Lighthall Under Fives Pre-School

Inspection of Lighthall Under Fives Pre-School Layca Community Centre, Stretton Road, Shirley, Solihull B90 2RL

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

The quality of education Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not applicable

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The provision is outstanding

Children are loved and nurtured by the inspirational staff. They happily walk into pre-school confidently and are individually greeted by the caring team. This helps children to feel safe and happy. Children put away their belongings independently and complete their self-registration. All children are aware of the importance of good health and hygiene. They independently go to wash their hands before going to play with their friends. Children settle very well. Staff provide an inviting range of stimulating activities that spark children's interests and curiosity. Staff are excellent role models. They consistently demonstrate kind words and good manners. Staff speak to the children and one another with respect. Children's behaviour is exceptional. They play harmoniously together in the sand, creating castles and exploring different movements that make marks. Children are polite and kind to each other.

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The provision is outstanding

The experienced staff provide an ambitious curriculum to support children's physical development. Children develop their strength and coordination through a vast array of opportunities. They climb up the ladders of the slide and slide down with pride. Children climb into the pirate ship and learn to manage risks as they negotiate how to slide down the pole. Daily opportunities to explore malleable materials such as play dough help to strengthen children's hands and fingers, which supports their early writing skills.

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need to do better?

n The staff and managers have worked collaboratively to create an inspiring curriculum that provides a wealth of experiential learning. They develop exceptional relationships with parents, which helps them to understand children's early experiences and to extend opportunities for children. Staff introduce children to wondrous activities such as exploring eggs and watching as they hatch. This encourages children to develop curiosity, to ask questions and experiment with their ideas. Children learn how to take care of animals and develop a deeper understanding of growth. Staff support this further through opportunities to grow plants and vegetables. Children take the responsibility of caring for them, watching them grow and then tasting some of the produce. n Children flourish in an environment that celebrates the importance of literature. The staff skilfully plan and immerse children in engaging story times. Children

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need to do better?

gain a rich and varied vocabulary through the repetition of words and phrases during play. For instance, children take part in fishing activities where they explore sea creatures. They name the puffer fish and talk about hermit crabs. They learn that a large number of fish swimming together is called a shoal as they experiment with colours and textures in their artwork. Staff extend opportunities for children to develop a love of books and development of

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need to do better?

10 July 2023 communication through their lending library. Children choose from a wide range of books and games that they can borrow to share with their families at home. n Children are confident, independent learners. Staff give them many opportunities to make choices. For example, children vote for the snack that they would like to eat each morning. This teaches them the importance of British values and democracy. Children work with staff to prepare snack for their friends by slicing grapes and peeling oranges. They learn how to use tools safely. At snack times, children know that they must wash their hands before eating. Children butter their own crackers and pour their own drinks. Staff talk to the children about the value of healthy eating. Children confidently attend to their own toileting needs. n The staff and managers have excellent relationships with the parents and carers of the children that attend. Parents admire the teamwork and the loving ethos

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need to do better?

that the staff have created for their children. Parents are proud that their children make exceptional progress at pre-school and feel that they are fully included in their children's educational journey. Staff share weekly newsletters with parents, sharing ideas and support as well as information about what children have been learning. This helps parents to embed this learning at home and children delight in sharing with the staff what they have learned at home. n The manager makes excellent use of additional funding to support children's needs and experiences. Children benefit from opportunities to learn new ball skills. For instance, they take part in tennis lessons on the field. The manager ensures that there is always a high number of staff within the setting. This allows staff to work with children individually to offer intervention with speech and language development. Staff receive additional training in special

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need to do better?

educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Children, including those with SEND, make excellent progress from their starting points. n The staff in the setting feel valued and respected. They know that their well- being is a priority and that they are part of an excellent team. The manager supports the staff in their career goals and encourages them to enhance their professional development through additional training. Supervision is common practice in the setting and staff speak highly of the support they receive. Staff are all aware of their training needs and how to enhance their teaching further.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager has excellent safeguarding procedures in place to keep children safe. Robust recruitment ensures that only suitable staff are employed to work with children. The manager routinely checks the ongoing suitability of staff during regular supervision meetings. The manager and staff have a very good understanding of the signs and symptoms of abuse. They can describe what they would do if they had concerns about the welfare of a child and who they would report it to. Staff carry out appropriate risk assessments to check the safety of the premises and teach children how to manage risks.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2624073 Local authority Solihull Inspection number 10295613 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 36 Name of registered person Lighthall Under Fives Pre-School CIO

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reference number

Telephone number 01217445128 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Lighthall Under Fives Pre-School registered in 2021. The pre-school employs nine members of staff, of whom one holds an appropriate early years qualification at level 6 and five hold a qualification at level 3. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday, term time only. Sessions are from 8am to 4pm. The provider is in receipt of funding for the provision of free early education for 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 inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The deputy manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. 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 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 deputy manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation during

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Inspection activities

snack time. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. 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

10 July 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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