.2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

Senior leaders consistently strive to deliver the highest standards. They recognise very minor changes are needed to modify the lunchtime routine. Staff benefit from extensive training to improve their practice. Safeguarding is effective. The safety and welfare of children are paramount and underpin the pre-school's ethos in protecting children and giving them the best possible start in life. Meticulous planning and assessment, combined with incisive monitoring, mean any gaps in children's learning close rapidly.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

Teaching is innovative, creative and inspiring. Even the youngest two-year-olds, the children who speak English as an additional language and those who have special educational needs are captivated by the activities. Staff make learning enjoyable. For example, children thoroughly enjoy playing in the 'Little Stars Farm Yard' which includes a real hay bale to make the play authentic. Boys make particularly rapid progress, especially in their literacy development. They develop a love of writing and consistently use pens, paper and drawing materials as part of their play. The promotion of children's mathematical development is exceptional. Children spontaneously count and make simple calculations in everyday activities. For example, they excitedly count and sort the 'treasure' they have found in the 'digging area'.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Children develop kindness and respect for others. Excellent role modelling from staff reminds children how to be helpful and to show extreme concern for others. There are extensive opportunities for children to learn about how other people live and to celebrate differences. For example, the pre-school has made links with a local care home and residents have visited and spent time with the children. Staff noted how well children showed compassion for others. Children benefit from extremely close relationships with the staff. They approach staff happily for comfort and reassurance. Personalised care routines, such as potty training and nappy changing, enable children to benefit from one- to-one support. One child happily went with staff to have a nappy change, cheerily saying out loud, 'Off we go!'

p.3

Outcomes for children are outstanding

Children leave the pre-school exceptionally well prepared for starting school. From the youngest age, they develop extremely good listening skills. They follow instructions carefully and speak clearly and fluently. Children are exceptionally independent. They fully understand how to take care of their own needs, such as managing to put on splash-suits without adult help, and make their own decisions and choices. Children have strong self- esteem as staff value every child's unique qualities. The outstanding teaching enables children to become confident learners. They are curious to find out more, persevere with tasks and are keen to explore, irrespective of their age and different abilities. This means their capacity to learn is excellent.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY440138 Local authority West Sussex Inspection number 1085963 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Age range of children 2 - 5 Total number of places 55 Number of children on roll 66 Name of registered person Little Stars Pre School Ifield Ltd

p.4

reference number

Date of previous inspection 25 February 2015 Telephone number 07975 752798

p.4

reference number

Little Stars Pre-School Ifield Ltd registered in 2011. It operates from self-contained premises within the grounds of The Mill Primary Academy in Crawley, West Sussex. The pre-school opens Monday to Friday from 8.45am to 2.45pm, during term time only. Children can attend half-day or full-day sessions. Funding is accepted for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four years. A team of 12 staff work with the children. Of these, 11 staff are qualified in early years. The manager holds a level 5 qualification and one staff member is currently working towards a degree.

p.4

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.

p.4

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.

p.4

reference number

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/, write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.5

reference number

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our website for news, information and updates at www.ofsted.gov.uk/user.

p.5

reference number

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

p.5