St Cuthberts Pre-School Playgroup

St Cuthberts Pre-School Playgroup St Cuthberts Church Hall, Botanic Road, Southport, Merseyside, PR9 7NN

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 6 October 2015 18 November 2011

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Good 2

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

p.1

This provision is good

 The bright and stimulating learning environment enables staff to provide children with a very good educational programme that has depth and breadth across the curriculum. Staff use observation and assessment effectively to plan individual learning experiences for children.  Partnerships with parents and other professionals are very strong. Staff are vigilant in recognising and dealing swiftly with any emerging learning needs of individual children. Staff are proactive in ensuring the correct procedures are put in place to support children to make good progress and parents are consistently updated with information regarding their children.  Staff effectively use a variety of different teaching methods to help children extend their communication and language skills. Children are confident communicators and use expressive language and their imaginations as they play.  The manager, staff and committee demonstrate a dedicated drive to improve the

p.1

This provision is good

outcomes for children. They use self-evaluation effectively to identify and develop strategies to aid improvement and secure the future success of the pre-school.

p.1

It is not yet outstanding because:

 Some staff do not give children sufficient uninterrupted time to be able to follow their own thinking and ideas.  Performance management is not rigorous. Staff do not use a wide variety of methods to build on their already good practice.

p.1

What the setting needs to do to improve further

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

p.2

What the setting needs to do to improve further

 provide even more opportunities for children to have sufficient uninterrupted time to explore their own thinking and ideas  sharpen the focus on performance management so that staff have more opportunities to build on their practice to raise the quality of teaching to outstanding.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the pre-school manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the pre-school manager and looked at relevant documentation, such as the pre-school's self-evaluation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the pre-school.  The inspector spoke to a small selection of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

p.2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. Policies and procedures are in place, understood and effectively implemented by staff. A robust recruitment procedure is in place and ensures children are cared for by suitable adults. A thorough induction programme is completed. Staff benefit from regular supervisions, which are used effectively to identify staff's professional development needs. However, the manager has not yet fully considered all possible ways to share and model best practice to enrich practice and continually develop staff's knowledge. Parents' views about the pre-school are regularly sought and are taken into consideration. Parents speak very highly of the pre-school and are extremely happy with all aspects of their work.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Teaching is good. Staff engage with children and interact with them well. They get down to their eye level to focus and engage their attention. Staff use a variety of teaching strategies, such as demonstration and repetition to extend children's language and communication skills. Children work well together, play cooperatively and use their imagination. For example, as they create a picnic during their role play, they discuss roles and talk about the food they will need. Children explore the learning environment with ease and confidence. However, on some occasions during adult-led activities, staff intervene too quickly and direct children's play. This does not maximise opportunities for children to follow through their own thinking and ideas. Staff use mathematical language and encourage children to count during everyday routines. This helps children to develop these skills even further.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children enjoy the outdoors and are supported by staff to develop their physical skills. Children use ride-on toys and help staff to look after the plants and herbs. Children are taken on many different walks and visits within the local area. This contributes to children extending their confidence, social skills and their understanding of the local community. Key-person relationships are very good. Children are settled and display good levels of self-esteem as they actively explore their surroundings. Children develop their self-help and independence skills, including younger children who excitedly help staff wipe the tables and hand out snack items. Children's behaviour is good. Staff explain the importance of sharing and taking turns. Children demonstrate a secure level of understanding of expected behaviour.

p.3

Outcomes for children are good

The manager and staff monitor the progress of individual and groups of children and quickly identify the progress made by different groups. The pre-school sustains successful levels of achievement for children. Children, including disabled children and those with special educational needs, make consistently good progress and are very well prepared for the next stage in their learning and school.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number 310478 Local authority Sefton Inspection number 867948 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 0 - 5 Total number of places 31 Number of children on roll 42 Name of provider St Cuthberts Pre-school Playgroup (Church Town) Date of previous inspection 18 November 2011 Telephone number 07875652248

p.4

Setting details

St Cuthberts Pre-School Playgroup was registered in 1984. The pre-school employs 11 members of childcare staff. Of these, eight hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. One staff member holds Qualified Teacher Status. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday, term time only. Sessions are on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 9am until 3pm, and Thursday and Friday from 9am until 1pm. The pre-school provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. The pre-school supports a number of children who are disabled and those with special educational needs.

p.4

Setting details

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted 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

Setting details

procedures set out in the guidance ‘Complaints procedure: raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted. If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. 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 Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, 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.4

Setting details

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. 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.5

Setting details

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our website for news, information and updates at www.ofsted.gov.uk/user.

p.5

Setting details

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

p.5