Ducklings@TattenhoePark

Inspection of Ducklings@TattenhoePark Priory Park Pavillion, Bronte Avenue, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire MK4 3GE

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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

The pre-school has newly opened, and children are still becoming familiar with the staff and the environment. Despite this, they arrive with enthusiasm and are eager to start learning. Children follow a clear curriculum that focuses on supporting them to become confident communicators who learn through their own interests. For example, when children demonstrate an interest in road signs and street names while out on a walk, staff provide them with signs and labels in their construction area. Children watch diggers and workers building houses through the pre-school window. This sparks their interest, and they act out what they have seen in their role play. Children enjoy playing outdoors where they practise their physical skills. They ride on bicycles and practise walking on different surfaces, such as woodchip. Staff have high expectations for children and monitor the overall good progress they are starting to make.

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The provision is good

Children benefit from going on walks in the local area as they explore the community where they live. This helps to boost children's personal, social and emotional development as many experiences are new for them. Children behave well. They are starting to develop friendships and beginning to understand about sharing and taking turns, with staff's support.

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need to do better?

n Staff support children's communication and language skills well. When young children are still developing language, staff recognise their early communication, such as pointing, babbling and making eye contact. Staff successfully build on this. For example, they show children animal figures, making the sound of the animal and then introducing its name. This interests children, who start to copy, expanding on their vocabulary. Staff know to pause and wait for children's responses when talking to them. Consequently, interactions between staff and children are relaxed and unhurried, and help children to learn about the rules of conversation. n Young children want to explore the world around them and use all of their senses to do this. Staff recognise this important stage in their development. However, they do not always plan activities to support children to explore this impulse in a suitable manner. n There are rules for some activities, such as using scissors. Staff explain these

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need to do better?

very clearly, along with the potential consequences of not holding scissors correctly. As a result, children quickly begin to understand the reasons for rules and follow them accordingly. n The manager has an extensive knowledge of how to support children's understanding of diversity. As a result, activities are meaningful and relevant to young children as they reflect their lives and experiences. This good-quality

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need to do better?

18 November 2021 teaching helps to create an environment where all children and their families feel welcome. n Currently, the organisation of the premises means that children cannot take responsibility for their own personal hygiene. Children have to ask staff to take them to the bathroom and to wash their hands. Simple adjustments are possible so staff can implement plans to encourage children's greater independence. n Children are confident and settled. Even when staff are very new to the pre- school, they know their key children well. Children form close relationships with the adults who care for them. They greet staff warmly with outstretched arms as they come running into the pre-school, wanting to cuddle them. n All staff discuss the good support and coaching they receive. Although the setting and staff are new, they have quickly developed relationships with each other and share a vision for how they want the setting to develop. Student staff

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need to do better?

receive excellent supervision. The manager recognises and values the knowledge and skills that each member of the staff team bring to the pre- school. As a result, staff quickly settle in their role and form good relationships with children and parents. n Parents discuss how much they value the information that staff share with them. It helps parents to feel confident that their children are settling in well and enables them to support their children's learning at home.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Children play and learn in an environment that is safe and secure. The high ratio of staff to children helps to ensure that staff can always supervise children closely. Staff understand about how to keep children safe. They recognise the signs and symptoms that children might be at risk of harm. Senior staff know about the relevant local child protection issues. Staff undertake extensive training to ensure they are aware of these issues and can identify any signs children are at risk outside of the pre-school setting. The manager and area manager keep meticulous records and work collaboratively to share information with local safeguarding children partnerships. This helps to safeguard children.

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should:

n expand on the curriculum for the youngest children to support them to explore their natural sensory impulses, for example for mouthing items when exploring the world around them n adapt the physical environment to encourage children to have greater independence over meeting their personal needs, such as using the bathroom and washing their hands.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2636740 Local authority Milton Keynes Inspection number 10213513 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

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

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inspection

Total number of places 36 Number of children on roll 36 Name of registered person Ducklings Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 07783240275 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Ducklings@TattenhoePark registered in 2021. The pre-school employs four members of childcare staff. Of these, the manager has a foundation degree and two members of staff are qualified at level 3. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday during term time. Sessions are from 9am until midday and from midday until 3pm. The pre-school 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 provider received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n A joint observation was completed and discussed with the manager. n During the inspection, the inspector held a meeting with the manager and the provider. She looked at relevant documentation, such as evidence of the suitability of staff working in the pre-school. n The inspector spoke with staff and children at suitable times throughout the inspection. n Parents were invited to share their views with the inspector. Several parents discussed their views during the inspection and the inspector took account of all feedback received.

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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

18 November 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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