Little Gems Preschool

Inspection of Little Gems Preschool Huncote Sports & Social Club, Enderby Road, Thurlaston, Leicester, Leicestershire LE9 7TF

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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 with their parents and enter this home-from-home pre-school happily. Staff place a strong emphasis on supporting children's emotional and social development. They warmly welcome the children in and help them feel safe and secure. Staff encourage children to share how they are feeling, for example by talking to the children and sharing props displaying different emotions. All children, including younger children, are settled, behave well and enjoy their time at pre- school.

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The provision is good

Staff ensure children access an ambitious curriculum. They support children's interests well. Staff provide activities that are stimulating and that also entice children to explore independently and investigate both inside and outside. Children are enthusiastic in their approach to their own learning. They particularly enjoy experimenting as they make marks in dry flour. They confidently use tools such as paintbrushes and their fingers. Children are absorbed and concentrate in this activity as they attempt to draw circles and letters of their name.

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The provision is good

Children thoroughly enjoy and take an active part in learning about nature. On an outing, children eagerly run across the field with staff to the local woodland. Staff engage well with children, asking them about what they have found. Children use a wide range of vocabulary to describe the different smells and textures of the leaves and twigs. They stop suddenly and experience awe and wonder as a fledgling bird lands near them. Children know to stand still and remain quiet and calm as they watch the bird. Once the bird flies away, children excitedly talk about the event with staff, who help to broaden their knowledge further.

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need to do better?

n The manager and her staff team have high expectations for all children. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and those from more disadvantaged backgrounds are supported extremely well. Staff quickly identify these children and seek early intervention and help from the appropriate professionals. They work highly sensitively with parents from the start. Each child's individual learning and development targets are considered with a great deal of thought. Parents' views along with those of other professionals involved with the children are also considered. n Partnership with parents is strong. Parents' comments are very positive. Some report on how the staff have worked 'over and above' to support them and their child. Information is exchanged regularly and effectively between parents and staff through a variety of ways. Parents comment how this helps them to continue to support their child's learning and development at home.

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need to do better?

n Staff know their key children well and work together to support all children as a

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need to do better?

7 June 2022 team effectively. They know what they want the children to learn next. However, occasionally, some staff do not have a clear and precise focus on intended learning for children. For example, during a planned planting activity, staff do not make the most of what they know they want the children to learn next. Consequently, they do not support some children to learn as much as possible during the activity. n Staff support children's communication and language development well, overall. They listen to children and repeat words correctly to help with children's pronunciation. However, some staff, in their enthusiasm, do not model language consistently or use questioning techniques effectively to extend children's language skills further. Sometimes staff do not give children enough time to think and respond to the questions they ask. n Children understand what keeps them healthy. They know to wash their hands

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need to do better?

before eating and after using the toilet. Children enjoy healthy lunches provided by their parents and enjoy the snacks of fresh fruit and vegetables provided by the pre-school. Staff extend children's learning. They talk to children about healthy food options and how to brush their teeth to promote good oral health. Children talk about how brushing stops cavities growing in their teeth. n Children play cooperatively and their behaviour is very good. They use their imaginative skills well, creating their own play with dressing-up clothes and cardboard boxes. Children work out who is going to be what character between themselves. Older children are good role models for younger children. They help the younger children learn about behaviour expectations. During a group session, older children confidently shout out, 'Remember to be kind,' when asked by staff what the pre-school rules are.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager of the pre-school follows safe recruitment procedures and carries out ongoing suitability checks for all staff. Staff have a secure knowledge and understanding of how to keep children safe. They are very clear about the procedures they must follow should they have a concern about a child's welfare. Staff regularly keep their knowledge up to date through training, including on safeguarding issues such as those relating to extremist views. Staff supervise children closely both inside and outside the building and when on outings. Staff complete risk assessments to ensure there are no hazards in the environment before children attend.

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should:

n support staff to have a clearer focus on the intended learning for children so that

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should:

7 June 2022 the aim and objective of the planned activity are not lost n help staff to model language and improve questioning techniques in order to provide more time for children to think and respond to questions.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2532766 Local authority Leicestershire Inspection number 10215137 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

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

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inspection

Total number of places 29 Number of children on roll 41 Name of registered person Carroll, Gemma

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reference number

Telephone number 07752338410 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Little Gems Preschool registered in 2019. The pre-school employs six members of childcare staff. Of these, five hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and one is unqualified. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday during term time. Sessions are from 9am until 1pm or from 9am 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 and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector completed a joint observation of an activity and evaluated this with the manager. n The inspector took account of the views from parents spoken to on the day of the inspection. n The inspector spoke with the manager, staff and the children at appropriate times throughout the inspection. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation, including the evidence of staff's qualifications and the suitability of the adults working with the children.

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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

7 June 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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