Little Fishes Pre-School

Inspection of Little Fishes Pre-School St. Pauls Church Centre, 15 Northey Avenue, Sutton, Surrey SM2 7HS

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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 Outstanding

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The provision is good

Children greet their friends and staff with a smile when they arrive at the setting. They demonstrate that they feel safe and secure, and immediately engage in the interesting activities that staff provide. Children cooperate well together and play happily with their friends. They illustrated this as they independently found the sand timer and waited patiently for their turn to use the balancing equipment. Staff provide good support to those children who find it more difficult to regulate their emotions. This helps children to develop an understanding of how their behaviour affects others. Staff have nurturing relationships with children. They praise children's efforts and promote their self-esteem and confidence very successfully.

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The provision is good

Staff support children's developing vocabulary and language development well. For example, younger children repeat words such as 'splash' as they engage in water play. Older children make up games and are confident to communicate with their friends and with staff. They illustrated this as they found props within their environment and recalled their favourite stories.

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The provision is good

The manager and staff support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, and those who speak English as an additional language, highly effectively. They work closely alongside other professionals to provide targeted interventions. This helps children to achieve their full potential.

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need to do better?

n Staff gather detailed information from parents when children first start at the nursery. This helps them to understand what children know and can do. Staff continue to make accurate assessments and organise a curriculum that promotes children's learning. Children make good progress from their starting points. n Children develop a love of books. They join in with action songs and develop literacy skills as they recognise and repeat familiar rhyming words. Staff are highly animated and actively engage children in stories. n Staff support children's independence skills well. For example, children learn to take care of their environment and are encouraged to tidy away toys. Staff model how to use equipment, such as the balancing board. This helps children develop the confidence they need to use resources independently. n Children learn about the natural world. For instance, they find a worm outside and with care they transport it back to the soil. Children develop strength and

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need to do better?

stamina as they enthusiastically move soil across the garden. They engage in pretend cooking activities, source their own water and learn to think about volume as they fill up their pots and pans. Staff ask some thoughtful questions to extend children's learning. However, on occasion, some staff do not challenge

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need to do better?

3 February 2022 the older children as well as they could. They do not give them time to express their own thoughts and ideas, to help build on their critical thinking and problem-solving skills even further. n Staff support children's good health well. Children have many opportunities to be physically active throughout the day. Staff provide parents with support and guidance on healthy options for children's lunch boxes. Children display good manners. They thoroughly enjoy eating their food and listen as their friends talk about the activities they have enjoyed during the morning. n Staff teach children how to manage their own safety. For example, children learn how to use climbing equipment safely. However, the manager recognises the need to build on children's awareness of potential risks even further. For instance, to teach them how to stay safe when using digital media at home. n The manager and staff develop strong relationships with parents. Parents

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need to do better?

comment that staff provide an inclusive environment and treat each child as a unique individual. They acknowledge the good progress their children have made since starting at the nursery. Parents speak highly of the effective two- way communication. This helps to provide continuity in children's care and learning. n The manager is highly reflective and has a strong vision for the setting. She continually evaluates the environment and resources available to children. Staff benefit from professional development opportunities to improve their knowledge and practice. They say that they are part of a supportive team and feel that their expertise is valued.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager and staff have a secure understanding of how to keep children safe from harm. They attend regular training to ensure they keep their knowledge of safeguarding procedures up to date. Staff know the possible signs of concern, including indicators that children may be at risk of being radicalised. They are aware of the correct procedures to follow when necessary. Staff are deployed effectively throughout each day and supervise children vigilantly. The management team follows a clear recruitment process to help assess suitability of staff.

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should:

n give children time to express their own thoughts and ideas, to enhance their critical thinking and problem-solving skills even further n strengthen the support provided to children to enhance their awareness of the potential risks of using digital media at home.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY461344 Local authority Surrey Inspection number 10108847 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 26 Number of children on roll 23

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Name of registered person

The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Paul's, Howell Hill

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reference number

Telephone number 02082249838 Date of previous inspection 6 December 2013

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Information about this early years setting

Little Fishes Pre-School registered in 2013. It is based in St Pauls Church Centre, in Cheam. The setting operates Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 12.30pm, with an optional early start of 9am. From Monday to Thursday, there is the further option to stay for lunch club until 1pm. On a Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, the setting also offers an afternoon session to include lunch club from 12.30pm- 2.45pm. The setting operates term time only and offers part-time places. Children aged two, three and four years receive funding for nursery education. The setting employs seven staff. Of these, six hold appropriate early years qualifications, including qualified teacher status, level 5 and level 3.

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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 manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector spoke to children to find out about their time at the nursery. n The inspector observed the interactions between staff and children, and spoke with staff at appropriate times. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation of children playing in the sports hall. n Parents shared their views of the pre-school with the inspector. n The manager shared documentation with the inspector to demonstrate the suitability of staff and discussed the leadership and management of the nursery.

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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

3 February 2022 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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