Little Learners Preschool

Inspection of Little Learners Playgroup Brandram Road Community Centre, Brandram Road, London SE13 5RT

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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 Inadequate

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The provision is good

Children and their families feel welcome at this inclusive setting. Children who speak English as an additional language benefit from opportunities to engage in activities that reflect their home languages, cultures and traditions. Children's interests and choices are valued. The manager has high expectations for all children. She guides staff well to plan stimulating and challenging experiences for individual children. Children who have younger siblings are interested in exploring activities such as washing baby dolls, and staff skilfully plan role-play experiences that help to meet their needs. Young children settle well. They form friendships and engage in a common theme of play with other children, such as wheeling play trucks around in the garden. Older children learn to describe emotions. They watch eagerly as staff show them how to draw a smiley face. Staff teach children to care for their personal safety, for instance how to sit safely on a chair. Children use their

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The provision is good

imagination to make a 'hedgehog' with natural resources, such as a pumpkin and twigs. Children are happy, confident and motivated to explore. Children behave well and share and take turns during play. Staff miss some opportunities to clarify information when they introduce children to new concepts. They continue to consider ways to provide consistent opportunities for children to build on their self- help skills.

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need to do better?

n Self-evaluation is effective. The manager has improved the arrangements for staff induction and training. She ensures that all staff are trained on safeguarding matters. Staff understand their roles and responsibilities, for instance to complete progress checks for children aged two years. n The manager supports staff well to help them manage their work effectively. The team works well together, to plan an ambitious curriculum for the children, and to achieve good standards in the quality of children's learning and care. n Staff plan well to encourage children's engagement and responses to stories and songs. Children choose what they would like to sing or read and all children, including those who speak English as an additional language, are encouraged to join in the actions and words. Children build on their vocabulary. All children, including those from different groups, make good progress from their starting

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need to do better?

points. n Older children learn to count, for instance, as they measure ingredients to make play dough. Parents are informed of their children's learning experiences and the resources staff use, such as a clock, to help children learn to identify numbers. This helps parents to continue children's learning at home. n Staff provide opportunities for children to learn about different occupations. Children replay their observations of the real world, for instance, as they pretend to be shopkeepers and customers and buy food from the play shop. Children

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need to do better?

5 November 2019 build on their understanding of people and communities. n Staff support children well to help them build a consistent understanding of the rules and behavioural expectations at the setting. Staff work closely with parents to share ideas and agree strategies that help to manage children's behaviour positively. n Staff provide opportunities for children to build on their physical skills. They teach children how to hold tools and mark-making equipment effectively. Children learn to coordinate their movements, for instance, as they sweep the leaves in the garden. n The manager establishes close partnerships with schools. She invites teachers to observe children at the playgroup. She shares information effectively with staff to help support a smooth transition for children. n At times, staff do not provide clear information to help children understand new concepts. For instance, they tell children that oil is 'thicker' than water but do

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need to do better?

not provide sufficient time and opportunity for children to deepen their understanding of what is being said. n Some routines are not organised well enough to fully support children's self-help skills. For instance, children's coats are left in a pile in a basket, and children depend on staff to find their coats for them when they prepare to go outdoors. Staff do not always allow enough time for children to learn to get their coats on by themselves.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Leaders and staff have a clear understanding of the signs and symptoms that cause concern for children's welfare and the procedures to follow to safeguard children. They have up-to-date knowledge of the 'Prevent' duty guidance. The manager completes specific risk assessments as necessary and ensures that children are safe as they learn to take appropriate risks. Staff maintain records of accidents and incidents, as required, and share the information with parents.

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should:

n continue to strengthen opportunities for children to build consistently on their self-help skills n strengthen staff skills so they consistently provide clear information to children, particularly when introducing new concepts, to help enhance children's understanding further.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY548559 Local authority Lewisham Inspection number 10112828 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 25 Number of children on roll 34 Name of registered person Little Learners Playgroup Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 07595120744 Date of previous inspection 3 June 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Little Learners Playgroup registered in 2016. It is located in the London Borough of Lewisham. The playgroup operates during term time. It is open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9.30am until 2.30pm, on Tuesdays from 9.30am to 1pm, and on Thursdays from 9.30am to midday. There are four members of staff, including the manager. Two members of staff have qualified teacher status and the others have childcare qualifications at levels 2 and 3.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector accompanied the manager on a learning walk and assessed how the curriculum is planned to meet the needs of children. n The inspector observed children during activities and how staff interacted with them. n The inspector took account of the views of parents. n The inspector observed an activity, jointly with the manager, and discussed how she monitors the quality of teaching. n The inspector viewed a sample of documents including staff suitability checks and recruitment records.

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Inspection activities

5 November 2019 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

5 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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