Ampthill Pre- school (Jack and Jill)

Ampthill Pre- school (Jack and Jill) Old Social Centre, Houghton Close, AMPTHILL, Bedfordshire, MK45 2TG

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 7 March 2016 9 November 2015

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This inspection: Good 2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

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This provision is good

 Staff and the committee have worked well together. They have completed training, reviewed all areas of the pre-school and implemented a programme of improvements. This has helped in significantly improving the pre-school since the last inspection and ensuring that any changes are sustainable.  Staff use their new knowledge from training to inform their purposeful teaching methods. Their improved use of assessments mean that children's needs and interests now successfully inform activity planning. Children enjoy a challenging variety of activities that helps them to develop the knowledge and skills required for school.  Improved partnership working enables parents to share information with staff about their children's initial abilities and ongoing development. Staff use daily discussions and newsletters to offer parents ideas to extend children's learning at home.  Staff use assessment information to carefully monitor each child's progress. They note

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This provision is good

any weaker areas and take prompt action to address these. They now offer children further daily opportunities that encourage them to recognise shapes and numbers.  Children enjoy using many local facilities, such as a community garden and the library. This helps them understand their community and initiates their interest in wider society.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not always make best use of daily opportunities to support children in developing their thinking skills and begin to solve simple problems for themselves.  Staff do not always work as effectively as possible with other childcare settings that children attend to ensure that children's development is fully promoted.

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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

 enhance the opportunities for children to think critically and solve simple problems they may encounter during daily activities and discussions  build on the opportunities to work more effectively in partnership with other childcare settings that children attend.

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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 acting deputy supervisor. She spoke to staff and children at appropriate times throughout the inspection.  The inspector held meetings with the acting supervisor, the acting deputy supervisor and the chairperson of the voluntary management committee. She looked at relevant documentation, such as the pre-school's self-evaluation and evidence of the suitability of staff and committee members.  The inspector spoke to a selection of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Senior staff use their qualifications well and ensure that all staff are offered appropriate supervision that enables them to discuss any concerns and develop their practice. Arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff have attended additional training and are now fully aware of all possible signs that indicate concerns about children's welfare. All accidents are appropriately recorded, and risk assessments reviewed to check for any changes to further promote children's safety. Staff have a good understanding of children's needs and work together to make effective use of additional funding to support their development. The committee work with staff to review the daily work and running of the pre-school and to make further improvements.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff now use their assessments of children well to plan activities that promote children's individual development. They observe children's play and offer ideas that help extend this. For example, children decide that the cardboard box they are playing in is a parcel. A staff member helps them to write an address on this, thereby building on their early writing skills. Staff make good use of children's interests as a way of extending their learning. They note children's interest in torches and provide additional resources. Children become engrossed as they create dark areas using blackout material. They shine the torches through coloured plastic and at mirrors. Activities such as these help to promote children's natural curiosity. However, staff do not always make the very best use of all opportunities to encourage children to solve problems as they play. Staff plan group activities well. They use these as a way of encouraging children's language and their confidence in

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

The good procedures for sharing information with parents mean that staff have a thorough understanding of children's needs. They help children to feel settled by talking with them about familiar subjects and providing relevant resources and activities. Children enjoy staff's ongoing praise and sensitive interaction and frequently spend time with staff looking through their assessment records. They take delight in remembering past activities and staff help them realise the progress they have made. This builds children's confidence and emotional security in readiness for school. Children enjoy daily activities, such as playing in the fresh air on ride-on toys which support their physical development. Staff have completed behaviour management training. They now consistently use positive methods to help children understand and manage their behaviour.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children are making good progress. They are eager and inquisitive learners who are gaining the skills necessary for their future education and the move to school. Children who speak English as an additional language and children with special educational needs are very well supported, enabling them to participate fully and to make good progress.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 219119 Local authority Central Bedfordshire Inspection number 1032679 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 26 Number of children on roll 36 Name of provider Ampthill Pre-School (Jack & Jill) Committee Date of previous inspection 9 November 2015 Telephone number 01525 840108

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Setting details

Ampthill Pre-school (Jack and Jill) opened 51 years ago. The pre-school employs seven members of childcare staff. Of these, one holds an appropriate early years qualification at level 2 and six staff have qualifications at level 3 or above. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday during term time only. Sessions are from 9am until 12 noon and 12.15pm until 3.15pm. There is a lunch club on Monday to Thursday, from 12 noon until 12.30pm. The pre-school provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year- old children. They provide care for children with special educational needs and children who speak English as an additional language.

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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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