Little Stars Preschool

Inspection of Little Stars Preschool 96 Nangreave Road, Stockport SK2 6DQ

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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

This good quality setting is a hive of adventure and fun. Children's laughter fills the air as they arrive and the atmosphere buzzes with their excitement to explore. Children appear happy and safe. They display high levels of confidence. They greet their friends with hugs and beam with delight as they run towards their key person for cuddles. Due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, parents do not enter the setting in the usual way. Children have adapted exceptionally well to the new routines. For example, they leave their parents at the gate with great ease.

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The provision is good

Children show enjoyment and interest in the activities on offer. They become fascinated while searching for bugs outdoors and delight in finding snails. They handle the snails with great care and use magnifying glasses to take a closer look. Children relish this opportunity to engage in thoughtful conversations about the food snails might eat. They consolidate this learning further by looking at books to find out more information about snails. This supports children's growing understanding of the world.

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The provision is good

Staff support children's physical development very well. They encourage children to take appropriate risks during their play, such as balancing and climbing on low- level apparatus. Children cheer and shout 'goal', as they score while playing football. They show good perseverance as they confidently ride scooters and tricycles. Children show care towards one another, behave well and talk about the importance of being a good friend.

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need to do better?

n The dedicated manager, ably supported by her deputy manager, leads the setting with an absolute conviction that all children with achieve. Overall, self- evaluation is sharply focused and improvement plans are regularly monitored. The manager aspires to be outstanding and aims for the setting to be a centre of excellence. n Although systems are in place for staff supervision and appraisals, leaders do not monitor staff practice with rigour. This means that staff do not always receive incisive feedback about their professional practice, in order to raise standards in their teaching to a higher level. n Children are provided with an ambitious and exciting curriculum that builds on what they know and can do. Staff provide meaningful learning experiences that captures children's interests and keeps them motivated to learn. For example, staff have created a 'beach hut' outdoors, as many children have shown a

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need to do better?

fascination about the beach. Staff have extended this by introducing an ice cream parlour. Children are enthusiastic as they make 'ice creams', talk about different sea shells, and describe the texture of sand.

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need to do better?

16 July 2021 n Overall, partnership working is good. Many parents provide lots of praise for the staff. They commend them on their loving nature and state that they could not have chosen a better place for their children to learn. However, leaders have not been highly effective in establishing stronger partnerships with some parents and the other settings children also attend. This means that, on occasion, information is not consistently shared to ensure that children make the best possible progress. n Staff teach children well about the world they live in. They learn about different cultures, religions, and family units. Children articulately discuss how some families are different, such as those with two dads. Children are resilient and self-assured individuals, who are developing a broad and reasoned understanding of respect and acceptance. They behave well and show positive attitudes towards their learning.

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need to do better?

n The support that is in place for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities is a strength of the setting. Intervention plans are regularly monitored and gaps in learning are targeted with precision. This means that children make good progress and are well prepared for their move to school. n The key-person system is highly effective in helping children to settle. Staff spend time getting to know children during the settling-in period. Children's emotional well-being is given the utmost priority. Staff are skilled in supporting children who may need additional emotional support. For example, they provide targeted activities such as yoga, which have a positive impact on children's well- being.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Security arrangements across the setting are robust. Staff check the identification of visitors and set out clear safety expectations, such as the safe use of mobile phones. Staff are deployed well and supervise children with vigilance. Children have a good awareness of how to keep themselves safe and are taught about the importance of e-safety. All staff have undergone stringent suitability checks and attend regular safeguarding training. Staff have a good understanding of wider safeguarding issues, such as radicalisation and forced marriages. They know the steps to take if they are concerned with the conduct of a colleague.

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should:

n refine the programme of professional development, in order to provide staff with more incisive feedback to raise their practice to the highest level n strengthen partnership working with parents and other settings, in order to help children make the best possible progress across the areas of learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY554136 Local authority Stockport Inspection number 10174525 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 30 Number of children on roll 44 Name of registered person Dignan, Samantha

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reference number

Telephone number 07742905495 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Little Stars Preschool registered in 2017. The setting opens Monday to Friday, 9am to 3.30pm, during term time only. The setting employs seven members of childcare staff. Of these, five staff members hold a childcare qualification at level 3 and above. Two staff members are unqualified. The setting provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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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 setting, and has taken that into account in his evaluation of the setting. n The inspector observed the quality of education and the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector held discussions with the manager, staff, parents and children at appropriate times during the inspection. n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk around the setting. n The inspector checked evidence of the suitability of staff working with children, including staff qualifications. n A joint observation was completed with the manager and 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

16 July 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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