Lymington Little Dolphins Pre-School

Inspection of Lymington Little Dolphins Pre-School Community Room, c/o Lymington Infants School, Avenue Road, LYMINGTON, Hampshire SO41 9GP

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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 Outstanding

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The provision is outstanding

Children thrive through the outstanding care and support they receive from staff at Little Dolphins. They are exceptionally independent and demonstrate an 'I can do it' attitude to their learning.

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The provision is outstanding

Children benefit from an excellent staff team, who have a deep understanding of how to support children's learning. Children enjoy an extremely well-thought-out curriculum that builds on what they already know and can do. They very confidently retell familiar stories, pretending to be eggs, caterpillars and butterflies. Children are highly motivated to join in with innovative activities. These extend their learning in an exceptionally imaginative way.

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The provision is outstanding

Children are highly competent communicators, who play cooperatively with their friends. They very confidently construct with sand 'cement' and bricks, and negotiate building design. Children show excellent resilience when their towers fall over, starting again with renewed enthusiasm. They problem solve collaboratively.

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The provision is outstanding

Children behave extremely well. They very clearly demonstrate they know the routines and the high expectations of the staff. For instance, they stomp the sand off the shoes before going indoors. Children very confidently tell the staff they need to wear their coats, as it is raining. Children exude self-confidence in all they do.

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need to do better?

n The staff team is exceptionally dedicated to providing the very best start for children's educational journeys. They have identified where children need additional support following COVID-19 restrictions and revised their curriculum to meet children's needs. Children benefit from highly individualised support to help them close gaps and make excellent progress in their learning. n Additional funding is very effectively used to support children's learning. All children have excellent opportunities and chances to succeed at the setting. All staff know all the children extremely well. Staff have a highly consistent approach to supporting children's care and learning. Children demonstrate they feel very safe and secure with the whole staff team. They are ready to fully embrace every learning opportunity in the setting. n Staff offer superb support for children's developing communication skills through

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need to do better?

innovative activities in small groups. These highly engaging sessions excite and motivate children to listen carefully and learn new words. Children use words such as 'gigantic', which staff extend to 'huge' and 'gargantuan'. Children are developing into supremely effective communicators. n Staff use every opportunity to enhance children's learning to exceedingly high

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need to do better?

11 March 2022 levels. For example, they carefully consider where to sit children at lunch. This ensures children have positive role models for their developing speech and social skills. n Staff place a very high focus on supporting children's emotional development. This gives children a strong base to develop from. Children flourish and show an exceptional eagerness for learning. For example, they are extremely motivated to try and form letters. Children show clear pride and beam with delight at the positive praise and encouragement from staff. n Children have helped to redesign the setting's outdoor space, to provide challenging opportunities for developing their physical skills. Their input and opinions are immensely valued by staff. Children tell staff, 'we don't need your help'. They are exceptionally independent throughout the setting. n Staff allow children's play to develop and extend over time. This allows children

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need to do better?

to develop their critical thinking skills as they explore and investigate. For instance, children made a see-saw which evolved into a balance scale for weighing bricks. Children make meaningful discoveries and show incredible persistence as they play. n Staff have developed excellent communication and partnerships with the local school. Children learn an extensive range of skills to support them to move on to school. n Parents speak extremely positively about the setting. They report how well the staff know their children. Parents say how staff take the extra time, care and attention to meet their children's individual needs. n The new manager strives for excellence. Staff's well-being is highly valued and they are extremely well supported to carry out their roles. The staff team and committee have clear plans for continual development, to ensure this outstanding community setting continues to thrive.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager, staff and chair of the committee have an excellent understanding of their role to keep children safe. Staff have a thorough understanding of possible indicators of abuse. They know where to take any concerns they may have about children's welfare. The manager follows a robust recruitment and induction process to ensure staff are suitable to work with children. Staff regularly refresh their knowledge of safeguarding to ensure it remains their highest priority in the setting.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 110069 Local authority Hampshire Inspection number 10128654 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 20 Number of children on roll 31 Name of registered person Lymington Pre School Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 01590 673355 or 07943 039493 Date of previous inspection 25 January 2016

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Information about this early years setting

Lymington Little Dolphins Pre-School opened in 1992 and operates from a purpose- built community room within Lymington Infant School, in Hampshire. The pre- school is open every week day, from 8am to 3pm, during school term times only. The pre-school receives funding for free early years education for children aged two, three and four years. The provider employs six staff. All the staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above.

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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 this into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The manager and curriculum lead joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about the curriculum and what they intend for the children to learn. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided indoors and outside and assessed the impact this was having on children's learning. n The inspector completed a joint observation with the manager. n A meeting was held between the inspector, manager and chair of the committee. The inspector looked at relevant documentation and saw evidence of suitability of staff and committee members. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the 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

11 March 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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