Little Stars Pre-School

Inspection of Little Stars Pre-School 94-112 Leagrave Road, Luton LU4 8HZ

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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 enjoy attending this welcoming, supportive pre-school. Staff pay careful attention to understanding each child. For example, they use information from home visits to fully understand children's experiences and to offer initial activities that help children settle. Children arrive each day happy and ready to play and learn. They quickly build secure, trusting relationships with staff and reflect their positive attitudes. For example, children join in eagerly with a dance activity. They listen to instructions and readily persevere as they learn to jump and stamp in time to the music. Daily opportunities such as this support children in developing the skills needed when they start school.

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The provision is good

Staff are good role models and children reflect this and show a mature approach as they share resources and are kind and caring towards one another. Fun activities, such as a 'spa day', offer children opportunities to discuss emotions and to learn relaxation techniques that aid them in managing their behaviour. Specific topics and ongoing discussions support children in understanding safety. For instance, children use role-play resources to help them understand road safety. Staff support children well in understanding healthy lifestyle practices. For example, children participate in cooking activities and visit local shops to buy fruit for snack time.

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need to do better?

n Staff work very well as a team and demonstrate their enjoyment of their work. Their well-being is sensitively considered and they receive practical supervision, aiding them in reviewing and developing their practice. n Staff fully understand the pre-school's practical curriculum. They respond confidently to children's requests and include their interests in the daily activities. Staff understand what children have learnt and offer them further play opportunities that build logically on this. They use additional funding effectively to further promote children's learning. n The charity's trustees work closely with staff. They offer pertinent support and share information, for example, about services that families can access. This collaborative working benefits children and supports them in gaining the skills and knowledge that underpin their learning. n Staff know children very well and identify their needs and any weaker areas of

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need to do better?

learning at the earliest opportunity. They swiftly offer additional support and involve external professionals whenever needed. This is a major strength and helps to ensure that children's needs are recognised and all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, make good progress. n Children enjoy accessing books inside and outside. They show a growing enjoyment of reading, often referring to books, such as ones about the life cycle of frogs, as they play. Children develop favourite stories and use resources, such

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need to do better?

10 March 2025 as tyres and static play equipment, to act these out. n Staff support children well in developing their language and communication skills. They make good use of children's interests to introduce new vocabulary. Children enjoy playing with the role-play doctor's set and use words such as 'prescription' and 'pharmacy'. Small group work further promotes children's language skills and particularly supports children who speak English as an additional language. They make good progress in learning English and this is well balanced with opportunities to use their home languages. n Children show respect for one another and staff support them well in understanding differences. For example, children share their family cultures, dressing up in traditional costumes, talking about the foods they eat and looking at maps. n Staff interact well with children and usually build on their play and discussions.

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need to do better?

For example, children enjoy singing a song about frogs and then play with toy frogs in the water. However, on occasion, staff do not make the best use of opportunities to encourage children to think further, deepen their knowledge and promote their learning to the optimum. n Staff work very well with parents, exchanging frequent information to fully understand children's current needs and interests. They support parents well in building on children's learning at home, for example, through regular workshops and discussions. Parents speak highly of staff and particularly note how well their children settle and the good progress they make.

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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 support staff to develop their teaching skills further to enable them to consistently extend each child's learning to the optimum.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2832674 Local authority Luton Inspection number 10389595 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

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

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inspection

Total number of places 100 Number of children on roll 48 Name of registered person Bangladesh Youth League (Luton)

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reference number

Telephone number 01582519506 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Little Stars Pre-School re-registered in 2025. The pre-school employs nine members of childcare staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 and above. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday during term time only. Sessions are from 9am to midday and 1pm to 4pm, with a lunch club from midday to 1pm. There is an optional breakfast club from 8.30am to 9am. The pre-school offers government funded places for all eligible children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked about their curriculum and what they want the children to learn. n The inspector observed staff interaction with children during activities indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector completed a joint observation with the manager. n Meetings were held between the inspector, the pre-school manager, a trustee, the finance and resource officer, and the director of the charity which runs the pre-school. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and saw evidence of the suitability of staff. n The inspector held discussions with staff, children and parents at appropriate times during the 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

10 March 2025 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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