Little Gaddesden Preschool

Inspection of Little Gaddesden Preschool Little Gaddesden Village Hall, Church Road, Little Gaddesden, Herts HP4 1NX

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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 thoroughly enjoy the many opportunities they have to play, learn and explore outdoors. They learn to take care of themselves as they challenge their bodies through climbing and balancing during forest school sessions. Children find the thrill of running down hills exciting and understand the effect this has on their bodies. Children behave well and make friends with their peers. Staff support them to show kindness to each other as they learn to share and turn take. They encourage children to have a go at gaining new skills and support them to persevere, such as when using tools for the first time. Children show pride in their achievements.

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The provision is good

Staff plan a curriculum which enables children to make good progress in their learning. Children eagerly explore the many activities available to them. They show their developing skills as they use pencils and draw detailed pictures with ease. Progress in other areas of learning is also evident, for instance children display their knowledge of spiders and count as they draw the correct number of legs. Interactions between children and staff are warm and friendly. Conversations easily flow and children demonstrate they feel safe and happy at the pre-school.

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need to do better?

n Managers and staff have high expectations for the children in their care. They plan the curriculum around children's learning needs and interests. Key persons identify what they want each child to achieve before they move on to the next stage in their learning. These skills help to give all children the foundations they need to make good progress. n Children's communication skills are strong, including those children who speak English as an additional language. Staff use the walk back to the pre-school from forest school as a learning opportunity. They help children to reflect on what they have learned through the morning. Children express their views and ideas eloquently and talk about what they can see and hear as they walk. n Overall, parents speak positively about the pre-school and staff. They state that children thrive in a stimulating environment and are making good progress. Parents especially praise the experiences children have to explore the natural

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need to do better?

world. However, some parents do not receive sufficient information on how their children are developing and what staff are intending for them to learn. Consequently, they are not always able to further support children to learn even more at home. n The manager and staff have effective procedures in place to help keep children safe. Recent reflection of practice has resulted in changing where parents and children meet staff for forest school sessions, so they are not close to moving cars. Staff reinforce rules and boundaries with children, especially when they are

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need to do better?

8 May 2024 off site. Children are learning how to take care of themselves. They talk about why they need to wash their hands before eating as germs could make them sick. n Overall, staff understand how to implement the curriculum through their teaching. Children engage well in meaningful learning throughout their day. For example, when they find a beetle, children talk about how hard it is to see it as it is the same colour as the log. Some children display high-level thinking and speaking skills and are keen to learn more. Staff use many spontaneous moments of learning to help children develop their skills and knowledge. Occasionally, staff do not seize these moments to help children extend their understanding of more complex concepts. n The manager reflects on staff's practice. She has a good understanding of the strengths of the pre-school and areas she wants to continue to develop. Discussion at the weekly staff meeting enables all staff to contribute their ideas.

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need to do better?

The manager monitors staff practice, giving supportive coaching and encouragement so that staff's skills continuously improve. Staff report that they are happy working at the pre-school.

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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 share relevant information with all parents, in order for them to have more insight into how children are learning and developing n support staff to understand how to make more effective use of spontaneous learning opportunities that challenge and extend children.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2669246 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10335574 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 32 Number of children on roll 29 Name of registered person Nature For Kids Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 07786 167417 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Little Gaddesden Preschool registered in 2022. The pre-school employs eight members of staff, four of whom hold relevant early years qualifications at level 3 or above. It opens from 8am until 3pm during school term times. The pre-school provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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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 provider. n The inspector and manager looked around the setting and talked about how the curriculum is planned and implemented. n The inspector accompanied a group of children and staff to the forest school site. n The inspector observed the quality of education and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. She completed a joint observation with the deputy manager. n The manager and the inspector met to discuss the leadership and management of the setting. The inspector looked at relevant documents, including evidence of the suitability checks carried out on staff and safeguarding and complaints procedures. n The inspector spoke to a number of parents, staff and children during the

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Inspection activities

inspection and took account of their views.

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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

8 May 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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