Little Leaves Pre-School

Inspection of Little Leaves Pre-School New Ash Green Youth Centre, Ash Road, New Ash Green, Longfield, Kent DA3 8JY

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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 of all ages and abilities are happy, settled and confident. They have a positive attitude towards their learning and enjoy the motivating experiences that staff carefully plan for them. For example, they are excited to act out their favourite story on a large scale as they hunt for a bear in the woodland area. This supports children to recall the story with imagination and build on their communication skills. Children are independent. For example, they confidently choose their own play and complete their own tasks.

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The provision is good

Staff are positive role models and manage any rare challenging behaviour calmly and appropriately. All children know what is expected of them and are polite and behave well. Children are kind and empathetic towards each other and respect each other's differences. Children learn about the benefits of healthy lifestyles. They choose whether to engage in exercise and active play or enjoy rest and quieter activities. All children gain good physical abilities. For example, they negotiate space well as they run and learn new skills, such as kicking a ball. Children develop good communication skills. They are confident to share their own ideas during role-play activities. For instance, when they become 'vets', they make up their own narrative.

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need to do better?

n All staff establish secure and trusting relationships with children. They get to know their individual personalities and what makes them unique. Staff know children's individual needs well, and this helps them plan learning experiences that they know children will enjoy. n All children have a good sense of belonging and positive levels of well-being and self-esteem. Children are eager to come into the setting and enjoy the company of both their friends and staff. n The manager and staff establish positive partnerships with parents. They keep them well involved and informed about their children's achievements and what they have enjoyed participating in daily. Staff share useful ideas with parents to help them enjoy learning at home together with their children. This includes recipes and instructions on how to make play dough. n Staff support all children to make good progress. This includes children who

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need to do better?

have special educational needs and/or disabilities. Staff liaise closely with outside specialists to implement helpful ideas to support children. For example, they have created a den for children to access if they become overwhelmed. n Staff liaise with parents to ensure they know about any information that has been shared with them by staff at other settings that children also attend. However, they do not consistently communicate with other settings directly. They do not use more effective ways to establish positive partnerships with staff

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need to do better?

2 March 2023 there. Therefore, staff do not provide the highest level of consistency to the children's shared care and learning experiences. n The manager ensures that she follows all safety and suitability checks when employing staff and recruiting committee members. Ongoing suitability is checked as part of the regular one-to-one meetings held with staff. The manager monitors the good quality of care and teaching children receive from the dedicated team. n Staff evaluate the setting together routinely. They observe each other teaching and interacting with children. They provide constructive feedback, which is used to support their future practice. n All staff attend regular and beneficial training. They have made good use of recent training where they learned about the different ways that boys learn and play. As a result, all children, including the boys, remain engaged in their experiences and make good progress in all areas of learning.

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need to do better?

n Overall, staff successfully support children to develop a good understanding of people's similarities and differences outside of their own experiences. For example, they talk about festivals, such as Chinese New Year. However, some staff are uncertain of what other languages children speak or hear at home. Therefore, they do not fully support children who speak English as an additional language to develop their full range of language skills even further. n Staff use additional funding effectively to meet the individual learning needs of children. For instance, they provide children with additional sessions and purchase resources around their individual interests. This has helped staff settle them quickly into the setting.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

All the staff, including the manager, have a good knowledge of safeguarding and child protection policies and procedures. They fully understand the signs and symptoms of abuse that may highlight a potential concern. This includes wider aspects, such as the 'Prevent' duty. Staff know who they would contact to seek advice and how to raise and follow up on any issues, including managing any allegations against staff. Staff complete detailed risk assessments to help keep children safe and minimise risk. All staff are first-aid trained and know how to swiftly deal with any accidents if they occur at the setting.

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should:

n further improve teaching to help staff support children who speak English as an additional language n build more effective partnerships with staff at other settings that children also

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Setting details

Unique reference number 127211 Local authority Kent Inspection number 10233553 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Sessional day care

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inspection

Total number of places 28 Number of children on roll 48 Name of registered person Little Leaves Pre-School Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 01474 873519 Date of previous inspection 30 March 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Little Leaves Pre-School registered in 1994. It is located in Longfield, Kent, and opens Monday to Friday, from 9am until 3pm, term time only. The setting receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years. There are seven members of staff, all of whom hold relevant early years qualifications at level 2 and above. This includes five members of staff who hold a relevant early years qualification at level 3.

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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 inspector carried out a learning walk with the manager. The inspector assessed the impact of the quality of staff interactions and the learning opportunities they provide for children. n The inspector viewed the indoor and outdoor learning environments. n Written documentation was reviewed. This included safeguarding and child protection policies and procedures. n The inspector spoke to the manager, children, parents and staff at convenient times and considered 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

2 March 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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