Little Gems Pre-School

Inspection of Little Gems Pre-School Wigmore Primary School, Twyford Drive, Luton LU2 9TB

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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 Good

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The provision is good

All children, including those who have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), quickly develop a positive sense of well-being at this pre-school. Staff are caring and enthusiastic. They greet children warmly when they arrive and welcome them inside. Children develop secure relationships with staff that contribute to their confidence. During story times, children listen intently and show delight when staff praise them for pointing out things they see in the pictures. With staff's encouragement, children explore textures such as sand. Staff show children how to press sand into a bucket and quickly turn it over to create a sandcastle. Staff talk to children to help them learn about how to develop a healthy lifestyle. For example, children are eager to join in with discussions and songs before they brush their teeth.

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The provision is good

Staff reflect on the curriculum and each child's next steps in learning when they plan and evaluate activities. Children benefit from how staff adapt the planning to acknowledge children's interests and extend their understanding. When children are keen to take part in boisterous play, staff plan activities that link to children's favourite superheroes. This enhances children's learning about positive and co- operative play. The caring and supportive approach from staff helps children form friendships at pre-school. Children help their friends put an apron on for craft activities and share the craft materials.

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need to do better?

n Leaders are professional and well organised. They work effectively with the knowledgeable staff team, and as a result, children's needs are continually met. Staff have a reflective approach to their work. The introduction of focused small- group activities has had a positive impact on children's learning. Staff attend training that helps them take on specific roles to support children during small- group sessions. This training covers communication and language development, mathematics, literacy and sustainability. n Staff know the children well; they understand where each child is in their development and take account of this when planning activities. This helps ensure that all children can take part in a purposeful way. Staff deliver a curriculum that is sequenced to incorporate children's interests, as well as including opportunities for children to widen their knowledge and experiences to help them prepare for starting school.

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need to do better?

n Staff help children learn about nature through a wide range of connected activities. Staff carefully explain to children about how flowers grow; they use pictures and discussion to develop children's understanding about how things grow, change and decay. Children know the seedlings they plant need sun and water; they look at the details of flowers before drawing and painting them.

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need to do better?

30 June 2025 Staff talk to children about the colours and how the leaves and petals feel. n Overall, staff support children's developing communication and language skills well. Staff encourage children to talk as they play and explore. Children use their growing vocabulary to talk about what they have learned. For example, they explain ants eat leaves and bark, and live in a nest like a bird. Sometimes, staff speak very quickly to children and give them too much information at any one time. This results in some children not knowing how to respond or join with the conversation. n Staff talk to children and use pictures and stories to help them recognise and manage their feelings. Staff are good role models for children. They are calm, consistent and help children to understand about the happy or sad choices they make. Staff have a positive and consistent approach to support children with their behaviour. Consequently, children listen to staff, and they know what is

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need to do better?

expected of them. n Staff take account of each child's level of confidence to support them to develop a positive sense of well-being and belonging at pre-school. Staff are effective in reassuring children who begin to get upset and distract them so they can return to their play. Staff encourage children to be independent in choosing what they want to do and in managing their self-care. n Effective, ongoing communication with parents contributes to children having a consistent approach to their care and learning. Staff provide parents with daily personalised feedback about how their child has been and what they have been doing. Staff share ways that parents can continue their child's learning at home through suggestions for activities and lending books and resources. Parents say how the staff are supportive of them and their children.

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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 strengthen staff's interactions to help them promote and encourage children's conversational skills during play and activities.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY547634 Local authority Luton Inspection number 10398761 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Sessional day care

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inspection

Total number of places 38 Number of children on roll 49 Name of registered person Little Gems Pre-School, Luton

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reference number

Telephone number 01582 418127 Date of previous inspection 7 November 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Little Gems Pre-School registered in 2020 it is located on the site of Wigmore Primary School in Luton, Bedfordshire. The pre-school employs 15 members of childcare staff. Of these, nine hold early years qualifications at level 3 and one at level 5. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday during term time only. Sessions are from 9.10am until 3.10pm. The pre-school provides government funded places for all eligible children.

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Inspection activities

n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the pre-school and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact this was having on children's learning. n The inspector spoke with the manager and the deputy about the leadership and management of the pre-school. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager and discussed the teaching and learning n Children spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. The inspector also took account of written feedback from parents.

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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

30 June 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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