Little Gem’s Pre-School Basildon

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents

The provision is good • Staff are ambitious and drive continual improvement. They work very well as a team and have addressed previous actions.

For example, they have introduced new and effective ways of observing, assessing and planning for children's learning. • Parents comment on the good communications between themselves and staff. They particularly like the home visit carried out by staff before children enter the pre-school.

Parents state that this helps to develop strong relationships and helps them to share information about their children's learning. • As part of the pre-school's self-evaluation, staff seek the views of parents and act upon their suggestions. Fo...r example, parents show an interest in taking part in activity days.

In response, staff organise stay-and-play sessions. • Staff attend training in areas such as behaviour management, to develop their knowledge and skills. Staff follow a 'magic script' which they use to help children to learn and to understand the rules for good behaviour.

• Managers and staff use additional funding, such as the early years pupil premium, very well. For example, staff pay for a sports coach to help children develop their personal, social, emotional and physical development. It is not yet outstanding because: • When key persons establish the next steps for children's learning, this information is not shared well enough with the rest of the staff.

As a result, some staff do not have the information they need to support and challenge children as well as possible. • Staff are not fully focused on helping children to learn about the languages some children speak at home, in addition to English. • Staff do not always explain, or help children to think about why things happen, such as being chosen as the 'star of the week'.

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