Dolphins Pre School

Inspection of Dolphins Pre School The Pavilion, Nevill Playing Fields, Off Eridge Road, Hove BN3 7QD

p.1

Overall effectiveness Outstanding

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

p.1

The provision is outstanding

The highly qualified, experienced and inspirational managers lead their passionate and dedicated staff team remarkably well. Together, they provide an exceptionally well-planned environment, with a highly impressive range of resources and activities available at all times. Children have limitless opportunities to explore, investigate and experience new things. For example, they take part in scientific experiments, learning about challenging concepts, such as expansion and contraction. Children make predictions, test out their ideas and learn complex new vocabulary as they explore the effects of ice, water and air in balloons. All children are extremely confident, inquisitive and motivated to learn. They delight in attempting new challenges and are highly eager to 'give things a go'. Children rapidly gain the skills needed to be fully prepared for school, when the time comes.

p.2

The provision is outstanding

All staff are exceptionally supportive and attentive to every child's needs. They get to know children inside-out and build loving and trusting bonds with them. Their highly nurturing approach helps children to feel exceedingly happy, safe and secure. Staff cherish children's individual personalities and uniqueness and, in turn, children become incredibly self-assured and have great faith in their own abilities. Staff focus heavily on outdoor play and children have continuous opportunities to lead their own experiences, moving freely between the exciting indoor and outdoor environment.

p.2

need to do better?

n The highly dedicated managers and staff team create a dynamic, diverse and ambitious curriculum. They fully ignite children's sense of awe and fascination of the world and maximise all opportunities for learning. Children benefit from inspiring experiences, such as growing and harvesting a huge range of fruit and vegetables throughout the year. They eagerly try new food, such as their pre- school-grown spinach, and proudly take home the produce of their hard work to share with their families. n The managers are truly inspirational leaders. Their enthusiasm and commitment for improvement is reflected in all aspects of the setting. With staff, they meticulously reflect on practices, offer expert coaching and continuously improve experiences for all children. As a team, they have recently focused on encouraging children and families to walk to pre-school to further promote exercise, healthy lifestyles and road safety. Children very confidently

p.2

need to do better?

demonstrate their knowledge, as they carefully use the zebra crossing to cross the racing track in the garden. n The quality of teaching is exemplary. The managers and staff have an in-depth understanding of the progression of learning. They sequence children's experiences extremely skilfully to enable children to continuously build on what

p.2

need to do better?

26 November 2019 they know and can do. For example, younger children learn to identify sounds as they clap out the syllables of words. Older children then trace letters with their fingers in sand, begin to write their name and blend sounds together to read simple words. n There is a strong focus on incorporating music into children's experiences in enjoyable and innovative ways. Staff extremely skilfully integrate all areas of learning into a meticulously designed library of songs. Children sing with incredible confidence and join in enthusiastically with a huge range of songs, for example, as staff play classical music on the pre-school piano, or play reggae, pop music or nursery rhymes. Children show an excellent ability to learn and remember lyrics, understand rhythm and rhyme, and join in with actions. During the inspection, they eagerly practised an array of new songs they are learning for the upcoming Christmas performance. They showed highly impressive

p.2

need to do better?

concentration, motivation and vocabulary. n Staff are tremendous role models and children behave impeccably. They are consistently kind, thoughtful and respectful of all others and show great care and consideration for their friends. For example, when a younger child wanted to be a pilot in the role-play airport, older children eagerly helped them to find 'passengers' and start their journey. Children also learn to use the 'buddy bench' and how to notice when others may be feeling lonely or need some support. They actively look to include others in their play and show wonderful social skills, friendships and kindness. n Staff provide parents with extensive support. They consistently share detailed information about children's learning and value all parent contributions highly. Parents are completely involved and engaged in their children's learning and are successfully supported to continue to develop children's learning at home.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

Safeguarding is at the heart of the pre-school's procedures and children's welfare is given high priority. The managers and staff have a thorough understanding of how to keep children safe. Recruitment procedures are robust and the managers ensure all staff are suitable for their roles, including on an ongoing basis. Staff receive extensive training to help them know when children might be at risk of harm, including discussing potential scenarios. They fully understand how to identify child protection concerns and how to report concerns. The environment is extremely safe.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number 130680 Local authority Brighton and Hove Inspection number 10128691 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

p.4

Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Full day care Age range of children 2 to 4 Total number of places 30 Number of children on roll 53 Name of registered person Gavan, Sheila Nigella

p.4

reference number

Telephone number 01273 500 513 Date of previous inspection 7 January 2016

p.4

Information about this early years setting

Dolphins Pre School registered in 1994. It is located in a sports pavilion next to the Nevill Recreation Ground in Hove, Sussex. The pre-school is open each weekday from 8.45am to 3pm during term time only. It receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years. There are 11 staff, all of whom hold early years qualifications between level 3 and level 7.

p.4

Inspection activities

n The inspector was given a tour of the nursery by the managers and carried out a learning walk to discuss the curriculum. n The managers and the inspector discussed the play activities and children's learning during the inspection and undertook a joint observation of an activity. n The inspector took into account the views and opinions of the staff, children and parents during the inspection. n The inspector observed children's play and assessed the impact of staff teaching. n The inspector sampled some of the setting's documentation, including staff suitability records.

p.4

Inspection activities

26 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.

p.4

Inspection activities

26 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.

p.5

Inspection activities

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.6

Inspection activities

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.6

Inspection activities

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.6

Inspection activities

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.6