Lilliput Pre-School

Inspection of Lilliput Pre-School Drybread Road, Whittlesey, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire PE7 1XJ

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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 happy, safe and secure in this calm and welcoming environment. They display warm and caring relationships with staff, as they happily engage in conversations about their family lives. Children are eager to explore and investigate their surroundings. For example, they roll, cut and press dough into textured moulds. They excitedly show visitors their creations and describe the textures as 'bumpy' and 'smooth'. Children enjoy exploring the well-planned outdoor environment. Staff teach them how to take appropriate risks as they climb ladders and support themselves with branches. Younger children are shown how to balance on stilts. They use them to travel through puddles and observe the prints they make.

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The provision is good

Children behave well. They develop friendships with their peers and enjoy each other's company. For example, they call to friends to join them as they create 'meals' in the mud kitchen. Staff encourage good manners. As a result, children use 'please' and 'thank you' spontaneously in play.

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The provision is good

Children enjoy healthy food choices. Staff provide 'tooth friendly' food for snack, such as sugar free carrot muffins and beans on toast. Every mealtime is a sociable event. Staff are playful and encourage discussion, as they deliberately describe the shape of toast incorrectly. Children laugh and giggle as they point out their 'mistakes'.

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need to do better?

n Partnerships with parents are good. Parents speak highly about the quality of care and education their children receive. They describe staff as 'warm' and 'loving'. They comment on how happy their children are. Parents appreciate the support they receive from staff with ideas and strategies to try at home. n The key-person system is effective. Children form strong relationships with staff who know them well. Children who are new to the setting receive regular reassurance from their key person and settle quickly. Consideration is given to staff deployment. For example, children sit with their key person at mealtimes to allow them to receive continuity in their care. n Staff promote children's early literacy skills and children develop a love of books. They vote for their favourite stories and listen carefully as staff read with enthusiasm. Children are encouraged to interact and ask questions about the

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need to do better?

characters. They learn the difference between the author and the illustrator and can make predictions about the content of the story from the front cover. n Children are given plenty of opportunities for outdoor play. They eagerly help staff in the garden with digging and raking. Staff carefully support children's understanding of how to use the equipment safely. Children are able to explore.

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need to do better?

13 January 2023 For instance, they combine materials, such as leaves, water and bark in the mud kitchen. They enjoy digging in the wet sand, filling and emptying their buckets. This helps children develop concepts such as volume and weight. n Staff carefully plan activities based on children's interests, so they are excited to learn. They focus on children becoming independent. For example, children independently access a dustpan and brush to sweep up spilt sand. They are shown strategies for hanging up their coats using hangers following outdoor play. n Staff support children's communication and language skills well. They interact well with the children and plan a range of activities to promote children's attention and speaking and listening skills. However, at times, the organisation of large-group activities means children are waiting for long periods. This impacts on children's involvement and learning due to the extended times taken

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need to do better?

to complete the activities. n Children's behaviour is good. Staff act as positive role models and reward children with praise for acts of kindness. They provide gentle reminders, such as 'good listening' and 'good sitting' to reinforce behavioural expectations. They speak calmly and encourage children to take turns with equipment. Staff give children the language to describe their emotions. This helps children to understand their feelings. n The manager evaluates the provision well. She provides staff with regular opportunities to discuss their workload and prioritises their well-being. Staff consistently state they feel valued and well supported.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager has robust safeguarding procedures in place. Staff have good safeguarding knowledge. They are aware of the signs and symptoms of abuse and the potential risks to children. Staff are confident about the steps they would take if they were concerned about a child. Staff receive regular supervision and training to keep their knowledge updated. The manager and staff know the correct procedures to follow if they are concerned about the suitability of a colleague. Staff understand their responsibility to protect children from harm and are aware of wider safeguarding concerns, including female genital mutilation and the 'Prevent' duty.

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should:

n improve the organisation of large-group activities, so that all children can engage in the planned learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 221920 Local authority Cambridgeshire Inspection number 10264729 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 25 Name of registered person Latham, Debbie

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reference number

Telephone number 07511707405 Date of previous inspection 23 June 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Lilliput Pre-School registered in 2000 and is privately owned. It is situated in Peterborough. The pre-school employs three members of childcare staff. All staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday, from 9am until 3pm, term time only. 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 pre-school received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the manager and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provision. n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about the curriculum and what she wants the children to learn. n The inspector talked to staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, both indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of a group activity with the manager. 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

13 January 2023 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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