Little Aston Pre-School

Inspection of Little Aston Pre-School Little Aston Village Hall, Little Aston Lane, Sutton Coldfield B74 3UF

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not applicable

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The provision is good

Children are eager to join in and play as soon as they arrive at this small and friendly pre-school. Gradual settling-in sessions before children join help them to feel emotionally secure. Staff greet children warmly and support any children who feel a little unsettled to find the toys they like. Children can choose from a variety of activities available to them. As a result, children are soon busily engaged in play and learning. Children are excited to explore activities. For example, they eagerly make potato prints with paint and join in with singing and action songs.

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The provision is good

Staff are good role models and build warm relationships with children. They provide plenty of praise and encouragement to build on children's self-esteem. Children are confident and growing in independence. For example, they help to tidy toys away and hang their coats up when they come inside. Children's behaviour is good and they listen to instructions well. Staff explain to children the potential consequences their actions could have on others. For example, as children are listening to a story, staff remind them to sit down so they can all see the book.

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need to do better?

n The leaders are committed to continual improvement of the pre-school provision. They encourage staff to regularly reflect on what they do and how they teach. However, although staff receive support to enhance the overall quality of their practice, current arrangements for professional development are not strong enough to raise staff's knowledge and skills to a consistently high level. n Staff carefully monitor children's progress to ensure all children, including those who are in receipt of early education funding, make good progress from their starting points. Children are well prepared for the next stage in their education. n Parents are highly valued as partners and speak very positively about staff and the provision. They comment about how much progress their children make and how much their children enjoy attending. Parents appreciate the wealth of information staff provide about their child's learning and achievements.

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need to do better?

n Staff are committed and enthusiastic. They engage well with children, using their interests to plan and adapt activities to suit their individual abilities. For example, when children show an interest in recent building work, staff set up a construction area inside. Children enjoy getting together for group-time. However, some of these activities are not always planned and organised effectively enough to sustain children's attention. n Staff ask some meaningful questions to test children's knowledge. They provide new words to build on their current vocabulary and extend their understanding. For example, as children play with pretend food, staff ask what food it is and model the correct answers if children are unsure.

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need to do better?

3 October 2019 n Children develop the skills that will help them learn to read and write. They use a variety of mark-making materials, encouraging their finer movements and control. For example, they make marks with pens and paint. They see adults writing and some children try to copy and write their names. Children listen to stories and look at books independently. They repeat familiar phrases and talk about what will happen next. n Staff introduce children to mathematics as they play. For example, they help them to count. At other times, staff help children to think about shape and size as they fix train tracks together or build with construction pieces. n Children are learning how to develop healthy lifestyles, such as the importance of eating healthy food. Staff encourage children to develop an understanding of where food comes from and how it grows. For example, children are encouraged to bring in fruit and vegetables from home. They enjoy tasting different types of

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need to do better?

food and comment that nutritious food will help them to, 'Grow big and strong'. Children follow good hygiene practices to promote their good health. They know that they should wash their hands before eating.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager ensures all staff undertake relevant training that helps to extend their knowledge of how to protect children's welfare. Staff know about the signs that could indicate a child may be at risk of harm and how to report a concern. The manager keeps updated with local safeguarding procedures. Staff know the action they must take if they have concerns about a child. Staff risk assess thoroughly to ensure potential risks are managed effectively. They supervise children closely and ensure the required adult-to-child ratio is maintained at all times.

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should:

n support staff to raise the quality of their teaching to a consistently higher level n review and organise focused group activities more effectively to further maintain children's attention and engagement.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY544909 Local authority Staffordshire Inspection number 10104311 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Sessional day care Age range of children 2 to 4 Total number of places 32 Number of children on roll 40 Name of registered person Little Aston Pre-School Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 07950047172 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Little Aston Pre-School registered in 2017. The pre-school opens Monday to Thursday from 9.30am to 3pm and on Friday from 9.30am to 12.30pm, during term time only. The pre-school employs five members of childcare staff. Of these, four members of staff hold qualifications at level 3 to level 6, including one member of staff with qualified teacher status. The pre-school provides funded early education for two-, three-, and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector and manager discussed how activities are set up in the hall to understand how the curriculum is organised. n The inspector observed staff and children at play and talked to them about their activities. n The inspector completed a joint observation with the pre-school manager. n A variety of documents, including qualifications, first-aid certificates, policies and records were reviewed. n The inspector discussed leadership and management with the manager and provided feedback regarding the inspection. n The inspector spoke to parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Inspection activities

We carried out this inspection 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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Inspection activities

3 October 2019 regulates and inspects to 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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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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