Angels & Acorns

Inspection of Little Angels Pre School North End House, North End Road, Stalybridge, Cheshire SK15 3AZ

p.1

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

p.1

The provision is good

The ambitious and passionate leadership team is dedicated in providing a high- quality setting. The staff team is sensitive and caring, and has high expectations of children. They know the children and their families well. Children are happy and settled, and demonstrate that they feel safe and secure. Staff support children's communication skills well. They use sign language to communicate with all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

p.2

The provision is good

Children develop good independence from an early age. This is encouraged by the children changing into their own slippers when they first arrive at the setting. Children have a clear understanding of the routines of the day. For example, they excitedly help to put resources away while dancing and singing to music.

p.2

The provision is good

Staff encourage children to resolve minor conflicts with one another and provide them with meaningful praise. Children behave well and know what is expected of them. Children are fascinated to learn about nature and animals. They relish opportunities to care for the setting's pet rabbit and excitedly talk about taking the rabbit home for a visit. Children show a good understanding of the world they live in and are caring towards living things.

p.2

need to do better?

n Leaders monitor the quality of education effectively and identify areas for improvement. They have good systems for tracking children's progress. Leaders plan well for different groups of children and identify gaps in their learning effectively. For example, they provide many activities, such as 'Simon says' and a traffic light game, to support children's speaking and listening skills. n Staff have a good knowledge of the curriculum and use this well to support children with what they need to learn next. Children are well motivated and demonstrate positive attitudes towards their learning. As a result, they develop the necessary skills in readiness for their move on to school. n Staff plan an interesting range of learning experiences for all children. For instance, older children demonstrate how to follow instructions while learning how to make dough. They enjoy adding food colouring and scent to the dough.

p.2

need to do better?

Children are excited as they learn new skills, such as blowing through straws to move paint in different ways. Younger children delight while exploring sand with their hands. n Staff have made positive links with the local school. They have accessed training at the school to learn how to teach children about different letter sounds. This has equipped children with a good knowledge of how to decode words. Children show good writing skills and are beginning to form recognisable letters. n Staff promote children's good health effectively. They teach them about healthy

p.2

need to do better?

4 February 2020 lifestyles and provide them with good opportunities to play outdoors. Children enjoy dancing and moving their bodies to music. They become enthralled while taking part in a 'wellington walk'. Children show good physical dexterity and endurance during their play. n Overall, children settle well and build secure bonds with staff. However, the key- person system does not fully support children's emotional well-being during their move to different rooms across the setting, and when staff absence occurs. That said, staff are caring and attentive to all children's individual needs. n Partnerships with parents are strong. Parents commend the staff on their caring nature. They state they 'feel part of a big family'. Parents explain that they attend workshops with staff to support their children's physical, social and emotional well-being, such as understanding the process of moving on to school.

p.2

need to do better?

n The extremely knowledgeable special educational needs coordinator is an asset to the setting. She shares her excellent knowledge with staff and parents, and supports children to access a wide range of external services. Children with SEND make good progress.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

Staff demonstrate a good understanding of their responsibilities to keep children safe. They are aware of what may cause concern about a child's welfare. Staff are confident in the referral process, including what to do if they are concerned about the conduct of a colleague. Risk assessments are robust, and all areas of the premises are safe. Staff are deployed well and supervise children with vigilance. They attend safeguarding training and keep up to date with changes in policy. Recruitment procedures are robust, and all staff are suitable to work with children.

p.3

should:

n strengthen the key-person system, to support children's emotional well-being during their move to different rooms across the setting and when staff absence occurs.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY409917 Local authority Tameside Inspection number 10144122 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care Age range of children 1 to 4 Total number of places 52 Number of children on roll 72 Name of registered person Little Angels Pre School (Stalybridge) Ltd

p.4

reference number

Telephone number 0161 637 2717 Date of previous inspection 1 April 2015

p.4

Information about this early years setting

Little Angels Pre School registered in 2010. The setting employs 21 members of childcare staff. Of these, 17 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 and above. The setting opens from Monday to Friday, for 51 weeks of the year, closing only at Christmas time. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm. The setting provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

p.4

Inspection activities

n The inspector looked at relevant documentation, including evidence of the suitability of staff. n The inspector observed the quality of education and the support for children's learning during activities inside and outside. n A joint observation was conducted with the inspector and the manager. n Parents' views were taken into account through verbal feedback provided to the inspector. n Discussions were held with staff and the children at appropriate times during the inspection.

p.4

Inspection activities

4 February 2020 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

4 February 2020 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