Little Ducks Pre-School

Inspection of Little Ducks Pre-School Scout Association, Scout Hall, Wash Road, Hutton, BRENTWOOD, Essex CM13 1DJ

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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 Outstanding

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The provision is good

Children are eager to attend the pre-school, and leave parents and carers with ease to begin their day. They quickly become familiar with the daily routines and gain help or reassurance from staff as they need. Children benefit from the staff's clear and consistent expectations of behaviour. They recognise that when staff ring the bell this indicates a time to listen or tidy away the toys. Children know that the pre-school has some rules they must follow to keep themselves safe.

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The provision is good

Children anticipate story times with excitement. They listen intently to staff as they read or recite a tale and staff encourage them to participate and make predictions. For example, as they enjoy a Christmas story about Mary and Joseph, they eagerly suggest the form of transport they may have used to travel to Bethlehem. Children have opportunities to access books throughout each session. They show intense concentration as they engage in role play with available props and finger puppets.

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The provision is good

Children have many opportunities to foster their imagination. They enjoy preparing pretend food and drink for visitors and say that they love to play in the home corner best. Children explore the dressing-up materials and take on the role of different characters. They become highly amused as they try on jackets, hats and glasses to introduce themselves as a family relative.

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need to do better?

n The enthusiastic management team is committed to provide the highest quality care for children. They welcome feedback from staff, parents and the local authority to help identify areas for improvement. For example, following a recent visit from the early years adviser, they have made changes to the environment. This has shown an increase in children's level of enjoyment and curiosity. n Relationships throughout the pre-school promote a culture of respect. All staff feel extremely satisfied in their job role and describe the management team as very approachable. They receive regular support to review their practice and ensure their workload is at a manageable level. n Staff implement the pre-school policies consistently to promote children's good health. They follow detailed care plans for children and swiftly recognise when they are in need of medication. Staff strictly adhere to children's dietary

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need to do better?

requirements. They regularly encourage parents to send children in with food that is wholesome and nutritious. n Staff know the children they work with well. They plan daily experiences to offer a curriculum that is ambitious for all children. Staff deploy themselves effectively across the areas children use and tailor the level of support that they provide. This ensures children receive suitable levels of challenge and the most able children have opportunities to excel.

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need to do better?

10 December 2019 n Staff place a strong focus on working with other providers. For example, they gain permission from parents to allow children's childminders to access the online software that they use. Staff share information about children's progress with other settings children move on to. They gain feedback from local schools to help them prepare children for future learning. n Children demonstrate competent skills in mathematics and literacy. Staff use a wide range of activities to enable children to hear and say the initial sounds in words. They support them to recognise their name in print. Staff encourage children to use numbers to solve problems. Together, they carefully work out how many boys or girls there are in the pre-school. n Parents are very happy with the care staff provide and the opportunity for daily discussions with their child's key person. They feel their children have made especially good progress in their speech and language development. Parents

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need to do better?

value the ideas staff provide them with to extend children's learning at home. n At times, staff do not make the best use of the activities that they plan. For example, they encourage children to stand up and talk about their experiences from home, but do not always time these contributions to capture the full attention of their audience. Children are not always aware of the full range of stimulating adult-led activities available to them. n The management team has detailed improvement plans in place to further enhance staff teaching practice. For example, they plan to make better use of opportunities for staff to watch each other teach and have booked staff on future training. However, these plans have not been fully implemented or evaluated.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The process for staff recruitment and induction is robust. This ensures the suitability of all adults who work with children and that they are aware of their roles and responsibilities. Staff are alert to the signs and symptoms that may indicate a child who is at risk of harm. They know the procedures to follow if they have any concerns about a child in their care or with the practice of another member of the staff team. The provider and deputy manager work closely with external agencies to share information as required.

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should:

n review the organisation of adult-led activities so children are fully aware of what is available to them and have improved opportunities to share their experiences n implement and evaluate the plans for development, in order to work towards achieving teaching practice of a consistently high quality.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY397589 Local authority Essex Inspection number 10127330 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 30 Number of children on roll 56 Name of registered person Yarwood, Michelle Ann

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reference number

Telephone number 01277 234 346 Date of previous inspection 17 November 2014

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Information about this early years setting

Little Ducks Pre-School registered in 2009 and is privately owned. It operates from a Scout hall in Hutton, Essex. The pre-school opens every weekday, from 9.15am until 12.15pm and from 12.15pm until 2.45pm, during school term time only. Children attend for a variety of sessions. The pre-school employs 10 members of childcare staff. Of these, seven hold early years qualifications at level 3. It provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. She watched a Christmas nativity play and selection of songs performed by the staff and children. n The inspector spoke with the staff and children during the inspection. n The inspector completed a walk around the pre-school to find out about children's learning experiences, and a joint observation with the pre-school provider. n The inspector held a meeting with the pre-school provider. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the pre-school. n The inspector took account of the views of parents through discussions on the day and a recent analysis of questionnaires they had completed.

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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

10 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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