Little Barn Owls Pre-School Ltd

Inspection of Little Barn Owls Pre- School Ltd Lings Forum Leisure Centre, Weston Favell Centre, Northampton, Northamptonshire NN3 8JR

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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 Requires improvement

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The provision is good

Children show confidence, a sense of belonging and well-being at this pre-school. They choose the activities they want to do and become fully engaged in their play. For example, children explore real vegetables. They cut up courgettes, use toy tills and price labels on the vegetables to play shops and practise their counting. Staff work closely with all parents, including those whose children have special educational needs and/or disabilities. They successfully adapt activities, so all children can take part and take care to meet children's specific needs. Staff are caring and spend time with children, which helps children build positive relationships with them.

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The provision is good

Staff follow children's interests when planning activities. They help children lead their own play and extend their learning by allowing them to try things out and explore. For example, children digging in the sandpit say they want to make sandcastles, but the sand is too dry. Staff suggest they add water and allow them to choose how much. Children learn when the sand is too wet it gets stuck in their bucket. This learning comes from positive staff involvement with children's play and experiments.

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need to do better?

n Since the last inspection, the manager and the staff team have taken positive steps to address the actions raised. Staff have completed training relating to teaching and how to improve their interactions with children. The manager has improved the coaching and support she provides for staff. She encourages staff to observe one another's practice. These changes have helped improve staff's confidence and provided them with additional knowledge. This has had a positive impact on the quality of education children receive. n Overall, staff are effective in promoting children's communication development. Children are confident to speak to staff about what they are doing. Staff talk to children as they play and introduce new language and vocabulary. For example, as children explore toy sea creatures, staff help them to learn their names, such as stingrays and hammerhead sharks. However, staff continually ask children

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need to do better?

lots of questions rather than continuing with natural conversations. n Children benefit from the staff's positive and encouraging involvement during activities. They are encouraged to develop their independence skills. For example, they use knives safely to spread butter on their toast and help themselves to toys and books from the shelves. At the end of the session, children eagerly help to tidy toys away. n The staff know the children well and plan activities that provide age-appropriate challenges. Children enjoy learning about new topics, such as healthy eating. Staff successfully incorporate discussions about good food choices and how

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need to do better?

14 June 2023 different foods affect children's teeth. Children come together for large-group activities. However, these activities are not planned to meet the needs of the children who take part. n Parents state they are happy with the pre-school. They comment on how well staff meet their children's individual needs. Parents like the daily communication about children's activities and how their child has been. The positive working partnership helps staff to gather information about what children enjoy doing at home. They use this information to plan activities that broaden children's experiences. For example, staff ensure children have daily opportunities to play outside. Staff take children to the local shopping centre to purchase fruit and vegetables for snacks and to find out what happens at the hairdresser's salon. n Children are interested in the activities and motivated to explore and take part.

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need to do better?

Children understand the daily routines and know what comes next. Staff are respectful of children and support them to behave well. They are consistent in their approach and give children gentle, but clear reminders to share resources, consider the feelings of others, and work together.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager is experienced in referring safeguarding concerns to the required agencies. She is confident to escalate and follow up referrals with other agencies when needed. Staff demonstrate an appropriate awareness of how to keep children safe and promote their welfare. They know the signs that indicate a child is being abused and understand how to record and report concerns. Staff carry out effective risk assessments at the pre-school, which contribute to keeping children safe. Staff are deployed well. They keep children under their close supervision as they play. Appropriate procedures are in place to ensure new staff are suitable to work with children, and ongoing checks ensure they remain suitable.

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should:

n develop staff's teaching of communication and language to support and encourage children's conversational skills further n improve the organisation of larger group activities to ensure they have a clear purpose and meet each child's needs.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2555613 Local authority West Northamptonshire Inspection number 10247687 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 16 Number of children on roll 20 Name of registered person Little Barn Owls Pre-School Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 07735039546 Date of previous inspection 22 June 2022

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Information about this early years setting

Little Barn Owls Pre-School Ltd registered in 2019 and is located in Weston Favell, Northampton. The pre-school employs five members of childcare staff. Of these, two hold a recognised early years qualification at level 3. The pre-school is open from 9.05am to 3pm, Monday to Friday, during 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 The inspector discussed any continued impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The inspector observed the quality of education during activities, both inside and outside, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector completed a joint observation with the manager and discussed the teaching and learning. n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together. n The inspector held a meeting with the manager. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the pre-school. n The inspector spoke with staff and children during the inspection. 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

14 June 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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