Little Ladybirds & Night Owls

Inspection of Little Ladybirds & Night Owls All Saints C Of E Primary School & Nursery, Parsonage Lane, Bishop's Stortford CM23 5BE

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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 quickly become deeply engaged in play, discovery and learning. They choose resources that trigger their imagination and that they enjoy. Staff support children through careful questioning, narration and explanations to help them build on what they already know and understand. There is a clear ethos throughout the curriculum that fosters a child-led drive to learning. The sequence of learning children experience within the curriculum helps prepare them for their ultimate move to school. For example, children stand at tables and raised trays and create obstacle courses with tyres, crates and planks. This supports the focus on strengthening children's core muscles in preparation for their later development of fine motor skills they need when they begin to write.

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The provision is good

Children behave well. They respect the very simple rules and respond with enthusiasm when they are asked to listen to a member of staff. They follow the fun instructions, such as balancing on one leg, in preparation to hear what is going to happen next. Staff create quiet and comfortable spaces for children to relax. Children begin to recognise when and why their emotions are building. Staff gently support children to manage their feelings so that they become calm and ready to learn again. This contributes to the harmonious and industrious environment.

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need to do better?

n Children freely move around the pre-school. They take resources to different areas, allowing them to use items in a wide variety of ways. For example, children find tins to transport water so that they can create puddles in which they can jump. Through their self-exploration, children develop their thinking skills. They solve problems and work out what might happen next. They work out the size of cars they need to push through a long tube. While children repeat and practise activities and actions, they consolidate what they already know. Staff encourage children to use reference books to help them find out new facts and information, helping to increase their understanding. As a result, children make good progress in their learning and development. n Staff skilfully use their knowledge to judge when to join in children's activities to add further challenge or when to step back, giving children time and space for

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need to do better?

uninterrupted play and learning. As a result, there is a good balance between child- and adult-led activity and learning. n Leaders carefully consider how to spend any additional funding they receive for some individual children. Staff talk to parents and use their own assessments to help ensure any gaps in children's learning are targeted through the most appropriate resources and teaching. n Partnerships with parents are good. Before children first start in the pre-school, named staff visit them and their parents at home. This enables staff to gather

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need to do better?

13 May 2025 important information they need to help them prepare equipment and resources to make children feel welcome when they arrive at pre-school. Parents tell staff what their children can already do and understand. Staff use this along with their own early observations to help focus on what children need to learn next right from the start. n Key persons communicate and work closely with the staff within the nursery class that many children also attend. They share information about children's next steps in learning and their own observations about children's achievements. Staff ensure that any information that needs to be passed from either the nursery class or school to parents is clearly communicated. This helps to ensure parents remain well informed about their children's well-being. n Leaders value the staff. They ensure that staff work in a supportive and caring environment. In turn, staff are very good role models for all the children. This

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need to do better?

helps to foster a respectful and positive environment. n When staff begin to work in the pre-school, leaders support them through a structured period of induction. This helps staff quickly familiarise themselves with policies and procedures to keep children safe and healthy in the pre-school and after-school club. Throughout their employment, staff receive regular supervision and team meetings, helping leaders monitor the quality of practice. This is reflected in the professional development opportunities staff embrace. There are, however, opportunities to continue to review and adapt some practices to provide consistently exceptional experiences for children. This particularly relates to the period of transition for children who have spent the morning in the nursery class, so they are able to quickly engage in focused and meaningful tasks and activity while their peers arrive and settle for the afternoon

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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 continue to support staff to find ways to optimise children's routine experiences and learning particularly around times of transitions.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2710030 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10380779 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 30 Number of children on roll 64 Name of registered person Early Bird and Night Owl Childcare Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01279 771367 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Little Ladybirds & Night Owls re-registered in 2022. The pre-school and after-school club operate from a building occupied by the All Saints CofE Primary School nursery class. The setting employs eight members of staff. Of these, five hold qualifications at level 3. The provision is open from 12.15pm to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, during term time. The pre-school and after-school sessions can be joined together. The setting provides funded early education for all eligible children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector observed activities both inside and outdoors. She spoke to staff and children at appropriate times throughout the inspection. n The inspector went on a learning walk with the manager and provider. n The manager and inspector watched interactions during an activity. They spoke about the teaching observed. n The inspector held a meeting with the provider. n Documents, including the evidence of the suitability of staff and the leadership team, were seen by the inspector. n A number of parents spoke to the inspector. She took their views into consideration in her evaluation of the pre-school and after-school club.

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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

13 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.

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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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