The Ark Preschool

Inspection of The Ark Preschool Abbots Road South, HUMBERSTONE, Leicester LE5 1DA

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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 Good

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The provision is good

Children are very happy at The Ark. They are greeted at the door by friendly staff who support them to separate from their parents. Children know to hang up their coat and to stack their lunch box before they rush to the main room. They greet each other cheerily and are keen to check with staff to see if their special friends will also be present. Children settle well and quickly become engrossed in the games and books set out for them.

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The provision is good

Children and staff share very positive relationships and this helps children to feel safe. Staff have high expectations of children and, consequently, children's behaviour is very good. All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), are supported to be respectful of each other. Children are encouraged to share, take turns and to use their manners.

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The provision is good

Children are encouraged to be independent and manage their own self-care. They regularly sanitise their own hands and blow their own nose. Staff and children communicate clearly with each other. This helps children to understand the day-to- day routine and to anticipate what comes next. Children know that they will brush their teeth after snack and eagerly anticipate playing outside once their teeth are clean.

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need to do better?

n Staff develop a vibrant curriculum for children that encourages them to investigate and explore. Staff use familiar materials to engage children's curiosity and encourage them to test out what they already know. Children pour flour into a tray and tell staff, 'It smells like bakery.' They enjoy making swirls and marks in the flour using their hands and fingers. Staff ask children what might happen if they add water to the flour, and children are excited to find out. Children recognise that the texture and properties of the flour have changed. They comment that it becomes 'sticky, like dough'. n Staff understand the local community that the children come from. This helps them to plan to meet the needs of individual children, including those with SEND. Staff develop good relationships with parents and other professionals who may be involved in the children's care. This means they can plan and implement

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need to do better?

specific strategies to support children to make the best possible progress. n The manager proactively supports staff to develop plans for children's learning. Staff assess what children know and can do by observing their play. They use this information to develop next steps for children's learning. Staff know that some children have limited opportunities to be creative and messy at home. They plan a range of opportunities for them, for example chalking on the ground outside, digging in the mud kitchen and planting seeds in the garden.

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need to do better?

7 June 2022 n Overall, staff promote children's communication and language skills well. They use stories, songs and games to encourage children to talk and to understand new ideas. Children choose to look at 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar' story. With staff's support, they use a story sack to retell the story. They use the pictures in the book to identify and count different fruits and correctly select matching items from the story sack. However, sometimes children are expected to concentrate for too long and this means they can lose interest. For example, children play a card game with staff but become distracted when it takes too long for them to have a turn. n Parents are very happy with the care their children receive at The Ark. They speak highly of the bonds children have with staff. They know who to talk to about their children's development. Parents praise the work staff do to ensure children are ready when the time comes for them to go to school. Parents value

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need to do better?

the verbal and electronic feedback they receive about their children's experiences, and they enjoy seeing photos of them playing with their friends. n Staff say that they enjoy working at the pre-school. They feel valued and supported. They work extremely well together as a team and support one another to meet the needs of individual children. Staff regularly refresh and update their own knowledge and say that this enables them to extend and develop children's learning.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff have a clear understanding of safeguarding. They know about the signs and symptoms of abuse. Staff know how to record and report concerns to the designated safeguarding lead for the pre-school. Staff complete regular training to ensure their knowledge of safeguarding issues remains up to date. The manager and staff conduct daily risk assessments of activities and play spaces indoors and outdoors. The premises are secure and well maintained, which contributes to keeping children safe. The manager employs a robust process to ensure all staff have been appropriately checked and vetted and remain suitable to work with children.

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should:

n strengthen support for staff to focus on developing their teaching practices to an even higher level.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY470923 Local authority Leicester Inspection number 10069543 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 16 Number of children on roll 15 Name of registered person Hadley, Alison Mary

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reference number

Telephone number 07591 602791 Date of previous inspection 23 September 2014

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Information about this early years setting

The Ark Preschool registered in 2013. It operates from Abbots Road United Reformed Church, Leicester. The pre-school employs four members of childcare staff. All staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or level 3 and one is a qualified teacher. The pre-school opens Monday to Friday, term time only. Sessions are from 9am until midday, 12.30pm until 3.30pm or 9am until 3.30pm. The pre-school provides funded early education for 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 education during activities, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector completed a joint observation with the pre-school manager. n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together. n The inspector held a meeting with the pre-school manager. They looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the pre-school. n The inspector spoke with staff and children during the inspection. n The inspector spoke to parents about the pre-school during the inspection, and took account of their views.

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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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