Ladybird Forest Pre-School Ampthill

Ladybird Forest Pre- School Ampthill Queens Road, Ampthill, BEDFORD MK45 2TD

p.1

Inspection date 28 March 2019 Previous inspection date Not applicable

p.1

This inspection: Outstanding 1

Previous inspection: Not applicable Effectiveness of leadership and management Outstanding 1 Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding 1 Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding 1 Outcomes for children Outstanding 1

p.1

This provision is outstanding

n The strong skills of all key persons help children to form very warm and caring bonds with them. Staff create a very happy and fun environment where children demonstrate that they feel exceptionally secure and confident in their care from an early stage. Parents comment how staff are 'incredibly nurturing'. n The whole staff team have recently achieved national and local authority awards. These have a positive impact in helping staff to be expert first-aiders and supporting children to make rapid progress. n The very well-qualified staff team are inspirational. They have a real thirst to continue to extend their knowledge. Each member of staff embraces their chosen specialist area of teaching or responsibility. Robust supervision meetings and excellent training opportunities are thoroughly effective and embedded. Staff share their expertise with other providers to help improve outcomes for children.

p.1

This provision is outstanding

n Excellent partnerships with parents are in place. Staff involve them in every aspect of their children's learning. They provide parents with superb opportunities to attend an extensive range of information sessions and ideas to help support their children's progress at home. n Daily forest-school sessions support children to develop an excellent understanding of the natural world and how to keep safe. For example, they cook popcorn on the campfire and learn about life cycles as they observe frog spawn turning in to tadpoles.

p.1

What the setting needs to do to improve further

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

p.2

What the setting needs to do to improve further

n continue to enhance the already excellent outdoor areas to provide even further exemplary learning experiences.

p.2

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 manager. n The inspector held a meeting with the manager and had discussions with the provider. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the pre-school. n The inspector spoke to parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

p.2

Effectiveness of leadership and management is outstanding

Safeguarding is effective. Staff have a very secure knowledge of the action to take if they have concerns about a child's welfare. The manager and staff are relentless in their pursuit of excellence. They use a wealth of detailed audits and incisive self-evaluation as a powerful tool for improvement. The highly stimulating outdoor areas provide excellent learning opportunities for children. Additionally, the staff have innovative plans to inspire children's imaginative play outdoors even further. The manager's sharp focus on monitoring children's progress identifies and addresses gaps as soon as they emerge. Excellent partnerships with other professionals are in place to successfully support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Partnerships with other providers that children attend are exceptionally effective.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

Staff use their detailed observations and precise assessments to meticulously plan exciting and highly stimulating experiences. All children are highly motivated to learn. Staff are extremely attuned to children's individual needs and consistently adapt their excellent teaching skills. Children are expert problem solvers. For instance, they work together to create a ramp using planks of wood. Children experiment how to adjust the angle of the planks to make a wooden cylinder roll down the ramp at different speeds. Focused group activities provide children with excellent opportunities to further enhance their concentration and listening skills. For instance, children show that they are fascinated to hear about how a cow is milked. Staff's superb use of questioning helps children to develop excellent language and deep critical thinking skills. This motivates children to use complex sentences to recall previous experiences.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Staff are outstanding role models and children behave exceptionally well. They consistently demonstrate friendly and respectful relationships with each other and staff. For example, children help each other climb down from the birdwatching station. Children follow a superb hygiene routine and are responsible individuals. Staff provide children with excellent opportunities to learn about people in the wider community, particularly those who are less familiar. Children positively respond to staff's excellent emotional support during changes in their lives.

p.3

Outcomes for children are outstanding

All children make rapid progress from their individual starting points. They are extremely independent from a young age. Children solve complex mathematical problems. They link letters to sounds and confidently write their name and other words. These key skills prepare children exceptionally well for their eventual move to school.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY541389 Local authority Central Bedfordshire Inspection number 10090226 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

p.4

Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Sessional day care Age range of children 2 - 7 Total number of places 43 Number of children on roll 98 Name of registered person Ladybird Forest Pre-School Ampthill

p.4

reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 01525406703

p.4

reference number

Ladybirds Forest Pre-School Ampthill re-registered in 2017. It employs 16 members of childcare staff. Of these, 12 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above, including the manager and another member of staff who hold qualifications at level 6. The setting operates from 7.45am until 6pm, Monday to Friday, during term time. It also operates a holiday club during some school holidays from 9am until 4pm. The setting provides funded early education for three- and four-year-old children.

p.4

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.

p.4

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.

p.4

reference number

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.5

reference number

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open- government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk

p.5

reference number

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: www.ofsted.gov.uk/user .

p.5

reference number

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

p.5