Norton-Le-Moors Primary Academy

Little Ashes Pre-School Parish Hall, Horsepond Great Brickhill, Milton Keynes MK17 9BA

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Inspection date 6 June 2019 Previous inspection date 24 June 2015

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This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Outstanding 1 Effectiveness of leadership and management Good 2 Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2 Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2 Outcomes for children Good 2

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This provision is good

n Staff work very hard to provide children with a bright and stimulating environment in this 'set out and pack away' pre-school group. Children benefit from unique opportunities to enjoy outdoor activities in the nearby woods and playground. n Children are happy and acquire excellent social skills. They make good progress in their learning through play and are inquisitive, curious and keen to learn. n Parents speak very highly of the pre-school and especially value the daily conversations about their child's learning and welfare. They state that, 'This is the most incredible place. Staff are marvelous, and my child cannot wait to come'. n Children resolve conflicts successfully during play and are very well behaved, kind and helpful. Staff value children as individuals and have an excellent rapport with them and each other. n There are highly effective partnerships with other professionals to ensure that children

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This provision is good

who may have difficulties with speech and language development are swiftly identified and actively supported to catch up with their peers. n Staff do not always make the most effective use of questioning to extend children's learning to the highest possible level. n The tracking of children's progress does not always reflect the good knowledge of staff and show the progress children make from their starting points.

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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 enhance staff's use of careful questioning to extend children's learning to the highest possible level n strengthen the tracking of children's achievements to ensure it accurately reflects what staff know about children and clearly shows how quickly they are making progress from their starting points.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

n The inspector had a tour of the premises and observed activities taking place indoors and outdoors. n The inspector completed two observations of activities with the manager and evaluated these with her. They discussed the management of the pre-school at various times during the visit. n The inspector sampled documentation, including evidence of staff suitability, policies and procedures and qualification certificates. n The inspector held a meeting with the committee chair and talked to staff and children at appropriate points in the inspection. n The inspector spoke to parents and took account of their verbal feedback.

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Effectiveness of leadership and management is good

The pre-school manager is very experienced and has high expectations of her well- qualified staff team. Safeguarding is effective. The manager ensures all staff understand their safeguarding roles and responsibilities. They know what to do if they are worried about a child and they maintain a safe environment for children. The committee provides very strong support for the manager and her staff team, who constantly reflect on, and evaluate, their daily practice. Effective monitoring, staff supervision meetings and further training ensure staff's continuous professional development. Staff use the skills they gain to enhance the daily experiences for children. Staff are proactive in promoting partnerships with the other early years settings that children currently attend, to help provide a consistent, shared approach to children's learning.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Children develop good relationships with staff and learn to value and respect the feelings and opinions of others. For example, they playfully decide to tie the manager to a tree in the woods and cooperate to find enough skipping ropes to achieve this. They work together to tie the knots, resolve a dispute and then set her free when she expresses her mock distress. Staff assist a child to complete the balance trail and, filled with new confidence, the child then proudly completes another circuit all by herself. Staff tailor children's learning to meet their needs and interests, using their in-depth knowledge of what children know and can do. A focus on learning about farm life involved children enjoying sensory play with 'pigs' in mixed cornflour and cocoa powder 'mud'. Children choose what story they wish to hear and concentrate well as they join in with the popular refrain in 'Superworm'. Each child's key person gathers information about their

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

progress in learning so that no child gets left behind.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff provide a warm welcome to children and their parents. They give children lots of choices in their play experiences, enabling them to choose resources readily and decide how to use them. They help children to manage any disagreements that arise and to be tolerant and respectful towards people who are different from themselves. Children gain a good awareness of a healthy diet and lifestyle through discussions around the daily routines. Staff encourage children's independence in pouring their milk or water. They promote early counting skills and confidence as they encourage children to take two pieces of pear and to butter their two crackers. Staff teach children to stay safe through, for example, gentle reminders and focused discussions as they play.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children progress well from their starting points. They benefit from the professionalism of the caring and attentive staff. Children develop into interested and motivated learners. They develop a wide range of skills that prepare them well for their future lives and for school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 140859 Local authority Buckinghamshire Inspection number 10108488 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 26 Number of children on roll 18 Name of registered person Little Ashes Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 24 June 2015 Telephone number 07855 215154

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reference number

Little Ashes Pre-School registered in 1995 and is managed by a parent committee. It operates from the village hall in Great Brickhill, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire. The pre- school is open on weekdays during school term times from 9am until midday, with a lunch club on some days from midday until 12.30pm. It is in receipt of funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four years. The committee employs three members of staff, all of whom hold relevant early years qualifications at a minimum of level 3.

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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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reference number

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

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