Little Explorers

Little Explorers Thorney Toll Village Hall, Main Road Thorney Toll, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, PE13 4AR

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 26 April 2018 Not applicable

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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 provider is well qualified and experienced. She values her staff, who share her commitment to provide children with good-quality learning experiences to help them make good progress.  Staff work in close partnership with parents from the start. They regularly share information about children's learning and development and value parents' contributions about their child's achievements at home. This contributes to the good progress children make.  Children are well settled and quickly establish strong bonds with staff. They demonstrate that they feel safe and secure. Children are relaxed and confident to explore. They choose from a wide range of toys and resources indoors and outdoors.  Staff promote healthy lifestyles well. Children learn how to grow, harvest and prepare fruits and vegetables with staff. They learn how healthy food choices benefit their growing bodies. Children have regular opportunities to explore the well-resourced

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Sometimes, children do not have enough time to think about how to respond to staff's questions and comments.  Occasionally, staff do not make the most of opportunities to extend children's awareness and understanding of measure and capacity.

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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

 give children more time to think about and respond to questions  provide more opportunities to help children develop their awareness and understanding of measure and capacity.

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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 pre-school manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the pre-school 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 is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff receive regular training and updates in child protection issues. They confidently fulfil their role to protect children from harm. They know what to do should they have a concern about a child's welfare. The provider carefully reviews the progress of individual and groups of children. She uses this information to quickly support any gaps in children's learning and to help evaluate the effectiveness of the provision. The provider ensures staff receive appropriate training and support to help their teaching improve. For instance, staff reflect recent focused training on how children learn in the quality of observations and assessments they make. Feedback from parents is very positive. They state that they feel their children make good progress, and that they enjoy themselves at the pre-school.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Experienced and well-qualified staff know the children very well. They plan a wide range of learning experiences which reflects children's emerging interests and offer appropriate challenge for their individual stage of development. Staff place a strong focus on early communication skills and children's social and emotional development. Children who speak English as an additional language especially benefit from this. They settle quickly and make very good progress in understanding and speaking English. Children are very imaginative in their play. For example, they move their bodies to show the movement of the pirate ship as they search for treasure through cardboard tube telescopes. Children build good number skills. They confidently count the children present for snack and find the appropriate digit using a number line.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff are good role models for children. They are kind, welcoming and friendly. They promote equality throughout the pre-school. Children behave well and develop good social skills. They build friendships with their peers. Staff give children lots of praise and encouragement. This helps children to build good levels of self-esteem. Children are enthusiastic to join in with activities and learn about the wider community. They are active learners who listen well and reflect new ideas they have learned in their play. For example, staff explain the significance of the English flag children see in the community to celebrate Saint George's Day. Children are inspired to design and paint their own flags.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children make good progress given their starting points and capabilities. Children share and take turns as they play. They show respect towards each other and the environment. Children are confident and gain good independence. They are building good literacy skills. They enjoy sharing books and retelling stories they know. Children have good opportunities to explore marks they make in a range of media, such as paint and shaving foam. They gain key skills and positive attitudes to support the next stage in learning and the eventual move on to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY498968 Local authority Cambridgeshire Inspection number 1045410 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 28 Number of children on roll 7 Name of registered person Diane Joyce Rutterford

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reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 07561006952

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reference number

Little Explorers registered in 2016. The pre-school opens Monday to Friday, from 9am until 4pm, during term time. The pre-school employs four members of childcare staff. Of these, three hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and the provider, who is also the manager, holds a qualification at level 4. 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

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

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