Little Fishes Pre-School

Little Fishes Pre School Brackley Baptist Church, Waynflete Close, BRACKLEY, Northamptonshire NN13 6AE

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Inspection date 11 March 2019 Previous inspection date 10 November 2015

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Previous inspection: Good 2 Effectiveness of leadership and management Inadequate 4 Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2 Personal development, behaviour and welfare Inadequate 4 Outcomes for children Good 2

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This provision is inadequate

n Despite being on the committee for a significant length of time and in senior roles, committee members have not been confirmed as suitable by Ofsted. Recently joined members of the committee have not promptly secured the necessary Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks. This places children at risk of harm. n Staff do not adapt their teaching consistently to help quieter and less-confident children extend their learning and take a more active part in activities. n The new manager has not yet embedded her plans to help staff members raise the quality of their teaching to the highest levels.

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It has the following strengths

n Staff are using the new planning system well. They identify activities precisely that help children to achieve the targeted next steps in their learning. All children make good progress relative to their starting points. n Staff provide explanations that help children to consider the consequences of their actions. This helps children to manage small risks carefully and behave well. n Staff are very skilled at helping children to value each other's differences. Children enjoy the dual-language stories that parent visitors read to them. These reflect the different languages that children use. Staff teach children to consider each other's differing needs to help each other. For example, children readily tidy away toys to clear a path for wheelchairs.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To meet the requirements of the early years foundation stage and Childcare Register the provider must: Due date supply the relevant information to Ofsted and complete an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check for all committee members so their suitability can be assessed. 18/04/2019

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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

n adapt teaching more so that quieter and less-confident children get the most learning they can from activities n monitor staff further to identify more consistently targeted development opportunities for each staff member, to help raise practice consistently to the highest quality.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

Inspection activities n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector spoke with staff and children during the inspection. n The inspector completed a joint observation with the pre-school manager. n The inspector held a meeting with the pre-school manager and the secretary of the committee. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of the committee members and staff working in the pre-school. n The inspector spoke to parents and considered their views as represented by the manager.

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Effectiveness of leadership and management is inadequate

Safeguarding is ineffective. The provider has not informed Ofsted of changes to the management committee. Most members of the management committee have failed to provide Ofsted with the required information to confirm their suitability in a timely manner. They have not completed the required DBS checks for those who have joined the committee more recently. Those acting as members of the governing body who hold safeguarding and recruitment responsibilities, have not been confirmed as being suitable for their role. This is a breach of the statutory framework for the early years foundation stage. That said, all other committee members have completed the DBS checks. The manager ensures the ongoing suitability of all staff. She ensures all the staff are aware of their responsibilities to safeguard children. They are all alert to any signs that may indicate a child protection concern. Some staff demonstrate expertise in protecting

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Effectiveness of leadership and management is inadequate

children's welfare. They take a lead role in coordinating help and services to support children and their families. The manager and staff meet together to reflect on the setting's strengths and to identify some areas to develop. All staff are committed to ensuring new improvements are effective. The manager monitors individual children's development well to help ensure all children make good progress. The high levels of qualification of some staff reflect well in their understanding of how children learn. The manager provides supervision arrangements for all staff. This is helping to build good relationships amongst the new staff team and to boost their confidence. Partnerships with other professionals are effective in supporting children with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff are skilled at helping children gain mathematical skills. They change their questions to reflect children's differing levels of understanding well. Staff help older children to match written numerals to quantities, alongside younger children who are learning to count objects. They provide many opportunities for two-year-old children to explore using their senses. Staff help them develop their language skills as they enjoy filling and emptying containers with water. They encourage older children to be imaginative. Children enjoy making models of snails and ice cream from play dough as they follow their own ideas. Staff sing to children and encourage them to join in with songs. They plan targeted activities that help older children gain good literacy skills.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are inadequate

Weaknesses in leadership and management mean children's well-being and safety cannot be assured. However, all staff are nurturing in their interactions. They are attentive towards children. This helps staff ensure children are comfortable in their play. They quickly pick up on children's non-verbal ways of communicating. Staff recognise when children, who are playing outside, are cold and help them to put on gloves. They generously praise children for their achievements and efforts. This helps to promote children's confidence. Staff work well with parents to help ensure high levels of continuity for children. They keep parents well informed about their children's learning and they encourage them to share their children's achievements from home. Children play energetically every day. They enjoy healthy snacks and learn to use the toilet independently.

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Outcomes for children are good

The manager ensures effective use of extra funding for specific children. This enables these children to catch up when there are gaps in their individual learning. Children with English as an additional language learn English quickly as a result of targeted support. Staff model language well and they encourage children to use their home languages in their play. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities make sustained progress. They benefit from more specific care that supports their complex needs. Children gain key skills that prepare them well for future learning and for starting school. They gain secure literacy and mathematical skills. Children learn to read and write their names. Some older children count past 10 accurately and talk about shapes in their play. For example, they explain they are cutting their play dough ice cream in half. Children learn social skills well. They share and take turns readily.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 219979 Local authority Northamptonshire Inspection number 10065133 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Sessional day care Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 35 Number of children on roll 34 Name of registered person Little Fishes Pre-School (Brackley) Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 10 November 2015 Telephone number 01280 705295

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reference number

Little Fishes Pre-School (Brackley), Northamptonshire registered in 1994. The pre-school employs seven members of childcare staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications ranging from level 2 to level 6, including two with qualified teacher status. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday during term time only. Sessions are from 9am until midday. 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.ofsted.gov.uk . 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 and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, 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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