Thelwall Pre-school

Thelwall Pre-school Thelwall Parish Hall, Bell Lane, Thelwall, Warrington, Cheshire, WA4 2SX

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 7 March 2016 19 June 2015

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This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Requires Improvement

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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

 Leadership and management are strong. The very experienced manager is committed to continuing to raise the overall quality and standards of the pre-school. The manager regularly meets with members of the committee to discuss the service they provide and to identify areas for further development.  Children are making good progress in their learning. Staff observe, assess and monitor children's progress effectively. They use their knowledge of individual children's interests and next steps in learning to plan a wide range of challenging activities and experiences.  Children's physical development and well-being are particularly well supported. They have excellent opportunities to play outdoors and investigate the living world.  Staff use effective behaviour-management strategies and clear guidance to promote children's good behaviour. Children know and understand the rules. They are encouraged to share and play together. Children are happy and secure in the care of

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This provision is good

the friendly, supportive staff.  Partnerships with parents are successful. Parents speak highly about the pre-school and the learning opportunities provided for children. They feel well informed and fully involved in the activities of the pre-school.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Sometimes, staff do not provide enough opportunities to capture and maintain younger children's interest in activities.  Staff have fewer opportunities to learn from each other and share best practice.

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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

 provide even more opportunities to consistently engage younger children in activities and hold their interest  develop further opportunities for staff to share best practice with each other.

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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 manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the manager, the deputy manager and the chair of the committee. She looked at relevant documentation, such as policies and procedures, children's records, and evidence of the qualifications and suitability of staff working in the pre-school.  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

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff have a secure understanding of the policies and procedures to follow should they have a concern about a child's welfare. Robust recruitment practices are used effectively, which helps to ensure that staff are suitable to work with children. Daily checks on the environment are used to identify any potential hazards and minimise risks. This helps to keep children safe. All the actions and recommendations raised at the last inspection have been successfully addressed. There have been many recent staff changes and the newly appointed manager has worked hard to rebuild the staff team. She works closely with staff, mentoring and completing regular observations of their performance. She uses supervision meetings to discuss staff practice and identify further training needs. Recent training has helped staff to further develop the range of activities provided to promote children's literacy skills.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff gather useful information from parents about what children already know and can do when they first start at the pre-school. They provide parents with regular updates on their children's progress and share information with other settings that children attend. Staff plan a wide range of interesting activities that children enjoy. Children are encouraged to be independent learners and to make choices about what they want to play with. For example, children confidently explore the outdoor area, finding and hiding toy animals in the leaves and bushes. Children enjoy sharing books with staff. They listen carefully and respond enthusiastically to questions and picture clues. Children have opportunities to practise their number skills during their play and routine activities. They are encouraged to practise their early writing skills, for example, by making marks with sticks in mud and using brushes and paint.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children and parents are warmly welcomed into the pre-school. Staff support children well and form secure attachments. Children involve staff in their play and look to them for help and support during activities. Staff ensure that activities and resources are accessible to children, which helps them to become active learners. Children's good health and well- being are effectively promoted. They follow good hygiene routines and are encouraged to make healthy choices at snack times and lunchtimes. Staff teach children about safety and encourage them to assess risks. For example, children enjoy challenging themselves on the rope ladder in the woods and balancing on logs. Effective partnerships are in place with local schools. Teachers visit the pre-school and information about children is shared.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children make good progress in their learning and development from their starting points. The manager uses very effective monitoring systems which help to ensure that any gaps in children's learning are quickly identified and addressed. Children are well prepared for their next stage in learning and for starting school. For example, staff working in the newly introduced pre-school room provide children with a good range of well-planned activities which helps them to develop their number and literacy skills.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 315251 Local authority Warrington Inspection number 1020539 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 26 Number of children on roll 20 Name of provider Thelwall Pre-School Committee Date of previous inspection 19 June 2015 Telephone number 07775575487

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Setting details

Thelwall Pre-school was registered in 1969. The pre-school employs five members of staff, four of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and above. The pre- school opens Monday to Friday, term time only. Sessions are from 9am until 2pm. 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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