Ladybirds at St Barnabas

Inspection of Ladybirds at St Barnabas St Barnabas Church Halls, Stopford Rd, Gillingham, Kent ME7 4NQ

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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 Inadequate

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The provision is good

Children arrive eager and excited to go to pre-school. They settle quickly and explore the environment with interest. Staff manage transitions into the setting very well. For example, children who arrive after lunch have time to play and are slowly joined by the other children when they have finished their lunch.

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The provision is good

Children show that they are relaxed and at ease throughout the day. Staff build good relationships with children, who are eager to take part in activities. For example, they mix a range of materials such as foam and water to make Halloween 'potions'. Staff talk to them about what they are making and what they have done for Halloween. They repeat the activity when children have shown a keen interest, helping the children to explore and repeat their ideas.

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The provision is good

Children play well together and have good behaviour. Staff support them positively when they have shown good listening skills. For example, they give them an encouraging thumbs up and smile as they praise them. Children manage turn taking and waiting well throughout the day. For instance, children excitedly join the activity to paint leaves. They wait patiently for staff to help each child who has shown an interest. For some children, this develops into painting their hands. Staff support children well to explore their own ideas and interests during this time.

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need to do better?

n The committee and manager are committed to continue to develop the setting for children. They consult with other professionals for guidance and support to ensure that they continue raise the quality of the provision. The committee members have a secure knowledge of their role to support the manager and staff. The manager supports staff effectively. Staff report that they have opportunities to develop their skills. n Staff have a good understanding of children's learning needs and personalities. They know individual children well, such as those with quieter personalities. However, the support for children who speak English as an additional language does not fully extend to include how children can develop their home language within the setting. n The new special educational needs coordinator (SENCo) works well with the manager to help children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and those who require additional support. They have made the

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need to do better?

appropriate referrals to external agencies for specialist support. Children with SEND receive appropriate support to help them make progress. n The manager has a strong understanding of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children. Together with the staff, they structure their curriculum around key areas to help extend children's skills. For example, support for

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need to do better?

1 November 2022 communication and language and personal, social and emotional development is in place. However, some of the key aims are not consistently implemented throughout the day to maximise children's progress. n Children have high levels of emotional well-being. They play well together and know the routines of the setting. This helps staff to care for children's individual preferences and care needs. For example, they carefully support the youngest children to learn to drink from age-appropriate cups. They take small steps to give children confidence to achieve. n Partnership working with parents is good. Staff share what children have been learning at the setting and provide information to help children's development at home. Parents report that their children are happy at the setting and that staff are caring and supportive. n Children develop the skills to support them to be ready to move on to the next

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need to do better?

stage of learning at school. For example, children confidently approach staff for help and demonstrate positive attitudes towards learning. For example, children learn to work together, such as building tall foam brick towers, taking turns to knock them down. n Children have good opportunities to develop their physical skills at pre-school. The large space is set up to help children to build their large-muscle skills. They balance on beams and climb steps to the slide. Children have opportunities to build on these skills further, such as during playtime in the garden.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager has reviewed and implemented changes since the last inspection to ensure that children are safeguarded effectively. There are now secure procedures in place to ensure that all committee members have all suitability checks completed. Staff attend regular training. They are aware of what may cause concern about the welfare of a child. This includes how to identify concerns about radicalisation and female genital mutilation. Staff know the action to take if they have concerns about a child. They know what to do if they have concerns about the practice of a member of staff and the procedures to follow.

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should:

n increase the opportunities for children who speak English as an additional language to have opportunities to develop their home language in the setting, to further their development n strengthen staff practice around the curriculum to consistently implement key aims, particularly for communication and language, to support children's progress further.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY482225 Local authority Medway Inspection number 10245170 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 28 Number of children on roll 25

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Name of registered person

Ladybirds Pre School at St Barnabas Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 01634570688 Date of previous inspection 23 May 2022

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Information about this early years setting

Ladybirds at St Barnabas registered in 2014. It operates from a church hall in Gillingham, Kent. The pre-school is open Monday to Friday, from 9am to 3.15pm, during term time only. The provider receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years. There are six members of staff. The manager holds a level 5 qualification and four staff hold a level 3.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed any continued impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want their children to learn. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation. n The inspector spoke to several parents 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

1 November 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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