Twinkletoes Preschool

Inspection of Twinkletoes Preschool Leyton Cross Social Club, Tredegar Road, Dartford, Kent DA2 7AZ

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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

Children have close relationships with staff and make positive friendships with their peers. They confidently invite staff and other children into their play. They ask questions and show a clear fascination and wonder. For example, children excitedly show everyone the snail that they have found, exclaiming that it tickles when it comes out of its shell. Children make decisions for themselves. Staff give guidance and positive encouragement for children to make choices as to where they play and for how long. Children display good levels of focus and concentration in their play. Staff encourage them to complete their play to their own satisfaction.

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The provision is good

Children show care and compassion towards their friends. They learn to share and cooperate. Staff act as positive role models, supporting each other in their roles and responsibilities. Children play in a relaxed and calm environment. They receive positive recognition for their achievements, helping them to feel proud. Staff know the children well and provide experiences that interest them. Staff talk enthusiastically about how children learn and what they like to do. Children explore new play ideas and resources confidently, showing an understanding for their use. For example, children identify three different-sized cows in the farm and describe them as 'daddy', 'mummy' and 'baby', relating size to their own experiences.

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need to do better?

n Children value other children's contributions to their play. They listen to their friends, demonstrating an understanding of rules and boundaries. For example, children understand the stop and go signs when riding bicycles to help them stay safe. n Children are very aware of their surroundings and confidently explore their play environment. They choose to play indoors or outdoors at any time during the session. They confidently ask for help. Staff encourage children to express their needs through gestures, expressions, visual aids and speech. n Staff provide experiences and activities that relate to past conversations with children. For example, children retell the story of 'The Three Little Pigs'. Staff provide the props and the story to help children to express their imaginations and recall skills. n Parents make positive comments about the setting. They are very happy with their children's progress. They receive regular information about children's

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need to do better?

development, identify next steps together and share achievements from home. n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities receive very positive interaction and engagement. Staff successfully implement plans using observation, information and advice from other professionals and parents. This helps to provide a consistent personalised approach to children's ongoing care and development. Parents express their appreciation for this support and

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need to do better?

1 October 2021 recognise progress their children have made. n Children experiment physically by balancing equipment with precision. They carefully carry their plates at snack time, making sure yoghurt pots don't fall over. They develop small-muscle skills, such as peeling lids from pots, using spoons effectively and pouring their drinks. Staff provide a range of bicycles to extend children's abilities to balance and propel forward. For example, they progress from tricycles, to balance bicycles to bicycles with stabilisers that can then be removed. n Children's speech and language is continuously encouraged. Staff use open- ended questions to help children to understand and explore new ideas. Staff introduce children to new words through stories and engage them in meaningful conversations. They introduce stories with repetitive rhythm and sounds to extend younger children's speech. Children learn to think for themselves and

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need to do better?

share ideas with friends. For example, children ask for more water when there is little left to continue their pouring and filling play. n Managers recognise staff's individual strengths and delegate responsibilities effectively. They identify, through discussions with staff, training required to develop their practice, to enhance children's learning. However, managers do not always evaluate how staff use children's identified strengths and how they learn best, to fully extend development in all areas of learning. For example, children show a fascination of a particular area of learning. Staff do not always use this knowledge to fully help children in areas of learning that they need support in, such as sharing and negotiating in their play.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff have an up-to-date knowledge of how to protect children from harm. They continuously assess their understanding of procedures through training and discussions. Staff access information on site and through written policies and procedures. Staff carry out thorough risk assessments and make changes to the environment when hazards are identified. Children take part in fire evacuations and all fire safety equipment is checked. The management have adapted children's routines to promote a safe environment during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. For example, parents no longer enter the setting when dropping off or collecting their children.

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should:

n support staff's understanding of using information and identified next steps for individual children more effectively to further promote their progress in all areas of learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY561332 Local authority Kent Inspection number 10190599 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 30 Name of registered person Twinkletoes (Early Years) Pre-School Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 07871381872 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Twinkletoes Preschool registered in 2018. It operates from a community hall in Wilmington, Kent. The setting is open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 9am until 2.30pm. It opens on a Thursday from 9am until midday. It operates term time only. The pre-school has a staff team of eight. Of these, seven hold relevant early years qualification to level 2 and above. The manager holds qualified teacher status. The pre-school provides funded places 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 provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the setting. n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together and discussed how the curriculum is implemented and the impact this has on the children's learning. n The nominated person and the inspector carried out a joint observation of snack time. n The inspector spoke to the children to find out about their time in the setting. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n The inspector spoke with the manager and nominated person about the leadership and management of the setting and sampled documentation to demonstrate the suitability of staff.

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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

1 October 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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