Lowdham Preschool

Lowdham Pre-School Lowdham Village Hall, Main Street, Lowdham, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG14 7BD

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 22 October 2015 15 March 2011

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding 1

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This inspection: Outstanding 1

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding 1

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This provision is outstanding

 Staff have an excellent knowledge of how children learn through play. Children experience an incredibly broad and exciting range of activities which cover all areas of learning. Staff help children to reach their full potential, particularly in their language and communication skills.  Well-focused observations of children are used by staff to plan highly purposeful activities. These build on individual children's next steps in learning and take their interests into account. Assessment is regular and precise, and all children make excellent progress from very clear starting points.  There is excellent communication and sharing of information about children's needs and progress with parents. They are all very involved in children's learning and staff work closely with parents. Children make rapid progress in their learning and development. Parents are guided exceptionally well in ways to support children's learning at home.

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This provision is outstanding

 Children are very happy and settled in the friendly, welcoming environment of the pre- school. Healthy eating and lifestyles are promoted particularly well. All children's needs are extremely well met and they are emotionally secure. Children have excellent opportunities to manage risks safely and to experience the natural world.  The monitoring of staff practice and children's progress is exceptionally well documented and thorough. Staff are highly motivated and there is an excellent drive for continuous improvement. Very effective self-evaluation includes input from staff, children and parents.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

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

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

 continue to encourage children's love of stories and the extension of their creativity and imaginations.

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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, the operational support manager and the chair of the committee. She 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.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff implement robust procedures to keep children safe. Meticulous documentation is maintained to record health and safety information. Staff and children are protected extremely well. The management team carries out regular staff supervisions and appraisals. These are extremely thorough and well documented. Sharply-focused professional development targets are identified for all staff. This has an extremely positive impact on the high quality and continuous improvement of children's learning experiences. There are strong, well-established links with other local early years providers and professionals. Staff share ideas and best practice on a regular basis and the nursery initiates contact with other providers. There is purposeful communication with the other settings that children attend, their learning is complemented and their well-being is protected.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

Staff plan an innovative range of rich and varied activities for children. The arrangement of the large room is extremely well planned. Children choose from a wealth of good quality toys and resources. They enjoy looking at books together in cosy dens and curtained-off areas. The quality of teaching is outstanding and staff guide children's learning highly effectively. They use skilful questioning and interaction to encourage children to think critically and overcome challenges. Two- and three-year-old children become absorbed in digging and filling buckets with compost. They find out that it needs to be damp to make a 'sandcastle.' Children are very imaginative when they make pretend smoothies and dinner from conkers and leaves. Staff help them to count the conkers and to use mathematical language, such as empty and full. Staff are extremely well focused on extending children's language development. They recognise that there are ways in which

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

they can extend this further to increase the level of children's creativity and storytelling skills. Children gain confidence at speaking in small groups and enjoy music and dance sessions. They choose items from a bag that give them clues as to which songs they might sing.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Children form strong bonds with the caring staff and are extremely well supported during their settling-in time at the pre-school. Children are frequently praised so that they gain high levels of confidence and self-esteem. They are exceptionally well behaved and show respect for each other's ideas. Children are involved in community events and learn a great deal about a range of cultures and beliefs. Staff teach them to care for the environment and the importance of recycling materials. They learn to have high levels of independence in their choice of activities and in their self-care routines. Staff are highly successful in preparing children emotionally for their moves on to school.

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Outcomes for children are outstanding

Children, including those who receive funded education, are extremely well supported in preparing for school. They learn to reflect on their learning and make rapid progress from their starting points.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 253347 Local authority Nottinghamshire Inspection number 854817 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 34 Number of children on roll 53 Name of provider Lowdham Pre-School Committee Date of previous inspection 15 March 2011 Telephone number 07960 859178

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Setting details

Lowdham Pre-School was registered in 1974. The pre-school employs 11 members of childcare staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at levels 2 to 6. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday, during term time only. Sessions are from 9am until 3pm and from 9am until 1pm on Tuesdays. A lunch club is provided every day from 12pm until 1pm. A breakfast club is run from 7.30am until 9am. The pre-school provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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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.

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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.

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Setting details

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Setting details

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Setting details

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