Little Gem's Pre-School Basildon

Little Gem’s Pre-School Basildon c/o Fairhouse Infants School, Long Riding, Basildon, Essex, SS14 1QP

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 17 January 2018 23 January 2013

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3

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

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3

Outcomes for children Requires improvement

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This provision requires improvement. It is not yet good because:

 The quality of teaching is variable. Staff do not consistently provide experiences that are appropriate to individual children’s age and stage of development. As a result, children do not always make good progress in their learning.  Planning and assessment do not consistently reflect the individual needs of all children attending the pre-school and the information gained is not used to help staff monitor their progress.  The monitoring of the quality of the pre-school, including staff performance, is not rigorous enough to ensure improvement.  Staff and managers do not use self-evaluation effectively to accurately identify areas for improvement.

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It has the following strengths

 Staff are caring, kind and calm in their approach. Children have developed close relationships with staff. This helps children to feel safe and secure in the pre-school and supports their emotional well-being.  The indoor and outdoor environments are stimulating and well resourced. They enable children to independently access a range of resources, which covers the different areas of learning.  Staff are positive role models. They help the children to consider the feelings and emotions of others, to support them to manage their behaviour appropriately.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To meet the requirements of the early years foundation stage the provider must:

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Due Date

 provide children with appropriate levels of challenge in line with their current stage of development 21/02/2018

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Due Date

 ensure that observation, assessment and planning for children are focused on their interests and next steps, so that all children are effectively supported and challenged to make good progress given their age, abilities and starting points 21/02/2018

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Due Date

 develop the arrangements for staff supervision to ensure there is a well-established programme of professional development to coach and support staff to improve the quality of teaching. 21/02/2018

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Due Date

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

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Due Date

 improve arrangements for self-evaluation to identify areas for improvement.

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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 spoke with staff and children during the inspection.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the deputy manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the manager. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the pre-school.  The inspector spoke to a number of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

Arrangements for professional development provide some support for staff. The manager monitors staff performance through regular supervision meetings. However, defined targets for improvements to staff practice have not been established. This does not ensure the quality and consistency of teaching is effective so that children make good progress. The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff are suitably trained and are able to discuss the procedures they would follow if they had concerns about a child's welfare. The pre-school is kept safe and secure through daily risk assessments and checks. Overall, feedback from parents is positive. They say they are happy with their child's progress and describe the pre-school staff as, 'Friendly, caring and approachable'.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

The quality of teaching is variable. Staff understand that children learn through play and they routinely observe children's development. However, they do not consistently use this information to plan activities that meet their individual needs. Weaknesses in assessment mean planned activities do not always provide appropriate levels of challenge. As a result, staff sometimes fail to engage children or sustain their interest. Even so, children enjoy their time at the pre-school and interact well with each other and staff while they play. Older children count and name colours while they construct with toy bricks. Staff support toddlers in comparing different sizes of wooden building blocks. Children are keen to join staff in fun activities outdoors.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

In spite of some weaknesses in teaching and learning, staff promote children's personal, social and emotional development well. They create a welcoming environment and children separate from their parents happily. Children are happy and confident. Children have good opportunities to learn about the importance of healthy lifestyles. Staff provide children with nutritious snacks and ensure that they have plenty of opportunities to exercise and play outside. Children learn to manage their self-care needs independently. Behaviour at the pre-school is good because staff are effective role models and share consistent expectations. Children learn to share and take turns and they are aware of simple behaviour rules that include 'kind hands' and 'kind feet'. Complying with these expectations means children enjoy their pre-school experiences and have some emerging skills to underpin their eventual move to school.

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Outcomes for children require improvement

Children enjoy their time at the pre-school. They are generally motivated to learn and develop some of the key skills needed for the next stage of their learning, particularly in terms of their emotional development. Younger children enjoy listening to a range of stories read by enthusiastic staff, and older children are beginning to write their names.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY291012 Local authority Essex Inspection number 1064612 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 37 Number of children on roll 58 Name of registered person Little Gems Pre School Basildon Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 23 January 2013 Telephone number 01268 293073

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reference number

Little Gem's Pre-School Basildon registered in 2006. The pre-school employs eight members of staff. Of these, six staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and two at level 2. The pre-school opens Monday to Friday from 9am until 3.30pm, during school term times.

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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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