Little Squirrels

Little Squirrels Townland C of E Primary School, Meadow Court Road, Earl Shilton, Leicester, LE9 7FF

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 13 October 2017 24 April 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

 Leaders and managers have high expectations and demonstrate determination to drive forward continuous improvement. Staff attend regular training and put into practise what they learn and how to benefit the children they care for.  Partnerships with parents are good. They are fully involved in their children's learning and regularly receive updates about their child's progress. Parents are provided with ideas for activities that support continued learning at home. They speak highly of the pre-school and the support that they receive.  Children make good progress. Staff provide a well-organised and well-presented indoor and outdoor environment that provides many interesting opportunities for children to explore and learn through play.  Staff promote healthy lifestyles with children. Children have plenty of opportunities to experience fresh air and exercise in the stimulating outdoor environment. Children eat

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 During large-group activities, children do not always benefit from rich learning opportunities most appropriate to them, to help them excel in the progress that they make.  Monitoring of staff practice is not incisive enough. It does not consistently provide highly effective support to develop staff's teaching skills, to raise the quality of teaching to an outstanding level.

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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

 review the organisation of large-group activities to ensure that all children benefit from rich individual learning opportunities to help them to excel in the progress that they each make.  strengthen the supervision arrangements for individual staff to focus their understanding about how their teaching can improve from good to outstanding.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the pre-school manager.  The inspector spoke to a number of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.  The inspector spoke to staff and children at appropriate times throughout the inspection.  The inspector spoke to the manager at appropriate times throughout the inspection. She looked at relevant documentation, such as children's learning records, risk assessments and evidence of the suitability and qualifications of staff working in the pre-school.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The management team is enthusiastic and has high expectations of the staff. The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff can recognise signs that would give them cause for concern about a child's welfare. They know how to refer any concerns to the relevant authorities. Robust recruitment and induction procedures ensure the suitability of staff to work with children. Staff are well deployed to supervise children, indoors and outdoors. They regularly check that the environment is safe and free from risks. Children's progress is clearly monitored by the management team. Self-evaluation is ongoing and reflects the views of the staff and parents.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Teaching is good. Staff observe, guide and support children sensitively. They use a good range of teaching skills to promote children's learning effectively. Staff support children's communication skills effectively, such as through modelling language and introducing new words. They plan a wide variety of activities that challenges and captures children's interest. Children are keen and active learners. They eagerly join in with a dance session. This helps to promote their language skills and physical development as they stretch, walk, jump and run. Children's literacy skills are developing well as they enjoy a wide range of mark-making activities. They register themselves each day by finding their name, and learn about the letters sounds at the start of words. Older children use mathematics for everyday activities. For example, staff ask them to count how many pieces of fruit they have.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff work hard to ensure that children settle into pre-school. They know each child and their family circumstances extremely well. Staff take time to get to know each child and their likes and interests. Children form close bonds with staff and good relationships with each other. They play well together and take turns at sharing resources. Children follow good hygiene routines, for example, when using the bathroom. They sing songs about hygiene during handwashing to reinforce the importance of these good routines.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children make good progress and any gaps in learning are closing. Children develop a wide range of skills in readiness for their next stage in learning and school. They learn to count, sort and match objects and describe simple shapes in the environment. Children are independent, decide what they want to do and quickly become engrossed in their chosen activities. For example, they choose what they would like to play with and willingly try new activities.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY396850 Local authority Leicestershire Inspection number 1093980 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 26 Number of children on roll 56 Name of registered person Beverley Hutt

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 24 April 2015 Telephone number 07507 489 197

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reference number

Little Squirrels registered in 2009 and operates from a single-storey premises within the grounds of Townland C of E Primary School in Earl Shilton Leicestershire. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday, term time only, from 9am until 3pm. The nursery employs eight members of childcare staff. One member of staff holds early years teachers status, and six hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three and four-year-old children.

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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

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

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