The Little School by the Lake

Inspection of The Little School by the Lake Heath Road, Petersfield GU31 4EJ

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 eagerly come, and staff support children as they settle quickly into activities. Staff support children's behaviour well. Children are polite, well mannered and behave well overall. Staff teach children independence skills through everyday routines, such as how to change their shoes ready to go outside.

p.2

The provision is good

Children learn about the world around them through activities that staff plan, such as raising chicks. Children confidently share that the chicks have come out of the eggs and will get bigger and be chickens. Children show care for the chicks as they gently stroke them. Staff encourage children to think about their hand hygiene as children remember they have to wash their hands afterwards as they might have germs from the chicks on them.

p.2

The provision is good

Children learn to work together as they hunt for objects in the garden. Staff skilfully scaffold their learning as children work together to put the objects in the correct number order up to ten. Staff encourage children to be curious and to have a go. For example, babies explore water by pushing boats down water tray pipes and splashing. Staff sing nursery rhymes frequently with children to support their communication development. Children, including the youngest, enjoy joining in with the different rhymes and songs.

p.2

need to do better?

n Staff have created an ambitious curriculum that is sequenced throughout the nursery. There is a strong focus on communication and language skills as well as children's personal, social and emotional development. Leaders ensure that staff understand and implement the curriculum well across the different age groups. This helps children make good progress in their learning and development. n Staff know the children well and are able to adapt activities to ensure each child is able to participate and be fully involved. For example, staff skilfully change their teaching style during an activity with cards to engage quieter children and get them involved, as well as engaging more talkative children. n Children learn to keep themselves safe. For example, staff involve pre-school children in completing a risk assessment of the garden before going out to play. Children are confident in identifying potential risks as well as understanding the

p.2

need to do better?

rationale for the rules of the garden, such as knowing that the climbing tree will be slippery if it has rained. n Staff support children's communication skills in a range of ways. For example, they label objects clearly to build up younger children's vocabulary. They also expand older children's vocabulary further as they introduce new words, such as 'uprooted' while talking about fallen trees. However, at times, there are some inconsistencies in the support for children's language skills. For example, at

p.2

need to do better?

9 May 2025 times, staff do not give children enough time to respond to questions before another is asked. This does not consistently encourage children's language and thinking skills. n Overall, children behave well. However, at times, staff leave children waiting for a long time and this impacts on their behaviour. For example, during periods within the daily routine, such as changing the group activity, children become fidgety and distracted. Staff do not consistently consider how to support and encourage good behaviour at these times. n Staff support children who speak English as an additional language well. They ensure they include children's home languages where possible. For example, staff use talking books to help children hear words in their home languages. Parents share common words in children's home languages with staff to enable staff to use familiar words with children, which helps them settle.

p.2

need to do better?

n Leaders ensure that additional funding is used appropriately. Staff quickly identify any gaps in learning and development and then promptly place strategies in place to provide support. For example, they have purchased stories and puppets to promote children's personal, social and emotional development after identifying that children needed support in recognising and labelling their own emotions. n Parent partnerships are strong. Parents speak highly of the staff. They note that staff are quick to help when there might be an additional learning need, such as support with speech and language and to make the appropriate referrals. Effective communication between parents and staff means that they are regularly kept informed of their child's progress.

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 refine routines to better support children's good behaviour at times of transition n strengthen the consistency of staff's support for children's early language and thinking skills during conversations.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number 2739405 Local authority Hampshire Inspection number 10399649 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

p.4

inspection

Total number of places 60 Number of children on roll 81 Name of registered person Silvanus Education Ltd

p.4

reference number

Telephone number 01730 231537 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

p.4

Information about this early years setting

The Little School by the Lake re-registered in 2023. They are based in Petersfield, Hampshire. They operate Monday to Friday, from 8am to 6pm. The provision accepts funding for children aged nine months and older. The provision has 19 staff, of whom 11 hold a relevant early years qualification at level 3 or higher.

p.4

Inspection activities

n The manager explained the curriculum intentions to the inspector during the learning walk. n The inspector took part in discussions with the manager and staff during the inspection. n The manager and the inspector observed and evaluated an activity together. n The inspector sampled relevant documents and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff. n Parents shared their views with the inspector. n The inspector observed staff and children throughout the day.

p.4

Inspection activities

9 May 2025 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.4

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