The Little Explorers At Castle Batch

Inspection of The Little Explorers At Castle Batch 43 Rawlins Avenue, Weston Super Mare BS22 7FN

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not applicable

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The provision is good

Children are happy on arrival, emotionally secure and eager to start learning straight away. Even children new to the setting, confidently explore the exciting resources indoors and outdoors. This enables children to make choices and become independent learners. For example, older children experiment with items floating and sinking in water. They correct themselves when they make a mistake and have the vocabulary to explain what is happening. Younger children join in and they learn from each other. Children learning English as an additional language quickly receive the additional support they need. All children gain the skills they need for their future learning and school.

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The provision is good

Parents cannot currently come into the setting, as they would have done before the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. Instead, staff speak to them daily on arrival and pick up. Staff and parents share additional information via IT and telephone. This ensures that they can all support children's learning and care needs effectively, both at the setting and home. Children's personal development is extremely successful. Staff appreciate children's contributions and competently enable them to gain the values they need for life. For example, children happily accept that when they vote on something the majority decision wins. They are extremely positive about each other's differences and what makes them unique. Staff provide expert help for children to manage age-appropriate risks and develop their physical skills.

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need to do better?

n Managers are ambitious and want the best outcomes for children. They continually review their practice and provide good supervision and staff development. For example, staff trained in storytelling keep the children enthralled. Children eagerly anticipate what will happen next and all show great concentration. n Staff help children to remember and recall their learning, so they can use their new knowledge and skills independently. For example, children spontaneously act out a storm. As they had done the week before, they used water and umbrellas, torches for lightning and clapping for thunder. n Older children manage their feelings amazingly well. They can explain their emotions and the consequence of actions extremely successfully. For example, when they are hurt by a younger child, they explain to staff how it was an accident. They recognise that they still want a cuddle, but it was nobody's fault.

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need to do better?

n Staff plan the environment effectively. They follow children's interests and make changes to motivate learning. For example, having noticed boys do not choose to do mark making, they set up mud painting in the garden. Staff observed its lack of use and changed to paint. Soon, many children, including boys, were

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need to do better?

19 May 2021 choosing to take part. n Each key person monitors their children's development effectively, to know what they can do and what they need to learn next. Staff make good observations on all children as they take part in self-chosen activities to know how to extend their ideas, which sustains children's interest. n Staff expertly help children to work together, collaborate, and take care of each other. For example, children hold hands in a single line and skilfully manoeuvre around obstacles. They observe each other and wait, moving slowly to enable each child to climb carefully over a large log without dropping hands. n Managers and staff engage effectively with parents and outside agencies, especially for children learning English as an additional language and those with speech concerns. They make certain that children receive early help, ensuring they make good progress. n Staff provide good support for children to have enough time to think and

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need to do better?

respond to questions. For example, they ask older children why they cannot get juice out of a whole lemon. Children consider this and say it does not have any cracks for the juice to come out. They suggest using a hammer or knife to make cracks. However, on occasions, opportunities for children to predict and test their ideas, to support their mathematical development, are not as well developed. n Partnerships with parents are a strength of the setting. Parents appreciate working consistently with staff to promote children's good behaviour. Settling-in procedures are tailored to meet the individual needs of the child and family, which means children soon feel secure.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The managers and staff have a good knowledge of their policies and procedures to keep children safe. Managers ensure staff know what to do to protect children from harm. They act quickly when they identify concerns, seeking early help to promote children's welfare. Staff carry out regular risk assessments and review these for any changes. They help children to manage age-appropriate risks, so know what to do to keep themselves safe. Managers ensure they recruit suitable staff who have the knowledge they need to understand their roles and responsibilities.

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should:

n develop the opportunities for children to make predictions and test their ideas, to promote their mathematical development further.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY550986 Local authority North Somerset Inspection number 10143571 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Sessional day care

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inspection

Total number of places 22 Number of children on roll 43 Name of registered person The Little Explorers Preschool Partnership

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reference number

Telephone number 07738738159 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

The Little Explorers At Castle Batch registered in 2017. It operates from Worle Baptist Church in Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset. It operates daily from 8am until 3pm, during term time only. The setting receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years. The four partners, who work directly with the children, all hold early years qualifications at level 3. There are two further members of staff, of whom, one holds a qualification at level 4 and one at level 3.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the setting received since the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the manager and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the setting. n One of the directors led the inspector on a learning walk around all areas of the pre-school to explain how the curriculum is organised. n The manager and inspector carried out a joint observation to see how staff implement the curriculum. n Three directors and the inspector discussed the leadership and management of the pre-school. n Parents shared their views of the setting and children spoke to the inspector.

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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

19 May 2021 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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