Little Dragons Preschool

Little Dragons Preschool Lady Seawards C of E Primary School, Clyst St. George, Exeter, EX3 0RE

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 26 April 2018 14 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

 The manager is committed to the continued development of the pre-school. She takes good account of the views of staff, parents and children to reflect effectively on areas to improve.  Staff engage children in a wide range of interesting activities that helps them be motivated, confident and eager to learn. Children have a positive attitude to learning and make good progress from their starting points.  Staff develop strong partnerships with parents. They share information regularly regarding children's progress through, for example, reports and the progress check for two-year-olds. Staff help parents to support their children's learning at home. For instance, children borrow books to share at home with their parents.  Staff are positive role models and utilise a range of strategies well to support children's good behaviour. For example, staff acknowledge children's acts of kindness and helpfulness using the 'kindness tree'. Children share toys and play harmoniously.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 On occasion, staff do not use the assessment systems as well as they could, to identify older children's next stages of development across all areas of learning, to better inform their planning.  At times, staff direct children too much during planned creative activities. This does not fully support children to express their individual creative ideas and imagination.

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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

 develop the assessment systems further to consistently identify older children's next steps of development across all areas of learning, to further support planning  extend the opportunities for children to freely express their ideas during planned creative activities.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the children and staff engaged in activities, indoors and outdoors, and talked to them at appropriate times.  The inspector conducted a joint observation with the manager. The inspector met with the manager at appropriate times throughout the inspection to discuss how she monitors and supports staff.  The inspector looked at a range of relevant documentation, including policies and children's records.  The inspector checked evidence of staff suitability and their qualifications.  The inspector took account of the views of parents and carers spoken to on the day of the inspection.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. The manager and staff understand fully how to keep children safe and what to do if they have safeguarding concerns. Staff complete detailed risk assessments, helping children to play in a safe and secure learning environment. The manager has regular meetings with staff to support their professional development and improve their teaching skills. For example, following on from training, staff have increased their knowledge of how to develop children's communication and language skills. The manager works very closely with the local school and other settings children attend. For example, staff share important information and carry out joint activities with the school. This helps to provide good continuity of learning for children. The manager monitors children's progress well and ensures children receive any additional support they need to help them catch up.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff support children's developing literacy and mathematical skills well. They encourage children to link letters to sounds using familiar objects and children recognise names as they put out name cards for lunch. Children confidently count how many of their friends are at the pre-school that day and use the vocabulary involved in adding. Staff make good use of local amenities with, for example, trips to the local nature garden and church. These outings add exciting experiences to the broad curriculum on offer. Staff use a variety of methods to support children's communication and language skills well. For instance, they encourage conversations and introduce new vocabulary to younger children. Staff boost children's confidence and self-esteem with positive praise.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff create a nurturing environment where children feel happy and secure. This supports children's emotional well-being effectively. Children learn about leading healthy lifestyles, for example, by enjoying nutritious snacks together and growing their own vegetables with staff. Every day, staff choose children to be special helpers. Children thoroughly enjoy taking on the small responsibilities, such as ringing the bell for tidy-up time. Staff support children's physical development successfully. Children show excitement as they dance, balance and play team games together. They cheer each other on enthusiastically during relay races. Staff encourage children to take small risks in a safe way. For example, they support children sensitively as they climb trees and jump from low branches.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children gain good skills that prepare them well for the move on to school. Children are active learners and enjoy being independent, such as when they zip up their own coats before going outside. They enjoy making marks with chalk as they draw around each other's bodies and are beginning to write their names.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY301081 Local authority Devon Inspection number 1092216 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 20 Number of children on roll 34 Name of registered person Little Dragons (Clyst St George) Ltd

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 14 April 2015 Telephone number 01392257001

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reference number

Little Dragons Preschool registered in 2005. It operates from Lady Seawards Church of England Primary School in the village of Clyst St George, near Exeter, Devon. It is open Monday to Thursday during term time only from 8.45am to 3.15pm. The pre-school receives funding to provide free early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. There are five members of staff. Of these, one holds a qualification at level 5, two hold a qualification at level 3 and two are unqualified.

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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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