Little Saints Preschool

Inspection of Little Saints Preschool St. Josephs Catholic Primary School, Leavale Road, STOURBRIDGE, West Midlands DY8 2DT

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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 arrive happy, settled and ready to start their day at pre-school. They independently put their belongings onto their own peg by recognising a picture of themselves. Children sit on the carpet and sing a welcome song to each other and the staff, verbally and using sign language. This helps children who require further speech and language support to feel included within the group. Children recap the class rules which they have worked together to produce. This helps them to create a happy and safe learning environment. Staff provide a calm and nurturing atmosphere, which allows children to develop confidence to explore the well- resourced pre-school. Children have free-flow access to the outside area throughout the day.

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The provision is good

Staff work in close partnership with the on-site school. The curriculum is developed to ensure children are prepared and ready to transition to Reception. Staff use pictures and songs to introduce letters and the sounds they represent. Staff introduce the 'silly soup' song and encourage children to find objects beginning with that letter sound to put into the pan. Children thrive from the praise staff give them when correctly identifying these objects and show a high level of self-esteem.

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need to do better?

n Staff introduce new language continuously. Children are encouraged to develop a wide variety of vocabulary. Each week, children are introduced to a new word, such as 'unique'. Children are able to express the meaning of the word, telling staff, 'It is what makes us different and special'. n Children develop good personal, social and emotional skills. They show respect to one another throughout adult-led and child-initiated learning. Children invite their peers to join in with activities they are enjoying. They take turns using the watering can and filling the water pipes outside. They say 'please' and 'thank you' to each other, waiting patiently for their turn. n Parents speak highly of the pre-school. They complement staff on settling the children, building positive relationships and a high standard of learning. Parents comment on the smooth transition to children's next stage of learning. However,

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need to do better?

parents are not always provided with enough information to ensure they are aware of their child's next steps for learning or stage of development. n Leadership and trustees have a clear vision for the pre-school. They take time to reflect on their own practice, setting targets for how they can improve their personal development to enhance children's learning. Staff say they feel supported by leadership and management. They comment on the open-door policy and say how leaders and managers always meet their needs. Managers work to staff's strengths. They recognise when staff want to develop their interests and secure training for this. For example, they support staff who have

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need to do better?

22 September 2022 an interest in forest school to develop their expertise in this area. n Children show enjoyment in all activities staff prepare for them. Staff identify the learning objective of all activities and understand how each activity can be developed to enhance every child's learning. For example, children explore the tuff tray with pipe cleaners. They develop fine motor skills by threading the pipe cleaners through different-sized holes, making different patterns. Staff talk to the children throughout, looking at colours and shapes, and offering support when needed. n Staff offer a range of opportunities for children to be engaged in group conversations. Children interact with musical instruments and talk about the sound they make. Staff encourage children to close their eyes and guess which instrument is making each sound. However, children are not always given enough time to answer these questions before being prompted.

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need to do better?

n Staff work closely with other professionals to ensure all children who require additional support receive this promptly. They devise strategies to ensure all children are able to develop to their full potential. Leadership and management have staff in place to provide one-to-one support for children, where needed, to help them make good progress.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The premises are secure and all parents are issued with a passcode to prevent any unauthorised persons from entering the setting. Staff are confident in identifying potential signs of abuse and have a strong understanding of their responsibility in protecting children from harm. Staff have clear procedures to follow if they have concerns about a child's welfare or staff's practice. Managers and trustees recruit new staff safely, and regularly check their ongoing suitability to work with children. Staff risk assess the environment daily to ensure children are safe and secure in the setting at all times.

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should:

n support staff to communicate further with parents to enable them to have a full understanding of their child's development and next steps n provide children, including those who are less confident, with more time to talk and respond to questions.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY482560 Local authority Dudley Inspection number 10234006 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 24 Number of children on roll 25

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Name of registered person

Little Saints Preschool Stourbridge Management Committee Ltd.

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reference number

Telephone number 01384 350359 Date of previous inspection 5 October 2016

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Information about this early years setting

Little Saints Preschool registered in 2014 and is located in Stourbridge. The pre- school employs five members of childcare staff. Of these, three hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and above. The pre-school operates Monday to Friday, term time only. Sessions are from 8.45am until 3.15pm. 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 setting 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 setting. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The inspector carried out joint observations of group activities with the manager. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the pre-school. n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises.

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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

22 September 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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