Little Stars Pre School

Inspection of Little Stars Pre School Heath End Village Hall, Heath End Road, Baughurst, TADLEY, Hampshire RG26 5LU

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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 arrive confidently and ready to play, learn and have fun. They form strong bonds with the staff who care for them. This helps children to feel settled and at ease. Children show high levels of confidence in their interactions with adults. For instance, older children happily approach adults and ask for help when needed. Children behave well. They understand the routines and follow these appropriately. Overall, staff know and support children's needs effectively.

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The provision is good

Children engage well in the broad range of learning activities available, which they enjoy. They maintain their interest effectively and develop their concentration skills as they spend long periods engaged in activities. For example, a group of children and a staff member explore toy farm animals together. They talk about the animals and count them. In addition, children identify patterns and different sizes during the activity. This helps them to acquire the skills and knowledge they need for their future learning, including moving on to school.

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The provision is good

Staff identify gaps in children's learning well. They understand the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on some children's development, particularly their communication and language skills. Children who need extra help to catch up are identified quickly. Staff involve them in focused activities to support their language development. In addition, they support children at their self-chosen activities. For instance, when children explore play dough, staff introduce and model vocabulary to them.

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need to do better?

n The team of staff work effectively together. The managers promote staff's well- being in a sensitive and supportive way. Staff undertake professional development opportunities, including training, to help to build on their practice. The staff team generally reflects well on the quality of the pre-school. There are ongoing discussions and reviews, to help identify future improvements. This includes evaluating activities and identifying staff's skills that will help to build on children's experiences even further. For instance, the staff team plans to implement forest school sessions in the future. n Staff know the children well. They obtain suitable information from parents about children on entry to the pre-school. Overall, this helps them to understand and meet children's needs well. However, staff do not always obtain further details or research information, to help them to further enhance how they reflect

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need to do better?

children's uniqueness, such as children's similarities and differences, including cultures and other languages spoken at home. n Children receive a good quality of education at the pre-school. Staff are responsive and interact effectively with children. Overall, staff use most times of

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need to do better?

4 May 2022 the day well, to promote children's development. On occasion, they do not use daily routines as well as possible to extend children's skills, for example to build even further on their developing independence skills. n Staff ask questions that help children to think and recall information. This helps staff to determine children's knowledge and understanding. Children's development is tracked closely. Their next steps in learning are identified. Staff support these well through their daily interactions and activities that children show interest in. n Staff model expected behaviours to children effectively. They are polite and calm in how they respond to children and other adults. Staff encourage children's understanding and expectations for behaviour and promote positive social skills. For example, children play ball games that enable them to learn each other's names and which support their understanding of how to take turns.

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need to do better?

n Parents and carers comment very positively about the staff and their children's experiences at the pre-school. They say that staff are welcoming and friendly and that the communication with them is good. For example, they receive daily feedback when they collect their children and have access to information online. Parents state that their children enjoy their time at the pre-school and are progressing well. Staff make links with other settings children attend, to share information to support their needs. n Children learn about healthy lifestyles. This includes becoming aware of dental health and healthy eating, which staff involve parents in. For example, they encourage parents to provide healthy snacks and lunches for their children. Children enjoy being active outside. They spend time outside daily and use equipment that helps to develop their small- and large-muscle skills. For instance, children use different resources to tip and pour water, including

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need to do better?

measuring jugs, buckets and cups. They strengthen their muscles and coordination as they climb play equipment.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The designated safeguarding lead understands her role and responsibilities securely. Staff have a good awareness of indicators of abuse and neglect, including wider safeguarding issues. They know how to manage concerns about children or adults working with children should these arise. Staff have access to information to enable them to report any concerns to outside agencies. Staff supervise children closely and take steps to keep them safe. For instance, they check the garden before children use it. The managers regularly review all staff's suitability to continue working with children. This helps to protect children's welfare.

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should:

4 May 2022 n gather more information from parents, carers and other sources, to further enhance the support for children's individual needs, particularly in relation to their backgrounds, to help reflect these more meaningfully n make better use of daily routines to support children's learning effectively and build even further on their developing independence.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2541709 Local authority Hampshire Inspection number 10215368 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 24 Name of registered person Little Stars Pre School Baughurst Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 07717076647 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Little Stars Pre School registered in 2019 when it re-registered due to a change in ownership. It is located in Baughurst, Tadley, Hampshire. The pre-school is open from Monday to Friday during term time only. Sessions are from 9am to 3pm. The pre-school employs four members of staff, all of whom hold relevant qualifications at level 3. 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 pre-school 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 pre-school. n One of the managers took the inspector on a learning walk of the pre-school and explained the curriculum intentions. n Discussions and meetings were held with the managers and staff during the inspection, including staff with responsibilities for safeguarding and those who support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. n The inspector took account of parents' and carers' views about the pre-school. n One of the managers and the inspector observed an activity together and evaluated this afterwards. n Children interacted with the inspector. The inspector observed children's play, activities and routines during the inspection.

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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

4 May 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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