Little Looks Preschool

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

Children are happy and safe in this warm and welcoming provision. The manager and staff have high expectations and are passionate that all children make good progress. As a result, children are motivated to learn in the spacious, well-planned environment.

Children are well behaved, challenge themselves and have a positive attitude to learning. The setting has access to a bright church hall and children are eager to further their knowledge of living things in a natural garden. Throughout the day, the children sing songs, delight in discovering facts about the world around them, and follow familiar routines.

Due to the C...OVID-19 pandemic, children's access to outdoor spaces was limited, so staff plan many opportunities to access nearby green spaces. Regular trips to the local park enhance children's social skills and foster their knowledge of the local area. Children are effectively supported by a key person who sensitively cares for any personal needs.

Staff encourage children to manage their own care needs, and children wash their hands and put on their coats independently. The experienced manager ensures that any additional funding they receive for individual children is thoughtfully used to support their unique needs. Community links are strong and there is a friendly atmosphere, which gives the setting a strong sense of belonging.

This is having a positive impact on children's progress as they feel secure and ready to learn.

What does the early years setting do well and what does it need to do better?

Children develop a love of books. Books are skilfully placed indoor and outdoors to encourage children to use them.

This gives children the opportunity to develop their communication skills, which leaders have identified as an area where some children have fallen behind. The variety of books with flaps and textures are highly valued by the children, particularly those who have sensory needs.The manager and staff have valuable experience and knowledge of identifying and supporting children with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

Staff have a good understanding of the needs of each child, and they carefully plan activities based on children's interests and what children need to learn next. For example, in the the designated 'calm-down' space, children are supported by staff to self-regulate their emotions.The setting celebrates different cultural identities.

This is done through providing resources and talking to the children about their different backgrounds and home languages, such as Italian and Spanish. Parents speak highly of the care and welcome that they and their children receive. They also feel they are safe in the setting.

However, strategies to engage all parents in their child's learning on an ongoing basis, so they have a deep understanding of how to support their child's development at home, are not yet fully developed.The setting is a key source of support for families in the community. Leaders and staff work closely with Everton Football Club and other community groups and services to help improve their outcomes.

They provide sessions around eating a nutritious diet and model the importance of physical exercise and healthy eating, starting with a good breakfast at pre-school if needed. This helps to teach children that food contributes to good health and overall development.The setting is planned and organised to ensure that all children are able to access the well-designed curriculum and have their needs met.

This supports children's development well in all areas. There are a variety of resources for all children, including those who need visual reminders or extra support with small- and large-muscle skills. A daily sensory circuit is available throughout the day for all children, which contributes to children's physical development and emotional well-being.

Children are focused on their learning for a long period of time. For example, while having the freedom to explore outside in the mud looking for insects, they remain engaged and safely make their own risk assessments. Staff play alongside the children and support their learning.

They help them to develop new skills, such as using magnifying glasses to study the insects, and help to answer children's questions about living things using a range of information books. Staff encourage children to repeat new vocabulary and remember facts in follow-up activities or conversations.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Staff have a good knowledge and understanding of their roles and responsibilities to safeguard children's welfare. All staff regularly complete safeguarding and prevent training. They have a secure understanding of what to do if they have a concern about a child and risk assessments are carried out daily.

There is a monthly fire drill and children are encouraged to line up safely and take on board instructions. There are safer recruitment procedures in place and staff are deployed well so that children are supported at all times.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: develop effective parental engagement strategies that promote communication and active involvement in children's learning.