Lilliput Pre-school

Inspection of Lilliput Pre-school Military Road, CANTERBURY, Kent CT1 1PA

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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 of all ages and abilities are confident and very happy during their time in the inviting and welcoming pre-school. Staff have a secure knowledge and understanding of their curriculum, and how they implement this successfully. All staff have high expectations of children's abilities and carefully plan challenging and engaging activities to motivate them to learn. When children have an interest in a story about a gingerbread person, staff encourage them to learn more about this. For example, children look at a recipe book and 'write' down the ingredients to go on to make their own gingerbread. Staff teach children about different concepts as they explore and investigate. For instance, children learn about what items float and sink and confidently talk about what items absorb water.

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The provision is good

Staff are positive role models. All children behave well and are polite. They are caring and kind. For example, they help each other to tidy up. Children learn about the importance of healthy lifestyles. For instance, they independently follow thorough health and hygiene routines. Staff support children to gain good physical skills and learn to move in different ways. This is demonstrated when children confidently build and negotiate obstacles, such as balancing on planks of wood and crates, and navigate safely using equipment such as a rope swing.

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need to do better?

n The manager and staff know all individual children well. They understand what makes children unique and know their preferences. For example, they ensure that children can access outdoor learning opportunities throughout the entire duration of their day if this is where they prefer to learn. n All staff establish very secure and trusting relationships with children. This helps children to settle quickly into the pre-school and they enjoy the company of staff. Children take pride in their achievements and are proud to show the staff. n All children have a positive attitude towards their learning. Staff support all children to make good progress. This includes those with special educational needs and/or disabilities. For example, staff work closely alongside other agencies, such as speech and language therapists. They share and implement useful strategies, including visual prompts and timelines. n Overall, children are engaged in their learning opportunities, and staff interaction

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need to do better?

is purposeful. However, at times, staff do not place themselves better, to swiftly ensure that all children benefit from their guidance and direction to further engage in an activity. n The manager and staff establish positive relationships with parents, who speak very highly of them. Parents comment that it is clear that children are staff's main priority. Staff keep parents well informed about their children and what they have been learning and what they will be learning next. They share helpful

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need to do better?

20 May 2024 ideas with parents, such as healthy eating tips. n The manager understands the importance of providing children with a good link between all settings that they attend. For example, she discusses that she would contact staff there to share children's learning and achievements. However, this is not consistent, and some staff do not have a clear understanding of where children also attend and how to communicate with staff there. Therefore, the highest level of consistency to all children's shared care and learning experiences is not provided. n The manager closely monitors the quality of care and teaching that staff provide. Staff evaluate together as a team. They reflect daily on what went well and what could be done to further enhance practice. They use their findings to support their future performance. n Staff attend regular and beneficial training. They have recently learned about the different ways to support children to develop their communication and language

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need to do better?

skills. They provide resources and activities which help children become confident communicators. As a result, all children are confident to communicate their thoughts, needs and ideas, including those who speak English as an additional language. n Staff support children to gain a good understanding of other countries from around the world. This includes the languages spoken. For instance, children learn words such as 'hello' in other languages including Kurdish and Albanian. n The manager and staff use additional funding to support the individual needs of children effectively. For example, they have purchased equipment to help children develop their physical skills and extend their enjoyment of learning outdoors.

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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 provide guidance for staff to be more aware of where they would be most effectively situated to engage children in activities even more swiftly n support staff to have a clearer knowledge about whether children attend another setting and how to build more effective partnerships with staff there.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY398179 Local authority Kent Inspection number 10335340 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare 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 Lilliput Pre School Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 01227 763 388 Date of previous inspection 13 June 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Lilliput Pre-school registered in 2009. It is located in Canterbury, Kent. The pre- school is open Monday to Friday, from 9am until 3.30pm, term time only. It receives funding to provide free early education for children aged three and four years. The pre-school employs six members of staff, five of whom hold relevant early years qualifications at level 3 and above. This includes one member of staff who has a relevant early years qualification at level 4 and two members of staff who hold a relevant early years qualification at level 6.

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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 provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The inspector carried out a learning walk with the manager. The inspector assessed the impact of the quality of staff interactions and the learning opportunities they provide children. n The inspector viewed the indoor and outdoor learning environments. n The inspector reviewed written documentation, including safeguarding and child protection policies and procedures. n The inspector spoke to the manager, children, parents and staff at convenient times and considered their views. n The manager and inspector carried out a joint observation on a planned group time focusing on supporting children to develop their speaking and listening skills.

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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

20 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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