Little Avenues Pre-School

Inspection of Little Avenues Pre- School The Bungalow, Broome Grove, Wivenhoe, COLCHESTER CO7 9QB

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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 play happily in a safe environment. They are given freedom to choose what they would like to play with and engage with interest. Children are active and use both indoor and outdoor spaces effectively. They challenge themselves by walking on the balance beams, developing their gross motor skills. Children interact and socialise with their peers. They use good manners and are reminded how to behave in an appropriate way by, for example, using walking feet indoors. Overall, their behaviour is good.

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The provision is good

Children enjoy small-group activities, and supportive practitioners are close at hand to provide guidance where needed. Children have good language and communication skills. They know how to approach practitioners and ask for help. They are supported to ask questions and are listened to by practitioners. They use their imaginations in role-play scenarios, cooking dinners in the kitchen and using real packaging, adding further reality to their play. Children invite staff to join in with their play, and they often take the lead.

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The provision is good

Children play games, learning to take turns and how to follow instructions. For example, when playing a game about healthy food, they excitedly turn over the cards and make choices about if it is a 'tummy ache' card or a 'healthy food' card. Children are learning about the local community, and they are interested in the photos added to displays. They talk with practitioners about home experiences and share details about their visits with their families. Staff take time to listen to the children, and they enhance children's self-esteem.

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need to do better?

n Children are cared for by passionate practitioners, who prioritise giving children positive learning experiences. They are enthusiastic about their roles, and this is evident in their behaviour with children. Practitioners get down to the children's level, listen and give eye contact. They use visual picture cards effectively to communicate with children who may need further support to understand. Children talk about the weather and happily sing 'the days of the week' song all together. They are encouraged to talk about their feelings. Children are supported to learn about the world through conversation and looking at books. They enjoy singing songs and sharing stories. n Children have a good routine, which helps to promote their independence. They know to wash their hands before meals and after using the toilet. Snack times encourage children to make healthy choices. However, children are not consistently challenged to be even more independent in everyday routines such

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need to do better?

as mealtimes. n Children are given opportunities to choose the book for group story time. They

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need to do better?

18 July 2023 vote for their choice by finding their name at the snack table. This is followed up at group time when children count the votes and identify which story has the most votes. Children are encouraged to count beyond 10 in some play experiences. They are introduced to mathematical language through everyday play. When exploring the sand, they fill up the measuring scales and identify 'full', 'empty', 'more', or 'less'. Children are exposed to mark-making experiences. They enjoy using clipboards and imitate writing in their play. Children are encouraged to use stickers to make shapes and patterns. n Children use safety scissors with confidence, practising cutting dough and herbs. They talk to each other about their creations, and practitioners offer lots of praise. Children help to make a banner for the end-of-year party, using collage materials. They are confident and persevere to walk on stilt cups around the

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need to do better?

garden, smiling at their own achievements. They seek challenge and fun in their play. Children explore a range of resources and spaces at the pre-school. However, not all areas have been fully developed to enhance children's learning experiences even further. n Parents are positive about the pre-school and the practitioners. They are happy with the communication and updates they receive about their children's development. Parents say that their children are well prepared for the next steps in their education. They are complimentary of the steps taken to help children settle into the pre-school. Parents' written comments state that practitioners create 'a very kind, attentive and caring place for children to thrive'.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Robust safeguarding procedures are in place. Staff are aware of who to report concerns to about children's welfare, both within the setting and to the local authority. They have completed appropriate safeguarding training, and information is provided on a regular basis to keep everyone up to date. Staff know how to keep children safe and have a secure knowledge of indicators to identify possible abuse. They supervise children in their care and ensure safety checks are carried out in the form of risk assessments. Staff record attendance, and they keep the pre- school spaces secure, indoors and outdoors.

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should:

n support children to become more independent through everyday routines n build on the learning environment and resources to extend opportunities and experiences for children.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY448529 Local authority Essex Inspection number 10289017 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 26 Number of children on roll 41 Name of registered person Little Avenues Pre-School CIC

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reference number

Telephone number 07895180207 Date of previous inspection 9 November 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Little Avenues Pre-School registered in 2012. The pre-school employs 13 members of childcare staff, eight of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above, including a member of staff with early years teacher status. The pre- school opens from Monday to Friday, during school term times. Sessions are from 9am to 2.45pm. There are early years funded places for two-, three- and four-year- old children.

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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 manager and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the setting. n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the setting and discussed the early years curriculum. 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. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and 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

18 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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