Little Gems Pre-School, Hedge End

Inspection of Little Gems Pre-School, Hedge End Berrywood Primary School, Maunsel Way, Hedge End, SOUTHAMPTON SO30 2TL

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 Not applicable

p.1

The provision is good

Children receive a warm welcome from the caring and attentive staff, when they arrive at pre-school. They snuggle in with their key person if they feel unsettled. Staff provide lots of reassurance, which supports children's emotional well-being.

p.2

The provision is good

Children spend much of their time outside, and staff plan a broad curriculum that builds on children's experiences and interests. Staff provide many opportunities for children to develop their physical skills. This includes activities to encourage coordination, such as jumping and hopping. Children confidently follow instructions to place beanbags on their feet and then to balance on one leg. If the beanbags fall off, they quickly place them back on again, showing perseverance in their play.

p.2

The provision is good

Staff promote children's independence well. For example, they encourage children to pour their own drinks at snack time. Children take turns during activities, such as memory games. They excitedly share which item is missing from the tray when it is their time to speak.

p.2

The provision is good

Staff have high expectations for children's behaviour. When children occasionally struggle to share, staff sensitively step in to support them in their play. All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), make good progress from their starting points.

p.2

need to do better?

n Leadership is strong. The pre-school has been open for a year and the leadership team have a clear vision for the future. They continually review the provision and have plans to further develop the outside area. Staff report their well-being is good and they feel supported in their roles. They have opportunities to develop their skills and knowledge further through ongoing training. n Staff support children with SEND well. They attend training to ensure their knowledge is current. Regular monitoring and discussions help to ensure children's individual next steps are appropriate. Staff work very effectively with other agencies. This helps to ensure children have their needs identified and met at the earliest opportunity. n The leadership team understand the importance of partnership working with the other pre-schools and childminders children attend. This helps to ensure that, together, they meet the children's individual needs and interests. The leadership

p.2

need to do better?

team talk about the importance of getting children ready for school and encouraging children's independence from an early age. They have strong links with the local schools, which helps to ensure smooth transitions when the children move on to the next stage in their education.

p.2

need to do better?

9 May 2025 n Staff help children to understand the importance of leading healthy lifestyles. They serve a variety of fruit for snack and work with parents to provide nutritious lunch boxes. Staff encourage children to wash their hands before snack time and after using the toilet. This helps children begin to understand the importance of personal hygiene. n Overall, staff support children's language and communication skills well. They model correct pronunciation through small focus groups to encourage children's vocabulary. However, on occasion staff ask questions that require only one-word responses and sometimes they receive no reply. Staff do not always ensure questions are relevant and helpful to extend learning even further. n The leadership team and staff support children's sense of security and well-being very well. They gain much information about the children before they start at the pre-school. As part of the settling-in process, they ask parents for

p.2

need to do better?

photographs of the children in advance. This helps to ensure each child has their picture on their coat peg for their first visit. Staff support children when they arrive, offering cuddles and reassurance. They make sure they have the children's favourite toys readily available to ease separation. n Partnership with parents is very strong. Staff share information about next steps in children's development. Parents speak highly of the staff team, saying they are 'amazing'. Staff organise social events inviting parents into the pre-school. They recently held a 'Mother's Day Tea' with sandwiches made by the children. A book lending library and themed bags on popular topics, such as 'potty-training', help to support children's learning at home. This joined-up approach enables children to thrive in their development. n The staff support children to develop positive attitudes to learning and provide activities to encourage their perseverance. For example, children work together

p.3

need to do better?

to make pyramids from the magnetic shapes the staff lay out for them.

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 develop staff's use of effective teaching strategies in order to further extend children's thinking, communication and language skills.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number 2772832 Local authority Hampshire Inspection number 10402280 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Sessional day care

p.4

inspection

Total number of places 30 Number of children on roll 54 Name of registered person Akins, Gemma Louise

p.4

reference number

Telephone number 07852 303197 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

p.4

Information about this early years setting

Little Gems Pre-School, Hedge End registered in January 2024. It is located in Hedge End, Hampshire. The pre-school receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years. It is open each weekday during school term times from 8.15am to 3.30pm. There are eight members of staff, five of whom have appropriate early years qualifications at level 3.

p.4

Inspection activities

n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of the pre- school and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n Children spoke with the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector spoke with the nominated individual about the leadership and management of the setting. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n The inspector and the manager carried out a joint observation of a communication and language activity. n The manager showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate the suitability of staff.

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

9 May 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.

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