Chrishall Preschool

Chrishall Preschool Chrishall Village Hall, Palmers Lane, Chrishall, Hertfordshire, SG8 8QW

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 24 February 2016 17 February 2011

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Inadequate 4

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Inadequate 4

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This provision is inadequate

 Ofsted has not been notified of changes to members of the committee within the required timescales. This compromises the effective management of the pre-school.  On occasions, staff do not always challenge all children's learning by giving them enough time to think about how to respond to comments and questions and express their own thoughts.  A limited range of books is available for children to use independently and they show very little interest in looking at them.

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It has the following strengths

 Children benefit from a stimulating and well-organised environment. They display good levels of independence as they choose their own activities. This helps children to be motivated to learn and most children make good progress based on their starting points.  The impact of staff's training on developing children's early mathematical skills is evident. Children are encouraged to count and solve problems as they complete puzzles. Staff skilfully introduce mathematical concepts as they talk about size and shape in their conversations with children.  Staff develop strong partnerships with parents and staff at the school onsite. This promotes consistency for children and a smooth move between home, pre-school and on to school. Parents comment on how excited and ready for further learning their children are because of their positive pre-school experience.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To meet the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage and the Childcare Register the provider must:

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Due Date

 ensure that Ofsted is provided with the necessary information to carry out suitability checks on committee members. 09/03/2016

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Due Date

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

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Due Date

 provide further opportunities for children to express their own thoughts and ideas during activities  provide a wider range of books for children to use for their own enjoyment and to gain information from.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities and spoke to the staff and children at appropriate times.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the pre-school manager.  The inspector held meetings with the pre-school manager and the chairperson of the committee.  The inspector looked at children's assessment records, planning documents and a range of other documents, including the safeguarding policy and procedure.  The inspector checked evidence of the suitability and qualifications of the staff working with children and of the voluntary committee.  The inspector took account of the views of parents and of the pre-school's self- evaluation document.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective. The provider has failed to swiftly notify Ofsted of new committee members, nor have all suitability checks been completed. This is a breach of the welfare requirements and compromises children's safety. However, staff are confident in their ability to recognise child protection issues and understand how to refer any concerns to relevant agencies. The committee members are knowledgeable and are proactive in making positive changes to the pre-school. Suitable recruitment and induction procedures are in place for new members of staff. Supervisions and appraisals of the management team and staff's practice are regularly carried out. These are effective in addressing any weaknesses and are used to identify further professional development opportunities. The manager and staff successfully implement procedures for assessing and tracking children's progress. They use self-evaluation to monitor the quality of the care

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

and learning provided, and this includes seeking the views of parents.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Children eagerly enter the pre-school at the start of the day and enjoy their time there. They quickly settle into activities and staff are close by to support them as they play. Older children are beginning to draw recognisable pictures and write their name. However, at times the staff miss some opportunities to extend children's learning to the highest possible level. Staff do not always give them time to think of solutions to problems they encounter. Furthermore, they do not always provide children with a wide range of interesting books for their enjoyment and learning. Staff collect relevant information from parents when children start at the pre-school. This helps them to understand children's starting points in learning. Observations are regularly carried out on children's learning. Staff use this information to assess children's development. They are confident in planning next steps for children's learning in all areas. There is a range of different methods in

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

place to share children's learning and development information with parents. Staff successfully gain information from parents about what children learn at home.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are inadequate

The provider has failed to meet a safeguarding and welfare requirement, which compromises children's safety and well-being. Children are happy and enjoy their time at the pre-school. Staff support children to understand each other's feelings and this helps to promote good behaviour. Children benefit from daily experiences outdoors. They enjoy going on nature hunts and exploring the school's natural area with a trained Forest School teacher. Mealtimes are used as social occasions. Children enjoy chatting together about what they have been doing at home. The staff encourage children to be independent as they pour their drinks and manage their packed lunches.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children make good progress in their learning and development in relation to their starting points. Staff use group times to help children to learn about number and letter sounds and children demonstrate their good independence in learning. They are developing the skills and the attitude they need for future learning at school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 650025 Local authority Essex Inspection number 869505 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 16 Number of children on roll 34 Name of provider Chrishall Pre-School Date of previous inspection 17 February 2011 Telephone number 07817940813

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Setting details

Chrishall Preschool was registered in 2007. The pre-school employs five members of childcare staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above. The pre-school opens Monday, Tuesday and Friday from 9am until 1pm and on Wednesday and Thursday from 9am until 3.30pm, during school term times. 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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