Octotots Pre School

Inspection of Octotots Pre School St. Andrews Methodist Church Centre, Glenfield Road East, Leicester, Leicestershire LE3 5QW

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Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

The quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement Personal development Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Inadequate

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The provision requires improvement

Children arrive at pre-school and are warmly greeted by the caring staff. They happily say goodbye to their parents, eager to find their friends. Staff notice children's interests and interact to extend and enhance children's learning. For example, staff observe children making pretend pies to sell. They suggest the children create a shop to sell their items. Children are full of excitement as they work with them to create a shopping list and consider the items they need. They work with friends to gather empty food containers to make the shop. Staff suggest they use old boxes to make shelves to display their items. Children safely carry their items to their shop and take care to present them for sale. Staff praise them for their hard work, and children beam with pride.

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The provision requires improvement

That said, children do not benefit from a consistently ambitious curriculum. For instance, some activities planned by staff are not accessed by children. Of the activities children do access, their interest is quickly lost without staff interaction. Children become disengaged and wander and flit between activities. This is because the staff's planning is not robust enough to meet children's needs. Pre- school children display unwanted behaviour, which is not managed consistently by staff. For example, some children become boisterous at mealtimes. They throw cups on the floor, and their friends follow suit. At lunchtime, children pull a blanket over their heads. Other children laugh and leave their seats to join in. They lean into each other's food, and some children throw food on the floor. This goes on for too long before staff intervene.

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need to do better?

n The manager has made some improvements since the last inspection. The majority of identified weaknesses have been addressed. This has had a positive impact as children's safety is now assured. However, further time and support is needed to develop the teaching and learning throughout the pre-school to ensure all children are supported to make good progress. n The curriculum, particularly for older children, lacks ambition. Staff do not plan and provide activities that present an appropriate challenge to help children gain the skills they need to ensure they are ready for starting school. For example, while older children initially show interest in jigsaws and mark making, they quickly lose interest as these activities are not well extended or challenging enough to support their learning. n The staff know the children's interests and identify appropriate next steps to help them progress in their learning. However, they do not always use this

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need to do better?

information to plan learning experiences that fully motivate children. To this end, children often wander between activities with no purpose. n Support for children with special education needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is

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need to do better?

22 March 2023 given high priority. For example, staff seek specialist intervention early on to ensure children make good progress from their starting points. n Staff help children to practise their physical skills. For example, staff use songs to encourage children to exercise their muscles. Children bend and stretch to the music while singing along to familiar songs. They follow staff actions as they eagerly join in, pretending to be elephants and scarecrows. Other children develop coordination skills as they push themselves along in bubble cars. They copy staff who show them how to fill the car with petrol and clean the headlights. n Staff support children to do things for themselves. Even the youngest children are learning to pour their drinks, open lunch packets, and wash their hands. Staff encouraged children to get their bags at home time and put their coats on. This helps children develop their independence skills.

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need to do better?

n Staff do not always address incidents of unwanted behaviour. When staff try to intervene, children often ignore them, and they do not pursue this further. Staff do not implement clear boundaries. Therefore, children's inappropriate actions often disrupt others. Staff do not help children understand unwanted behaviours and the effect these have on others. n Staff provide opportunities for children to use their small muscles. This helps children develop the skills they will need for early writing. For example, children enjoy playing with play dough. They roll it out carefully, cut it into strips and use cutters to make shapes. Staff introduce new vocabulary, such as stretch and spiral, as children manipulate it. n Parents speak positively about the staff and state their children enjoy their time at pre-school. They say their children benefit from making new friends and are developing their language and communication skills.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Managers ensure that all staff undertake relevant training, such as safeguarding and paediatric first aid. Staff have a good knowledge of the signs and symptoms of abuse which might indicate a child is at risk of harm. This includes children who may be at risk of radical views. The staff know the procedures to follow if they have concerns, including concerns about the conduct of a colleague. The manager conducts daily checks to ensure the premises are safe. She ensures suitability checks are conducted to ensure the ongoing suitability of staff to work with children. Parents say they feel their children are safe and secure.

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Due date

22 March 2023 develop a consistent, ambitious and challenging curriculum that enables all children to build on what they already know and can do 28/04/2023

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Due date

support staff to embed the curriculum and provide a more meaningful learning experience for all children in line with their interests and next steps in learning 28/04/2023

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Due date

develop effective behaviour management strategies so that staff have a consistent approach to better support children's understanding of positive behaviour. 28/04/2023

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2544740 Local authority Leicester Inspection number 10259405 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 25 Number of children on roll 13 Name of registered person Arnold, Louise

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reference number

Telephone number 07877607134 Date of previous inspection 26 September 2022

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Information about this early years setting

Octotots Pre School registered in 2019 and is located in Leicester. The pre-school employs three members of childcare staff. Of these, two hold early years qualifications at level 3. The pre-school opens Monday to Friday, term time only. Sessions are from 8.30am to 11.30am and 12.30pm to 3.30pm, with a lunch club between 11.30am and 12.30pm. The pre-school provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed any continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the setting. n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. 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 told the inspector about their friends and what they like to do when they are at pre-school. 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 SEND. 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 observed the interactions between staff and children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector carried out a joint observation of group activities with the manager. n Parents shared their views of the pre-school with the inspector. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the pre-school.

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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

22 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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