Little Ducklings Pre-School

Little Ducklings Pre-School Hangleton Community Centre, Harmsworth Crescent, Hove, East Sussex, BN3 8BW

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 2 July 2018 4 June 2015

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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:

 Although the manager and staff have reviewed some aspects of their safeguarding knowledge and updated the policies and procedures, not all staff have a secure understanding of how to protect children who may be at risk from extreme behaviours or views.  Staff do not consistently use their assessments of children's development to ensure they have an accurate knowledge of children's needs and their next steps in learning. Not all children make the progress of which they are capable.  The quality of teaching is variable. Staff do not always support and extend children's communication and language development effectively. This includes children who speak English as an additional language.  Children are not provided with many opportunities during child-initiated play to help support their early writing skills.

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It has the following strengths

 Children are happy and settled. They have positive relationships with staff. They help themselves to the resources set out for them and happily explore indoors and outside.  Staff supervise children as they play and during routines to ensure that they are safe. They are aware of children's dietary requirements and encourage them to eat well.  Staff work well with parents to keep them informed about their children's day. Parents speak highly about the care their children receive.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

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

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Due Date

 ensure all staff use the information gained through training to improve their knowledge of the 'Prevent' duty and wider safeguarding issues 02/08/2018

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Due Date

 improve the assessment procedures to ensure staff use the information gained from observations to accurately identify children's levels of achievement and next steps in learning. 02/08/2018

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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

 provide staff with highly tailored individual support to deliver consistently effective teaching to support children's communication and language development  further develop teaching strategies to support children's early writing skills during child- initiated play.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed how staff-to-child ratios are met. She also observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector spoke with the manager, staff, children and parents at appropriate times during the inspection.  The inspector looked at samples of children's records. She also looked at evidence of the suitability of staff working with the children.  The inspector carried out a joint observation of an activity with the manager and discussed children's play and learning.  The inspector sampled a range of other documentation, including risk assessments and the safeguarding policy and procedures.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The management team and staff know what to do if there are any concerns about a child's welfare or a member of staff, including management. Following an ongoing review of safeguarding procedures, the management team knows the procedures to follow if there is an allegation against a member of staff. Overall, the management team and staff have an appropriate awareness of the signs and symptoms of possible abuse. However, some staff are less secure on their understanding of wider safeguarding issues relating to the 'Prevent' duty. The management team works closely with committee members to ensure that staff working with children are suitable to do so. The robust recruitment and vetting procedures, monitoring of staff and supervision meetings contribute to this. Staff complete risk assessments to help ensure a safe environment. They respond appropriately to any

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

Since the last inspection, the team has reviewed its planning and assessment procedures. Staff are becoming familiar with the newly implemented process. They complete observations, including the required progress check at age two, and share children's progress with parents. However, staff do not always accurately analyse the information gained from observations to have a secure understanding of children's precise learning needs. Children enjoy exploring resources, such as play figures surrounded by ice. They use their imagination well as they pretend to sell ice creams in the playhouse and discover small creatures outdoors. Overall, staff support children as they play. However, they miss opportunities to increase children's language skills and enhance children's thoughts and ideas.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare require improvement

New children are helped to settle and key persons are kind and attentive to them. They offer reassurance as necessary. Staff help children to behave well and take turns during their play. They share information with other professionals involved in children's lives. Staff help children to develop good hygiene routines. However, weaknesses in teaching have some negative impact on children's personal development. Children have regular opportunities to engage in physical play, such as riding wheeled toys outdoors. Staff remind children about how to keep themselves safe during routines and play, such as not running indoors.

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Outcomes for children require improvement

Overall, children are gaining some skills that they need for school. Older children attend to their own personal needs and younger children listen attentively to stories. They know how to join in the registration sessions and respond when their name is called to join in with activities. Children recognise colours and count each other during the day. However, they do not have many opportunities to practise writing for a purpose during their play.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 130750 Local authority Brighton & Hove Inspection number 1139740 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 24 Number of children on roll 35 Name of registered person Little Ducklings Pre-School Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 4 June 2015 Telephone number 01273 248532

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reference number

Little Ducklings Pre-School registered in 1999. It operates from Hangleton Community Centre in Hove, East Sussex. The pre-school is open each weekday from 9.15am to 3.15pm, during term time only. It employs seven members of staff. Of these, three hold early years qualifications at level 3 and three hold level 2. The pre-school is in receipt of early education funding for children aged two, three and four years.

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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

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

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