Little Learners Pre-School

Inspection of Little Learners Pre- School Woodcock Road, Stevenage SG2 9PG

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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

Staff are dedicated to fulfilling their role, and provide good-quality opportunities and experiences for children. They are excellent role models, and children positively benefit from the their whole-team approach towards the learning and care they provide. Children show that they feel safe and secure. They arrive happy and immediately engage in the stimulating and interesting activities. Children confidently explore the environment and express curiosity. For instance, they discover how to make marks on paper by using small tools and their fingers dipped in paint. Children smile with delight as they create new colours by mixing different colours together.

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The provision is good

Children are independent individuals. They manage to put on their outer clothing with minimal support from staff. Children prepare and serve themselves a healthy snack. They behave well and work together to build large structures, using different-shaped foam blocks. Children listen to each other's ideas and work out how to solve problems together, such as the best way to position a rectangular block on top of triangular blocks.

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need to do better?

n Leadership and management at the pre-school are good. The manager has high expectations and is very reflective on the provision she provides. This helps to drive the setting forward and is effective in matching the needs of the setting with the training needs of staff. The manager supports the professional development of staff in a collaborative method through regular supervision. n Children's individual interests and their previous experiences inform the pre- school's well-designed curriculum. This means learning is meaningful. Assessment of children's achievements is precise. This enables all staff to know if there is a particular aspect of learning that requires additional focus. Staff are patient, kind and knowledgeable. They help children to settle quickly and build a strong sense of belonging. Children display close and strong bonds with all staff members, who know the children very well. n Children have many opportunities to play outdoors and to be physically active.

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need to do better?

Staff make the very best use of the pre-school's location. For example, children participate in running races at the adjacent athletics track, and visit the local park to climb large apparatus and enjoy woodland walks. In addition, they bounce on the trampoline and develop good reactions as they quickly jump into a hoop when the music stops. n Strong relationships exist between parents and staff from the outset. Staff keep parents fully informed of their child's good progress. They provide a variety of opportunities to enhance parents' understanding about how their child's learning can be supported at home. For instance, the introduction of home-learning

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need to do better?

9 December 2019 activity bags is successful, as well as the lending library. Children proudly select a book to share with their family at home. Parents comment how this has really helped their children to develop a love of books. Parents are very complimentary about the staff. They describe them as 'wonderful' and 'brilliant'. n Children use early mathematics in their play. For example, they use coloured cotton reels to create a pattern and have fun joining in with action songs that introduce them to subtraction. n Staff are skilful at capturing children's listening and attention skills. For instance, when they read to children, they are enthusiastic and use intonation in their voice. However, staff do not consistently adapt the way that they speak to younger children to fully support their understanding and encourage them to develop their language skills further. n Staff help children to understand the routine of the session. For example, they

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need to do better?

use a wealth of visuals and basic sign language. However, staff do not fully support children who speak English as an additional language to use their home language to enhance their speaking skills.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

There is a culture of vigilance among the staff. They have a good understanding of how to identify potential signs and symptoms of abuse, and the procedures they would use to report any concerns. This helps to support the welfare of children. The manager's robust recruitment processes help to guarantee the suitability of staff. Staff receive opportunities to update their knowledge of wider and changing safeguarding issues, such as radicalisation. Clear procedures for the use of children's photographs on the pre-school's social media page are in place.

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should:

n provide more consistency for younger children to extend their communication and language abilities further n strengthen opportunities for children to develop and use their home language.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY546377 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10130775 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Sessional day care Age range of children 2 to 4 Total number of places 26 Number of children on roll 15 Name of registered person Cork, Elizabeth Alice

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reference number

Telephone number 01438229560 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Little Learners Pre-School registered in 2017. The pre-school employs four members of childcare staff, all of whom hold early years qualifications at level 2 or above, including the manager, who holds early years professional status. The pre- school operates from Monday to Friday during term time only. Sessions are from 8.55am until 11.55am. The pre-school provides funded early education for two- and three-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector and the manager completed a walk around the pre-school and discussed the manager's plans and reasoning for the early years curriculum. n The inspector held discussions with staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection. She held a meeting with the manager and reviewed a sample of records, including evidence of staff's suitability and qualifications. n The inspector completed a joint observation with the manager. n The inspector observed the quality of staff's teaching and their interactions with children during activities indoors and outside. She assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector spoke to a number of 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

9 December 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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