Little Dragons Pre- School

Inspection of Little Dragons Pre- School Church Meadow Bungalow, Hall Road, Great Bromley, COLCHESTER CO7 7TR

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Outstanding

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The provision is good

The pre-school staff offer a warm and welcoming provision. They continually reflect on and adapt the environment to meet the needs of children attending, particularly those with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Children develop relationships with their key person and staff. This helps them to feel safe and secure. Staff are quick to recognise when children find some routines, such as circle time, difficult and implement strategies well to support those children.

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The provision is good

Children show an extremely positive attitude to learning and are eager to participate in activities. They relish in taking on responsibilities in the pre-school, such as being the 'health and safety officer' and know to 'check the gate'. Children enjoy being active and spending time outdoors. They are eager to help with gardening tasks, such as raking leaves and then placing them in a wheelbarrow. Staff are vigilant and ensure children always remain safe. They are close by as children take age-appropriate risks.

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The provision is good

Children develop positive behaviours to support them in their future learning. For instance, they are confident to use a sand timer when they would like to take a turn with a popular item. Staff continually provide children with meaningful praise. This helps to raise children's confidence superbly.

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need to do better?

n Staff develop highly effective partnership working with parents. They fully involve parents in their children's ongoing learning. Staff encourage parents to regularly share what children enjoy and the activities they have done at home. Parents comment favourably on the small setting and appreciate the support they receive from staff. n Staff create interesting and inviting spaces for children to play. For example, they make cosy spaces for children to use to share a book with staff or to sit quietly. Staff support children well to develop their communication skills. They join children as they play and comment on what they do. Staff use strategies such as sign language and photograph boards to further promote children's understanding. n Children are familiar with the pre-school routines and listen well to staff when asked to 'stop and show five'. They enjoy singing familiar songs and rhymes with staff. Children use props to help select the next song and happily join in with the

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need to do better?

actions. n The manager is a good role model for staff. She interacts well with the children, demonstrating high-quality teaching skills. The manager holds meetings with staff and provides feedback about how they can continually develop their practice. Staff share that they enjoy working at the pre-school.

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need to do better?

6 November 2019 n Staff offer families a home visit when children start. This helps them to understand what each child can do and what their interests are. They observe children as they play in the pre-school and regularly assess the progress they make. Staff promptly identify any gaps in children's learning, keep parents informed and seek out additional support when needed. n Children have a voice in the pre-school. For instance, they record on sticky notes the toys and resources they would like out next. Staff add these to the planning board and use this information to set out activities for the children. n Partnerships within the community are strong. For example, children have regular opportunities to use local facilities, such as the mobile library van. Staff have good links with the school and children have opportunities to become familiar with the environment. For instance, they can attend school assemblies in

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need to do better?

the summer term. Children take part in events at the church. School-age children comment that they enjoy attending the before-and-after school club at the pre-school. n Staff make sure that children have a broad range of activities to help them develop and learn. They provide interesting resources, such as real-life items, that enable children to explore. The quality of teaching is generally strong. However, on occasions, staff do not offer a high enough challenge for those older or most-able children, so they can make the best possible progress in their learning. For example, staff do not always encourage children to think deeply or solve problems for themselves.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The management committee implements thorough procedures to ensure the safe recruitment of staff. All staff have a clear understanding of their role to protect children from harm. They know the possible sign of abuse and neglect and understand wider issues surrounding child protection. Staff are fully aware of what to do if they have any concerns about children's welfare. The management team ensures that staff keep their knowledge up to date through regular discussions and scenarios.

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should:

n enhance staff's teaching further, with a focus on providing the most-able children with challenge, in order to extend their learning to the highest level.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY456758 Local authority Essex Inspection number 10127338 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 Full day care Age range of children 2 to 11 Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 21

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Name of registered person

Little Dragons Pre-School Great Bromley & Frating Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01206 231823 Date of previous inspection 26 June 2013

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Information about this early years setting

Little Dragons Pre-School registered in 2012. The pre-school employs eight members of childcare staff. Of these, seven hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 and above, including the manager who holds early years professional status. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday during term time. Sessions are from 9am until 3.30pm on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and from 9am until 12.30pm on Tuesday. The pre-school provides a breakfast club from 8am to 9am and an after-school club from 3pm to 5.30pm. It also offers a holiday club. The pre-school provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector had a tour of the pre-school and made observations throughout the inspection of children's experiences in the pre-school. n The inspector spoke with staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector completed a joint observation with the manager. n The inspector held a meeting with the manager. She looked at a sample of the pre-school's documents. This included evidence about staff's suitability and training. n The views of parents were considered. The inspector spoke to parents during the inspection and looked at written feedback provided.

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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

6 November 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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