Little Wisp Hedge End Preschool

Inspection of Little Wisp Hedge End Preschool The Salvation Army, 85 White's Way, Hedge End, Southampton SO30 2GL

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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 show they feel safe in the staff's attentive care. For example, children approach them for cuddles and reassurance when needed. Staff know the children well. They understand what children like to do and play with. This helps staff to set out resources and activities to motivate and engage children in their play and learning. Children are confident to make choices about what to play with and where to play. Staff provide good support for children's emotional well-being.

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The provision is good

The provider and leaders plan a broad curriculum for children to teach them a variety of skills. They place a strong focus on helping children to become independent. For instance, staff teach children to know where they store their belongings and to pour their own drinks. Staff are supportive and provide encouragement and gentle guidance to children, helping them all to achieve. For instance, staff help younger children learn how to wash up their plates after snack time. Children beam with pride when they master new tasks. They receive warm praise from staff. This supports their self-esteem well.

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need to do better?

n Staff provide an attractive learning environment for children. They listen to children's views and take account of these when setting out resources for the following day. For example, children are delighted to find a sensory tray filled with hidden numbers and dinosaurs. Children benefit from a good variety of planned activities that staff provide to stimulate their learning. n Staff swiftly identify where children may need additional help for their learning. They put plans in place to close any gaps. For instance, staff run language groups to support children's communication and attention. This helps all children, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, make good progress. n Children benefit from positive interactions with staff. For example, staff model speech, introduce new words and provide a play commentary. This helps children hear a broad range of vocabulary and supports their developing speech

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need to do better?

well. The provider and leaders have used additional funding to train staff to use sign language to improve their skills further. This supports all children to communicate their wants and needs confidently. n Staff teach children to recognise their emotions. They provide good support for children to learn how they may be feeling. At times, some children find this difficult and staff are calm, reassuring and positive, helping children to regulate their behaviour. Staff work with parents effectively, helping them deliver the same approach. This ensures that children have good continuity for their care. n Generally, teaching is good. Staff provide meaningful learning experiences for children, such as decorating a Christmas tree and prompting children to talk

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need to do better?

10 December 2024 about their own experiences at home. At times, however, staff are not confident to build even more on what children already know. On occasion, this does not fully support children to develop their skills further. n Children enjoy sharing books in small groups or individually with staff. This helps children learn to listen to and enjoy stories. However, some large group adult-led activities are less successful. For instance, staff do not fully consider children's needs when planning story time. At times, they do not offer children the support they need to sit and focus, and this disrupts the group. Consequently, not all children benefit from staff's planned teaching. n Staff plan a variety of activities to support children to play energetically. For example, they lead regular music and movement sessions, and encourage running outdoors. However, staff do not always organise the transition outdoors

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need to do better?

effectively. At times, children wait too long for staff to be ready, and lose interest. n Children enjoy opportunities to experience the wider world. For instance, staff take them out for walks in the local community. Children meet different people and see different places. This helps them to learn about the world in which they are growing up. n The provider and leaders offer staff good support for their well-being. They have effective systems in place to allow all staff to have regular meetings. Staff report they feel valued in their role.

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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 help staff to increase their knowledge further of how to adapt their teaching skills to build on children's learning n review and improve the organisation of adult-led group times to ensure that children are challenged and remain focused on their learning n strengthen the organisation of routine transitions to better support children so they do not become restless and disengaged.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2697465 Local authority Hampshire Inspection number 10368445 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 35 Number of children on roll 40 Name of registered person Willow The Wisp Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 07738039999 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Little Wisp Hedge End registered in September 2022. It is a privately-owned setting, one of four provisions registered under the same ownership. It operates from the Salvation Army Church Hall in Hedge End, Southampton. The pre-school is accessed via a flight of stairs. There is also a lift that opens directly into the main play area. The pre-school is open from 8.15am to 3pm, Monday to Friday, during school term-time only. There are seven members of childcare staff who work with the children, of whom four hold qualifications at level 3. The pre-school provides funded early education for children.

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Inspection activities

n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about the curriculum and what they intend for the children to learn. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided and assessed the impact this has on the children's learning. n The inspector and the manager completed a joint observation. n The inspector talked to the staff and the children at appropriate times during the inspection. n A meeting was held between the inspector, the provider and the manager. The inspector looked at relevant documentation and saw evidence of the suitability of staff. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector.

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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

10 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.

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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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