Little Fingers Pre-School

Inspection of Little Fingers Pre-School The Gospel Hall, Vernham Dean, Andover, Hampshire SP11 0LD

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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 comfortable entering this warm and inviting pre-school. They separate from parents happily and are greeted by the friendly staff. Children form strong bonds with staff and approach them with ease. Staff know the children very well and have an effective key-person system. Children know who their key person is and which key-person group they are a part of, giving them a sense of belonging. They are safe and secure inside pre-school as well as in the outside space. Overall, children behave well. They interact with each other and show respect towards their peers and staff alike.

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The provision is good

Staff identify areas for development impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. They focus on providing opportunities for children to play and explore, while developing their speech and language. Children are given many opportunities to socialise with each other. In the home corner, staff encourage them to measure out ingredients, such as flour and oats. Staff ask children lots of questions and promote good communication and language. Children form strong relationships with each other and make friends. Staff offer opportunities for children to explore and play, both inside and in the fully enclosed outside space.

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need to do better?

n Staff identify a curriculum aim as wanting children to have a love of books. They believe this to be fundamental to children's speech and language development. Staff provide opportunities for children to learn about the world around them that spark conversations. For example, children dig for bugs in the outside bug corner. They are asked questions by staff and match the bugs to pictures in the books. This helps children to understand how they can begin to use books to find information. n Staff give children opportunities to use their imagination through play. For example, children eagerly explore and interact as they re-enact scenarios from home. Staff encourage them to learn to play together. Staff help children to develop their physical skills. For instance, children develop their large-muscle skills as they climb and develop their small-muscle skills as they use their fingers to paint. n Staff have high expectations for children. However, on occasions, they do not

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need to do better?

reinforce these to help children understand what is expected. For example, staff ring the bell to tidy up, but do not encourage children to respond to this signal. This means that, at times, children do not have a secure understanding of some rules and boundaries. n Staff support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) effectively. For example, they use strategies such as sign language to communicate with them. However, on occasion, staff are not fully effective in

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need to do better?

27 January 2023 using these strategies and interacting with children who are new, to help them settle swiftly and engage in learning. n Staff feel fully supported by management and the committee. They can approach any member of the committee with ideas to improve the pre-school. They are a small, friendly team who support each other's well-being. Staff attend fortnightly meetings to discuss children, safeguarding concerns and training. They attend supervision meetings with management and feel comfortable approaching them at any time. n Staff attend regular training, such as online or face to face. For example, they have recently completed training on mental health. This is helping them to ensure they use every opportunity to extend their knowledge and personal development further. This supports children's emotional development in helping to identify mental health concerns and challenges. Staff training provides them

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need to do better?

with strategies to deal with this. n Parents are very complimentary about staff and are full of praise for the pre- school. They comment on how staff provide a supportive settling-in process. Parents state they receive regular feedback about their children's progress through an online assessment tool. They compliment staff on effectively supporting children with SEND. Parents state children are very happy being at the pre-school and that they 'love Little Fingers'.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff have a good knowledge of safeguarding processes. They are confident in identifying signs of physical abuse, neglect, radicalisation, and female genital mutilation. Staff know the procedure to report safeguarding concerns and clearly explain this. They are aware of who to report concerns to for a child and an adult. Staff attend regular training courses face to face and through the use of an online tool. They discuss safeguarding concerns during their regular meetings and any further training that may be needed. Staff can identify who the designated safeguarding lead is and their role. Staff strive to ensure children are in a safe and secure environment.

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should:

n implement a more consistent approach to help children understand expectations for behaviour n support staff to use strategies more successfully to help children who are new settle and engage in learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 110092 Local authority Hampshire Inspection number 10263619 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 37 Number of children on roll 37 Name of registered person Little Fingers Pre-School Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 01264 737735 Date of previous inspection 8 May 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Little Fingers Pre-School opened in 1991. The pre-school is situated in the village of Vernham Dean, in Hampshire. Sessions are term time only, from 8am to 4pm Monday to Friday. There are four members of staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications to level 3. The pre-school is in receipt of funding for the provision of free early education to children aged two, three and four years.

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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 provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the pre-school and discussed the early years curriculum. n Children communicated with the inspector during the inspection. n Staff spoke to the inspector during the inspection. 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 a joint observation of a group activity with the manager. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. 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

27 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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