Little Pioneers Nursery and Pre-school Maidenhead

Inspection of Little Pioneers Nursery and Pre-school Maidenhead Larchfield Road, MAIDENHEAD, Berkshire SL6 2SJ

p.1

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

p.1

The provision is good

Staff provide regular opportunities for outdoor play. Children confidently ask who would like a smoothie, then go to the mud kitchen to prepare it. They use their imagination and add leaves, sticks and water, then give it a shake and return with their 'strawberry and raspberry smoothie'.

p.2

The provision is good

Children develop their independence skills through the tasks completed during the daily routine. Staff encourage children to put on their coats and wellington boots for outdoor play, and hang them up when they come inside. Children wash their hands and learn how to feed themselves during mealtimes and help to tidy up the toys when they are finished playing. Older children self-serve their lunch, scrape their plates when they finish eating and line up for their dessert.

p.2

The provision is good

Staff organise the playroom to promote children's emotional well-being. For example, staff encourage children to learn how to regulate and understand their different emotions through reading stories and singing songs. Staff encourage children to use their 'kind hands' and to take turns with their friends. For instance, children run after the ball in the garden and bring it back for the next child to have a turn. Children demonstrate a positive attitude to learning.

p.2

need to do better?

n Leaders and managers have a good overview of the provision. Regular supervision meetings enable the management team to discuss any training needs. Leaders and managers complete regular check-ins, including 'Well-being Wednesday'. Staff have training opportunities throughout the year, including on safeguarding, aspects of the curriculum and the outdoor play environment. Leaders and managers complete regular audits on different aspects of practice to identify where further improvements can be made. n Staff know their children very well and plan and provide a sequenced curriculum to help them learn as they progress through the nursery. When young babies start, staff focus on building important attachments. As children progress through the nursery, staff extend the focus on them, developing their large and small motor skills and building on their vocabulary, including how to express themselves and manage their emotional well-being. Overall, staff implement the

p.2

need to do better?

planning of the curriculum well. However, on occasions, the organisation of mealtimes does not fully support children's needs. n Staff ensure that children listen to stories throughout the day. They re-enact favourite stories in the garden, such as 'We're Going on a Bear Hunt', which children thoroughly enjoy. They love singing familiar nursery rhymes and practise the Christmas songs for a forthcoming carol concert. Staff use signing to support all children, including those with English as an additional language and

p.2

need to do better?

5 December 2024 younger babies, to support their communication skills. This enables children to make their needs known. For example, babies sign if they want more food at lunchtime. Although the environment is well planned, on occasions, staff do not consider factors such as the noise level, which can distract children from concentrating or listening to what staff are saying. n Children learn to have a healthy lifestyle. They enjoy the nutritious food they eat and know why they wash their hands before mealtimes. Staff provide information for parents on dental hygiene to help them understand how to promote their child's oral health. Children have daily outdoor play and wear appropriate clothing, such as their wellington boots and all-in-ones. This enables them to fully participate in all the activities, including jumping in muddy puddles. n The staff work in partnership with parents and professionals to support

p.2

need to do better?

children's learning and care. Parents report that their children are happy going to the nursery and they receive good levels of feedback, including ideas on how they can support learning at home. Parents are invited to attend workshops on various aspects of their children's development, including toilet training and preparing for school. Staff work with other members of the community, including the NHS, and have received training on percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) feeding. This enables children's specific medical needs to be met during their time at nursery

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

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

p.3

should:

n review the organisation of mealtimes to ensure that staff can fully support children's care and learning needs n enhance the planning of the learning environment to support children's communication and language development by limiting distractions, so they can concentrate and listen to what staff say to them.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY298664 Local authority Windsor and Maidenhead Inspection number 10376936 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

p.4

Registers

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

p.4

inspection

Total number of places 84 Number of children on roll 81 Name of registered person Buffer Bear Limited

p.4

reference number

Telephone number 01628 510478 Date of previous inspection 4 August 2021

p.4

Information about this early years setting

Little Pioneers Nursery and Pre-school Maidenhead registered in 2004. The nursery is located in the grounds of Larchfield Primary School. It is open Monday to Friday between 7.30am and 6.30pm, all year round. The nursery receives funding for free early education for children aged two, three and four years. There are 28 members of staff working with the children. Of these, one has qualified teacher status, two are level six, and 16 hold a qualification at level 2 and above. The setting has achieved the Millie's Mark, which is a quality standard in paediatric first aid for childcare providers.

p.4

Inspection activities

n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager of a small group activity for children in the pre-school room. n The inspector observed the interactions between staff and children, both inside and outside. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

p.5

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.

p.5

Inspection activities

5 December 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.

p.5

Inspection activities

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.6

Inspection activities

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk

p.6

Inspection activities

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.6

Inspection activities

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.6