Little Cherries

Little Cherries Bewick Bridge Community Primary School, Fulbourn Old Drift, Cherry Hinton, Cambridge, CB1 9ND

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 14 May 2018 15 July 2015

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding 1

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This provision is outstanding

 The pre-school is superbly run and managed. Leaders are passionate about their roles. They support a dedicated staff team that is very adept at recognising children's individual needs and creating challenging, exciting learning experiences.  Staff have established excellent two-way partnerships with parents. Parents praise staff for their commitment and the wonderful care they give to children.  Highly skilled staff work particularly well with those children who need additional help. Their extensive experience helps them to implement strategies expertly that give children the best possible learning opportunities.  Children have a thoroughly enjoyable time at this lively and friendly pre-school. They form firm friendships with each other and become sociable, well-rounded individuals who are exceptionally well prepared for school.  Staff make the most of all opportunities to help children learn about their diverse faiths,

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This provision is outstanding

cultures and languages. The pre-school is an extremely positive reflection of each child's unique background. Children's differences and similarities are celebrated and enjoyed.  Children's literacy skills are given a high priority. Staff engage children in enthralling storytelling sessions. They provide many opportunities for children to learn new words and practise their early writing.

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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

 continue to refine the monitoring process for groups of children, to help identify enhancements to the provision even more swiftly and precisely.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed children during their activities and evaluated their interactions with staff. She spoke with staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector took account of the views of parents spoken to on the day and looked at written testimonials.  The inspector had meetings with two members of the management committee and the manager. Documentation was sampled, including evidence of the suitability of staff, qualifications and children's records.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Committee members, managers and staff are very well trained in child protection procedures. They have a thorough understanding of the possible signs of abuse or neglect. Staff have close links with other services, such as family workers and specialist teachers. This helps them to extend their support for families. Managers positively encourage staff to continue with professional development. Training is very well targeted towards children's needs. For example, training in sign language has enhanced staff's ability to support children learning to speak English as an additional language. Staff have developed excellent links with local schools. They work closely with teachers to prepare children for their entry into Reception classes.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

Managers and staff demonstrate superior teaching skills. They have an assured confidence and deliver hugely entertaining and valuable learning experiences for all children. Information from observations and assessments is used exceptionally well to plan experiences that cater for children's individual interests and abilities. Leaders are now considering how to refine the monitoring process for groups of children even further. Children become engaged in novel activities, such as using water squirters to mix powder paint. They watch with interest as the colours merge and change. Children benefit from continuous access to the outdoor environment. This is skilfully set up to offer excellent learning opportunities and provides room for active, energetic games. Staff effortlessly converse with children and expertly question them to stimulate their thoughts and ideas.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Children's behaviour is exemplary. Staff provide positive, motivational support to promote children's self-esteem and help them to negotiate sharing and taking turns. Staff encourage children to sample healthy food. They introduce new fruit and vegetables to stimulate children's curiosity. Children prepare their own snacks, using knives skilfully and safely. Staff take children on informative outings into the community around them. They look at homes and businesses, and visit the local library and church. Staff give children's safety a high priority and implement robust risk assessments. They respond swiftly when enhancements to safety procedures are needed. For instance, they have improved the way parents collect their children at the end of sessions to minimise any risks.

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Outcomes for children are outstanding

Children, including those receiving additional funding, make outstanding progress in their learning. Children become motivated and enthusiastic learners. They demonstrate high levels of confidence and become deeply engaged in self-chosen and adult-directed activities. Children communicate well with adults and each other. They listen very well during story times and are keen to express their own ideas and opinions. Children who are learning to speak English as an additional language, in particular, quickly develop excellent communication skills.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 221863 Local authority Cambridgeshire Inspection number 1135736 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 34 Number of children on roll 65 Name of registered person Little Cherries Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 15 July 2015 Telephone number 07725951619

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reference number

Little Cherries registered in 1972 and is a registered charity managed by a voluntary committee. The pre-school has 13 members of staff, including two administrators. The manager and the deputy hold relevant childcare qualifications at level 5 and eight other staff hold qualifications at level 2 or 3. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday during school term time. Sessions are from 9am until midday and from 12.45pm until 3.45pm, with a lunch club from midday until 12.45pm. 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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