Little Saplings

Little Saplings Ashby Community Centre, Everest Road, Scunthorpe, DN16 3DZ

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 21 March 2018 11 January 2016

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Outcomes for children Requires improvement

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

 The monitoring of staff practice is not focused sharply enough on raising the overall quality of teaching to a good standard. Staff do not adapt their practice and teaching for younger children to support all children to become engaged and challenged further in their learning.  Staff deployment at busy times of the day for the younger children means that during domestic routines, their experiences become chaotic. As a result, children do not get the attention to improve their learning. They lose interest and are distracted, and get bored and become disruptive.  The staff do not consistently use key opportunities to reaffirm children's existing understanding of following good hygiene procedures.

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It has the following strengths

 Children play in a safe and secure environment. Staff ensure that doors are locked and check areas of the nursery to reduce any hazards to children.  Partnership working is positive. Links with the local community, external healthcare professionals and the local primary school are good.  Children with identified needs and their families, are supported effectively through early identification and intervention. For example, staff's training is targeted for children's behaviour and supporting boy's interests and development.  Partnerships with parents are effective. They attend parent meetings, receive regular progress reports and make contributions towards their children's development.

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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

 develop techniques to evaluate and monitor staff's teaching and practice so that all children benefit and are challenged further in their learning 11/04/2018

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Due Date

 strengthen the deployment of staff at busy times for younger children to ensure that during domestic routines, they do not get bored and disruptive, and their individual needs are fully met at all times. 11/04/2018

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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

 help young children to build on their awareness of how good hygiene procedures contribute to a healthy lifestyle.

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Inspection activities

 This inspection was carried out following the risk assessment process.  The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. She spoke to children and staff throughout the inspection.  The inspector looked at children's assessment records and the planning documentation. She carried out a joint observation with the manager. She also discussed children's progress with the manager, staff and parents.  The inspector had a tour of the areas used. She held meetings with the management team at appropriate times during the inspection. The inspector also discussed the pre- school's self-evaluation.  The inspector looked at evidence of the suitability of staff, including qualifications and training certificates. She also looked at a selection of the pre-school's policy documents, including the safeguarding policy and procedures and risk assessments.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

The leadership team does not monitor staff practice effectively enough or use supervision well to help swiftly improve the quality of staff's practice. The well-qualified manager uses self-evaluation to help support some changes in the setting. Nonetheless, this process does not identify weaknesses in the staffs' practice. As a consequence, the quality of teaching is not consistently good and requires improvement. There are appropriate vetting procedures in place to help ensure the suitability of staff working with children. There are enough qualified staff available to supervise and care for the children present. However, the deployment of staff during busy periods results in some chaotic episodes and routines. Safeguarding is effective. All staff have a secure understanding of the signs of abuse and neglect. They are aware of the procedures to follow to report any concerns that they may have. Staff complete accident and incident forms fully and share these with parents.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

The staff's quality of teaching is inconsistent. Activities for younger children are not planned and organised effectively enough to maintain their focus and attention. This means that staff do not consistently provide children with experiences that are matched to their individual learning needs. Staff in the room for two-year-old children do not recognise when to change activities in response to children's interests. Nevertheless, staff carry out regular observations of what children do and know. Older children enjoy number games in the outdoor area. They make discoveries. For example, children find a worm and talk about their observations. They discuss similarities and differences. This helps to promote their mathematical skills and understanding of the world.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare require improvement

Weaknesses in staff deployment mean staff do not consistently meet all children's learning and development needs. At busy times, staff do not adapt their practice quickly enough. As a result, children become easily bored and distracted. Furthermore, familiar handwashing routines before sitting down for food do not ensure that children follow consistently good hygiene procedures. Staff model polite interaction and children copy this behaviour with their friends. Generally, this helps children to settle and behave. Children enjoy a healthy snack of fruit and vegetables. Older children develop a wide range of physical skills during outdoors play. They maintain their balance on low beams and crates. Younger children show skill and coordination as they negotiate soft blocks in their rooms.

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Outcomes for children require improvement

Some staff do not have the skills to adjust routines and activities promptly to ensure each child makes enough progress and has a meaningful learning experience. However, children explore sensory activities, such as playing with water, dough and soil. They show an interest in counting and mark making to support early writing skills. They do develop some skills for their next stage in learning and their move on to school. Older children are sociable, they develop good friendships, independence and language skills.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY479459 Local authority North Lincolnshire Inspection number 1132973 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 2 - 4 Total number of places 60 Number of children on roll 60 Name of registered person Hayley Duggan

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 11 January 2016 Telephone number 07725094213

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reference number

Little Saplings registered in 2014. The pre-school employs nine members of childcare staff, whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at levels 2, 3, 5 and 6. The manager has early years professional status. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday, during term time only. Sessions are from 9am until 3.30pm. The pre-school 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

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reference number

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