Little Bears Pre-School

Inspection of Little Bears Pre-School Sullington Parish Hall, Thakeham Road, Storrington, Pulborough, Sussex RH20 3PP

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

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

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The provision is outstanding

Children thrive in this highly welcoming and nurturing pre-school. All children are fully included and benefit greatly from the impressive care and education. Children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, make excellent progress. Children repeat and consolidate what they have learned through the captivating play opportunities. They reach their full potential, as staff follow children's interests and consistently extend all areas of learning. For example, children are fascinated to watch a large pet snail. They know they need to wash their hands before and after they hold it, so that germs are not passed on. They compare what it eats to their own healthy snack, and consider the shape of the shell. When younger children ask if it will become a butterfly, staff find a book for them to check. Children take turns as they retell the 'Hungry Caterpillar' story and learn about butterflies. They count and match pretend food to the caterpillar's food

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The provision is outstanding

Children demonstrate exemplary behaviour and enthusiasm for learning; they show that they feel safe and secure. Staff expertly organise routines, such as snack time, to allow the maximum time for children to develop their ideas and build thinking skills as they play. Children show exceptionally high levels of concentration and continual motivation. For example, with occasional encouragement from staff, children persevere until they complete challenging jigsaw puzzles. They discuss the finished pictures, learn new vocabulary, and make links to a story they read earlier.

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need to do better?

n Partnership with parents and other professionals is particularly effective. Managers and staff get to know families extremely well and provide ongoing support. For example, the pre-school has additional staffing, in order to ensure all children access the opportunities for learning. Parents are encouraged to volunteer in the pre-school and to develop their own skills through training. Additional funding is used to provide specific resources, such as books, needed for parents to help their children learn at home. Disadvantaged children make impressive strides in their learning and development. n The knowledgeable provider demonstrates immense passion and ambition. She shares her clear vision, and ensures all areas of staff practice are consistent and of high quality. The well-being and confidence of children, parents, and staff, is especially important. During the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, the provider

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need to do better?

and manager used training opportunities to increase their knowledge of mental health issues. Managers and staff continually learn from each other and work exceptionally well together as a highly motivated team. They continuously reflect on their practice and make thoughtful changes to meet the needs of each child. n Staff focus strongly on supporting children to develop their own individual

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need to do better?

15 October 2021 character. They listen carefully to children and value their opinions highly. Children are expertly encouraged to talk about and express their emotions. The key-person system is used extremely effectively to provide individual education plans and continuity of care for the children of the highest quality. n Staff consistently use hand signing and picture clues extremely well to help ensure all children can communicate well. They frequently use enjoyable songs, rhymes and stories to help children further develop their speech and literacy skills. Children learn from staff's clear speech and the repetition of sounds. For example, younger children laugh with delight as they 'roar like a dinosaur' in a simple action song. Older children learn about rhyming words as they act out the story of the 'Gingerbread Man'. n Staff use their expert knowledge of how children learn. The skilful staff instinctively know when to support and when to leave children to follow their

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need to do better?

own ideas. They involve children in making choices and changes to their activities to help learning develop further. For instance, children are captivated by finding different ways to transport water from one tray to another, using guttering. Staff extend children's thinking by asking timely questions. Even the youngest children solve their own complex problems and learn concepts, such as fast and slow, more and less. n Children develop an excellent understanding about the world around them. For example, staff set up extensive, exciting forest school activities in the nearby woodland. In the pre-school, they find pictures of a diverse range of people and talk about differences and features they have in common. Children quickly develop a strong sense of belonging to the group; they play together harmoniously.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Managers and staff prioritise children's safety and well-being highly. They have regular training and staff meetings when they discuss child protection. They work closely with other professionals, such as the community wardens based in the same building, to address wider safety issues, such as road safety. Managers and staff use their impressive relationships with families to understand children's home lives. This is an effective part of safeguarding them. The provider effectively checks staff's suitability to work with children. She deploys staff extremely well to ensure children have effective supervision, both indoors and outdoors.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY563519 Local authority West Sussex Inspection number 10191248 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 27 Name of registered person Sweeney, Julie Sara

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reference number

Telephone number 07889727704 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Little Bears Pre-School registered in 2018. It operates from Sullington Parish Hall near Pulborough, West Sussex. It is open every weekday during term time only. On Monday, Tuesday and Friday it is open from 9am until 3pm, on Wednesday it is open from 9am until 12 noon and on Thursday it is open from 9am until 1pm. The pre-school employs seven staff, five of whom have suitable early years qualifications from level 2 to level 5.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the provider 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 her evaluation of the provider. n The provider completed a learning walk with the inspector around the pre-school and discussed their curriculum and what they want children to learn. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact of this on children's learning. n The provider and inspector carried out a joint observation of an activity. n Staff, children and some parents spoke to the inspector during the inspection and their views were taken into account.

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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

15 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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