The Little Learning Tree Preschool - Southborough

Inspection of The Little Learning Tree Preschool - Southborough Southborough Community Centre, Crundwell Road, Tunbridge Wells TN4 0LL

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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 Not applicable

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The provision is good

Children feel safe and secure at this friendly and welcoming setting. The manager and staff support new children well to help them settle quickly. They gather information from parents about what children can do when they first start. This enables staff to successfully build on children's skills and identify any gaps in learning. Children arrive happy and are eager to join in with the interesting activities on offer. Staff know children extremely well. Consequently, children form close bonds with their key person and seek comfort and support when needed.

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The provision is good

Leaders design and implement the curriculum well. They ensure that staff receive a thorough induction and training to help them to have a secure understanding of the intentions for the curriculum. Staff fully consider what they want children to learn during the activities they provide. This helps all children, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, to make good progress in their learning and development.

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The provision is good

Children behave well and are familiar with staff expectations. Staff support children to share and take turns with their peers. Children learn to be kind and caring to each other and manage their own behaviour effectively. For example, children remind each other that they walk inside and that running is for outside.

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need to do better?

n The setting benefits from an experienced and knowledgeable manager. She undertakes training and research to widen her skills. The manager has high expectations for staff and supports their professional development well. She continually checks their knowledge through effective supervision and provides them with training suitable for their needs. Overall, the manager and staff are reflective in their practice and continually look for ways to improve. n Staff promote children's physical development well. They provide daily opportunities for children to play outdoors. Children excitedly run around the outdoor spaces and enjoy imaginary games. Staff support children to develop their large-muscle skills as they encourage them to run, climb, balance and ride bicycles. Children learn how to take safe risks, such as jumping off apparatus with support. Staff plan many opportunities to help children to develop their

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need to do better?

small-muscle skills and hand-eye coordination. For example, children squeeze and roll dough and learn how to use scissors. n Staff know children very well. They understand that children can learn a range of skills from the activities they plan to support their individual needs. However, at times, staff do not offer rigorous challenge to help older children build on their ideas even further. n Staff place a strong focus on stories and promoting children's love for reading.

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need to do better?

24 April 2024 They use puppets and props to bring stories to life. Children excitedly act out and repeat familiar phrases from their favourite stories. This helps to increase children's early literacy skills. n Staff skilfully promote conversations and give children time to answer questions. They have discussions with children and encourage them to recall information, share their thoughts and develop their critical thinking. Furthermore, staff support children who speak English as an additional language successfully. They carefully plan how to communicate with children in their home language. This helps children to feel proud of the languages that they speak and supports their communication skills well. n Staff promote children's independence well. They encourage children to dress themselves and manage their own personal care needs with confidence. n Staff plan purposeful activities that build on children's curiosity. They skilfully

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need to do better?

weave additional learning into children's play. For example, staff encourage children to describe objects they find in a treasure chest. However, staff are not consistent in their support for children to develop skills such as counting or exploring numbers to enhance their mathematical understanding. n Staff encourage children to learn about the world around them. For example, children learn about the life cycle of a butterfly and enjoy observing changes over time. Furthermore, staff provide children with activities and opportunities that promote conversation about different countries and cultures. Children learn to respect others and value their own individuality. n Parents are very happy with the care their children receive at the setting. Staff use an online system to share information about children's progress with parents. The system also allows parents to input information about what children are interested in at home.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

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should:

n support staff to challenge older children fully during activities to help build on their emerging ideas and enhance their learning n increase opportunities for children to count to further develop their knowledge and understanding of numbers.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2693464 Local authority Kent Inspection number 10343479 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Sessional day care

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inspection

Total number of places 30 Number of children on roll 46 Name of registered person The Little Learning Tree Preschool Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 07592620364 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

The Little Learning Tree Preschool - Southborough registered in July 2022 and is situated in Tunbridge Wells. The pre-school is open term time from 8.40am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. It provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year- olds. Eight members of staff are employed. Of these, five staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and the manager holds a level 5 qualification.

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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 manager and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the setting. n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the setting and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector spoke to children to find out abut their time at the setting. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, and assessed the impact this was having on children's learning. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager. n The inspector spoke with the manager and staff at convenient times during the inspection and took account of their views. n Parents shared their views on the setting with the inspector. 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

24 April 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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