Little Oak Trees Preschool

Inspection of Little Oak Trees Preschool Leicester Forest Cricket Club, Hinckley Road, Leicester Forest East, LEICESTER LE3 3PJ

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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 enjoy coming to pre-school. They arrive excited to see their friends and play in the engaging environment staff provide. Children build close bonds with staff from when they first start at the pre-school and develop a nurturing nature. They imitate actions they learn from staff, reassuring other children who are newer to their group room by holding their hands and helping them put their coats on. Staff praise children for persevering to do things for themselves, which motivates them further. They encourage children to look in a mirror to help them wipe their own noses and put their belongings away where they belong.

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The provision is good

Children concentrate while building creations using bricks and other materials. They confidently share their ideas with staff support and involve others in their imaginative play. Children giggle as they suggest they have built a giant toilet and a zombie. They listen carefully to staff's guidance on how to make their creations more stable and show great care while gripping and adding smaller, more difficult pieces. Children learn a wide variety of new vocabulary that staff explain to them, such as 'suds' being another word for bubbles while exploring the water play. Children know what staff expect of them and behave exceptionally well, particularly during changes to familiar routines. They pause and wiggle their fingers when staff ring the bell to inform them it is nearly time for lunch. Children wash their hands without prompting, collect their lunch boxes and find an appropriate seat at the table.

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need to do better?

n Staff are ambitious in what they want all children to learn, including children who need additional support. They observe the children and thoroughly monitor their progress to identify potential gaps in their learning and experiences. Staff share ideas with each other on how to best support each child and liaise closely with parents and carers to find out what each child is currently interested in. n Staff plan a broad range of activities for all children, taking into account their interests and the knowledge and skills they need to learn next. Older children enjoy developing their physical skills as they manipulate clay into different shapes. Staff encourage them to practise squeezing and poking the clay and adding a variety of materials to it. They talk to children about diya lamps and why they are important in the celebration of Diwali. n Staff help children to be curious and to develop excellent attention skills while

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need to do better?

reading books together. They ask children meaningful questions about how they travel and encourage them to join in with parts of the story. Staff use stories to find out what children already know. However, some staff do not carefully consider what individual children need to learn next, as they focus on what they want them to learn from an activity instead. This narrows the learning the ablest

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need to do better?

10 November 2023 children have to build on their skills and knowledge. n Staff help children to discuss their emotions and teach them a variety of language to explain how they feel. They support them to negotiate with their friends and understand what sharing means. Staff encourage children to use timers to help them take turns when using resources. n Staff talk to children about what food is good for them during lunchtime and how they can keep their bodies healthy. They provide many opportunities for children to practise their physical skills, such as running in the large open spaces they have available. n The manager continuously evaluates staff practice and what it is like for a child at the pre-school. She promotes an ethos of all staff working as a team and works closely with staff to help them adapt their practice to meet all children's needs. Staff meet regularly to identify training needs. They agree on support

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need to do better?

and professional development that has a positive impact on children's experiences. n The manager identifies areas staff need to work on next and has started to put training in place for them. However, leadership at room leader level is not yet consistent. Although all room leaders receive professional development opportunities, these are not yet effective in raising the quality of the practice in some group rooms. n Parents and carers feel involved in their children's developmental journey. They speak positively about how staff communication is thorough and transparent and feel staff bring out positive behaviours in their children they do not see elsewhere.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff ensure that the environment is safe for children to play in. They assess any risks and put steps in place to minimise potential hazards, particularly when using the large grassed areas. There is a thorough arrival procedure, including supervising all doors and checking the identification of visitors. All staff demonstrate a thorough understanding of their responsibility to safeguard children. They monitor and identify the signs and symptoms a child may be at risk of harm. Staff know how and when to record and report concerns to other professionals, such as the local authority. They understand local safeguarding concerns that affect the community and have a preventative approach to safeguarding vulnerable families. Staff work alongside other professionals to support families when needed. The manager checks the ongoing suitability of staff working with children.

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should:

10 November 2023 n develop staff interactions and teaching to a consistently high standard, particularly when supporting the most-able children n strengthen the professional development room leaders are provided to improve the consistency of leadership skills.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY492820 Local authority Leicestershire Inspection number 10309092 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 52 Number of children on roll 86 Name of registered person Little Oak Trees Pre-school Partnership

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reference number

Telephone number 07890139222 Date of previous inspection 5 December 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Little Oak Trees Preschool re-registered in 2015 and operates from a cricket club in Leicester Forest East. The pre-school employs 10 members of childcare staff. Of these, eight hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The pre- school opens Monday to Friday, 9am to 3pm, 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 manager and inspector conducted a learning walk together, discussing the learning intention for children and how the environment is arranged. n The manager and inspector observed and evaluated an activity together. n The inspector held discussions with the manager regularly during the inspection. n Parents and carers' views were taken into consideration. n A sample of documents was reviewed, including paediatric first-aid certificates, suitability checks and safeguarding policies and procedures.

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Inspection activities

10 November 2023 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 November 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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