Little Owls Pre-School and Nursery

Inspection of Little Owls Pre-School and Nursery Newtown, Witchampton, Wimborne BH21 5AU

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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 quickly engage in an exciting range of activities that staff prepare for them. Children work together to build train tracks, read books and investigate fascinating real-life artefacts in their role-play area. Children sustain their concentration as staff talk to them about what they are doing and encourage conversational responses from them. Children are confident to talk about what they like doing and have lots of ideas of their own. For example, children pour sand into trays in the mud kitchen as they prepare delicious imaginary 'cheese and tomato pizzas' for others to eat.

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The provision is good

Staff promote lots of healthy activities for children to enjoy. Children benefit from lots of fresh air and physical exercise. They regularly participate in forest school sessions, and staff encourage them to notice and describe their senses while observing the changing seasons. Children feel safe and secure. They play well with one another and particularly love helping staff with jobs during the day. Staff give children special responsibilities, such as helping to cut fruit for snack time or preparing activities for later in the day. Children are proud of their contributions to helping others.

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need to do better?

n The setting's new manager has a clear vision and passion to develop children's confidence in themselves, develop a love for reading and learn to be respectful of each other and the world in which we live. With support from the committee, leaders evaluate the quality of care and education that they provide accurately. They have successfully introduced new experiences for their community of children and have plans in place to enhance these further. n Staff delight in celebrating with children what makes them special and unique. Children share their favourite items they have collected for their 'marvellous me' box. They use photos to proudly explain who their family is, and they show their best-loved storybook and their first pair of shoes. Through conversations, children reflect on how much they have grown and changed. n Children love listening to stories. Staff promote 'our favourite five', a carefully

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need to do better?

selected range of books that they repeatedly read and share with children. Children become deeply engaged with stories and enthusiastically join in with staff as they read to them. Children independently choose books to read. They perch on the squidgy soft logs around their pretend fireplace and willingly talk about what is in their book. n Children behave well. Staff clearly communicate expectations. Children respond quickly and work alongside others to tidy up and get ready for the next exciting part of their day. Sometimes, routines between activities take longer than needed, and consequently some children find it difficult to maintain their

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need to do better?

24 November 2022 concentration. n Staff provide children with activities that engage them and help them learn. Staff teach children how to use tools to manipulate play dough with precision. Young children develop fine motor control, roll out flat shapes with a rolling pin and shape small spheres between their palms as they decorate their 'Christmas cakes'. Staff model letter writing as older children dictate letters they would like to send to Santa. Staff encourage children to sign their letters using appropriate pencil grip. Occasionally, during group activities, some staff are unsure how to enhance children's learning further, and a few children begin to lose interest. n Staff build strong attachments with children through their key-person system. They are knowledgeable about the needs of all children, particularly children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Leaders work closely with

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need to do better?

external agencies to ensure that children receive the support they need to make good progress. n Staff have developed meaningful partnerships with parents. Parents explain how gentle, kind and supportive staff are to children. They share how children's confidence, use of language and imagination have grown since starting in this setting. Staff work alongside parents to establish ways of working that benefit children. This helps children settle into the provision quickly and begin feeling at home.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

All members of staff take their responsibility to safeguard children that they care for seriously. They follow risk assessments to ensure that the indoor and outdoor environments are secure and safe. Staff check public places ahead of time to make sure spaces are ready and appropriate for children. Leaders follow safer recruitment procedures to ensure suitable staff work with children. Leaders and staff can identify the potential signs that a child might be at risk of harm. They are confident about who to contact if they have a concern about a child.

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should:

n ensure that routines help all children to manage their behaviour even better n develop staff confidence and knowledge of how to enhance learning even further so that children make even more rapid progress.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2603857 Local authority Dorset Inspection number 10251632 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 23

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Name of registered person

Little Owls Pre School & Nursery Witchampton CIO

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reference number

Telephone number 01258 840042 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Little Owls Preschool and Nursery registered in 2020. The setting is located in its own premises in Witchampton, near Wimborne, Dorset. The provider operates five days a week, during school term time. Sessions run from 9am to 3pm. There is a team of 4 staff who work directly with children. All staff who work with children have an early years qualification. The pre-school receives funding for the provision of free education for children aged three and four.

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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 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 Children spoke to the inspector about what they enjoy doing while at the setting. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The special educational needs coordinator spoke to the inspector about how they support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The manager showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate the suitability of staff.

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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

24 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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