Little Spinnakers Pre-School

Inspection of Little Spinnakers Pre- School United Reformed Church, 239 Milton Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO4 8PH

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Overall effectiveness Inadequate

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

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The provision is inadequate

The pre-school has undergone significant changes since the last inspection. Oversight of the provision is weak. Poor management of the pre-school by the committee has resulted in significant breaches of the welfare requirements. Changes to the managers have not been notified to Ofsted. Furthermore, Ofsted has not been provided with the information required to check the suitability of all committee members. Consequently, children's safety and welfare are not fully promoted.

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The provision is inadequate

Children develop bonds with staff, to help them feel settled. They build some early friendships with their peers, such as when they take turns threading cereal hoops onto string. Pre-school children develop early independence, so they can manage their personal needs confidently. Staff provide activities that support younger children's physical development. For instance, toddlers take turns in making their way down the slide, sitting excitedly as staff say 'ready, steady, go'. However, during some times of the day, the supervision of older children is not well managed. Staff fail to identify potential risks in the environment. Consequently, they do not take action to address these risks, to keep children safe.

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The provision is inadequate

The staff team works well together. However, staff do not receive enough support in their roles. Staff supervision is poor. The manager's and staff's training needs are not identified or supported well enough. This has an impact on whether staff have the skills and knowledge to fulfil their roles. The curriculum is not designed with a focus on what children need to know or be able to do next. Consequently, although staff recognise that some children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and those who speak English as an additional language (EAL), need additional support with their speaking skills, they fail to focus on how to support them. This does not ensure that children make good progress from their starting points.

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need to do better?

n Children's safety and welfare are not assured. Committee members hold lead roles in ensuring staff are suitable and the pre-school is run safely. However, a lack of committee oversight has led to a decline in standards since the last inspection. Lines of accountability are unclear. The support for the managers is lacking. The nominated individual has failed to notify Ofsted of changes to the committee and the names of the managers. They have not ensured that suitability checks are completed for all committee members. That said, managers are aware of some weaknesses in the setting. They show a dedication to addressing these weaknesses. However, the lack of support from the committee hinders this.

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need to do better?

16 January 2024 n The curriculum is not well designed or tailored for the differing ages and abilities of the children. Staff focus more on activities and less on the learning intentions. Children do not benefit from focused teaching to help target areas where they need the most support. For instance, children take part in a group activity to support their listening and attention skills. They quickly lose interest and begin to engage in other activities as other children join them, and learning opportunities are lost. Managers recognise that some children lose interest and the activity is not tailored to their needs. n Leaders do not plan and implement an effective programme of learning for communication and language for children, including those with SEND and those who speak EAL. Staff model language for younger children to hear as they talk to them during activities. However, where older children need additional support

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need to do better?

with their speaking skills, this is not well planned or provided for. Staff do not provide targeted help to those children who need it. This means that some older children do not make enough progress in their speaking skills. n Staff supervision is poor. The committee does not put in place effective supervision for the managers to help them fulfil their roles. Managers often cover staff absence in the rooms and are unable to fulfil their roles, including the continuous improvement of the setting. Staff do not benefit from effective supervision to address training needs and professional development and ensure they receive the coaching and support they need. This has an impact on their knowledge and skills and the quality of teaching they provide children. n Older children are keen to manage some routines for themselves. For instance, at mealtimes, older children learn how to open packets and squeeze yoghurts to

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need to do better?

be able to feed themselves confidently. However, some children become unsettled and begin to run around the room with mouthfuls of foods, which presents a choking hazard to them. Staff fail to notice that they are still eating. This does not assure children's safety. n Risk assessments are not well understood or implemented by staff. Some activities planned and provided present risks to children, which staff fail to identify. For instance, pre-school children explore fruits and vegetables in the role-play area. Staff fail to identify that some children do not understand they cannot eat the foods. They take bites of foods and run around with large pieces of apple in their mouths, but staff fail to notice this. This presents a risk to children's safety. n Staff are kind and caring. They offer children cuddles and reassurance when they need extra comfort. Parents comment on the kindness of the staff and how

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need to do better?

they help children to settle into new routines. Parents say staff keep them updated about their children's daily activities.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

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Safeguarding

There is not an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

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Due date

devise and implement a curriculum that supports every child's learning and development in all areas, including those children with SEND and those who speak EAL 19/02/2024

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Due date

implement an effective programme for children's communication and language to ensure every child makes appropriate progress in their speaking skills 19/02/2024

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Due date

ensure that all persons with governance and oversight understand their roles and responsibilities, including ensuring that Ofsted is provided with the necessary information to carry out suitability checks on all members of the registered body 19/02/2024

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Due date

ensure all staff, including the manager, are provided with an appropriate programme of professional development to enable them to support children's learning effectively 19/02/2024

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Due date

ensure the managers have effective support to develop their skills and confidence to fulfil all requirements of their role, including having oversight for the quality of the provision 19/02/2024

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Due date

implement practice monitoring arrangements and regular staff supervision that promote teamwork, sensitive discussions, professional development and the continuous improvement of the setting 19/02/2024

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Due date

16 January 2024 ensure that children are supervised effectively at all times and that they are always within sight or hearing, including being vigilant to the potential risk of choking when children are eating 29/01/2024

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Due date

ensure risk assessments are robust and effective in identifying and minimising potential risk to children. 29/01/2024

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY415088 Local authority Portsmouth Inspection number 10319574 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 40 Number of children on roll 37 Name of registered person Little Spinnakers Pre-School Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 02392 177281 Date of previous inspection 29 March 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Little Spinnakers Pre-School registered in 2010. It is managed by a committee. The pre-school operates Monday to Friday, from 8am until 3.30pm, during term time only. It receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years. The pre-school employs 12 members of staff to work with the children. Of these, one holds a qualification at level 6, eight staff hold a qualification at level 3 and two hold a qualification at level 2.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the provider 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 We carried out this inspection as a result of a risk assessment, following information we received about the provider. n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The managers joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want their children to learn. 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 carried out joint observations of group activities with one of the managers.

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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

16 January 2024 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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