Little Bears Forest Preschool

Inspection of Little Bears Forest Preschool Langstone Centre, Shore Avenue, Southsea PO4 8NB

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

The quality of education Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not applicable

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The provision is outstanding

Children thoroughly enjoy coming into the pre-school, which has an extremely warm and welcoming feel. Children's behaviour is exceptional and staff use key phrases, including 'love and kindness', when supporting children to help a friend or take turns. Staff are very skilled at recognising positive behaviour and praise children by using positive language or by giving a thumbs up. Children also thank their friends for sharing with them. This helps to create an environment where everybody is respectful and caring.

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The provision is outstanding

Children are supported to settle in exceedingly well by staff, and this builds on children's confidence to talk to others and make new friendships. Children are taught about their bodies from a young age. For example, they use strategies that help them carry out 'happy breathing'. This helps them to feel calm and supports them to regulate their emotions.

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The provision is outstanding

The pre-school has a tremendous community feel. For example, staff have developed excellent relationships with the local university and local police. This helps children to develop a sense of belonging and build on their understanding of the world around them.

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The provision is outstanding

Children make exceptional progress in their learning. Activities provided are highly stimulating and have a carefully planned purpose. For example, children harvest the beetroot they have grown in the pre-school allotment to make paint that they use to make pictures and patterns. This gives children a huge sense of pride and helps to build on their self-confidence.

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need to do better?

n The pre-school has a wonderful allotment that is carefully looked after by the children and staff. Children are fully involved in maintaining and harvesting their crops, which include cabbages and tomatoes. Staff use this area to excite and inspire children, and plan highly stimulating experiences. For example, children predict how big the beetroot will be and what they think it will look like, just before they pull it out of the ground. These activities thoroughly support children to think critically and extend their language development. n The pre-school is exceptional at supporting children to take care of their mental health. Staff are highly skilled at providing opportunities for children to think about how they are feeling and why their brain is making them feel a certain way. This helps children to understand how their brains work and consider how they are feeling. n Children are incredibly well supported to develop their independence. For

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need to do better?

example, staff hold a mirror to help them wipe their nose and encourage them

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need to do better?

18 September 2024 to wash and dry their hands by themselves, after going to the toilet. This helps to build resilience and makes children feel a sense of pride. n There is extremely effective support in place for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Staff are highly skilled at supporting their needs and helping them achieve their next steps of learning. For example, staff skilfully use sign language to support children's communication and a timeline to show what is coming next, which they also share with parents. This helps children to feel very safe and secure in pre-school and at home. n Parents say that their children are thriving in the pre-school. Parents are 'over the moon' with the care their children receive and feel enormously valued and included in their children's learning and the progress they make. For example, parents are invited to a workshop where staff share carefully considered

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need to do better?

practical ways to promote learning at home. This helps the pre-school work with parents to provide a consistent approach which benefits children's learning. n Staff feel tremendously well supported by leaders. The manager takes time to ensure all staff are happy and have the knowledge and skills they need to carry out their role effectively. For example, staff are offered well-being 'goody bags' to ensure they are taking care of themselves. This provides an exemplary working environment where everyone is valued and feels part of the team. n Leaders have a sharp focus on how the pre-school delivers its ethos. The management team consistently strives to be better and to enhance what the pre-school offers. For example, they include the whole staff team, parents and children when they seek ideas on what they are already delivering. This inclusive process ensures the pre-school continues to have high expectations that keep

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need to do better?

children's learning and development at the heart of everything they do.

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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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Setting details

Unique reference number 2695019 Local authority Portsmouth Inspection number 10360192 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 34 Number of children on roll 34 Name of registered person Little Bears Forest Preschool Southsea Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 07544112751 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Little Bears Forest Preschool registered in 2022. The nursery employs nine members of staff, all of whom hold an early years qualification at level 2 or above. The pre-school opens from Monday to Thursday, term-time only. Core sessions are from 9am until 3pm. The pre-school provides early education for two-, three-, and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The manager and deputy manager completed a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want the children to learn. n Staff spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector observed the interactions between staff and the children. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of a group activity with the deputy manager. n Children spoke with the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this was having on children's learning.

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Inspection activities

18 September 2024 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

18 September 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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