Upton Pre-school

Upton Pre-school Upton Youth Club, Wealstone Lane, Chester, CH2 1HB

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 11 March 2016 Not applicable

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3

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Outcomes for children Requires improvement

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This provision requires improvement. It is not yet good because:

 Staff recruitment and vetting procedures are not fully robust. Records lack some information to verify that staff are suitable for their role. This does not fully assure children's safety and welfare.  Systems for monitoring staff performance and promoting their ongoing professional development are not strong enough. Consequently, the quality of teaching and learning is not yet consistently good.  Staff do not always give children enough opportunities to do things for themselves, which does not fully promote their independence.

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It has the following strengths

 Staff develop positive relationships with children, which help them to form strong bonds with their key person. Parents report that staff are very caring and attentive towards the children.  Staff reinforce good behaviour and praise children for their efforts. This helps to support children's growing confidence.  Children have good opportunities to enjoy gardening activities at the adjacent primary school. This promotes positive links with the school and supports children when they are ready to move on.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

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

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Due Date

 keep thorough records to show the identity checks and vetting processes that have been carried out to ensure staff are suitable to care for children. 25/03/2016

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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

 strengthen systems for monitoring staff performance and supporting their ongoing professional development, to help promote consistently good teaching and learning  provide more opportunities for children to try things for themselves and develop their independence.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities 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. She looked at relevant documentation, such as the 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 requires improvement

The manager has enhanced her own qualification and introduced some changes to help improve experiences for children. Arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The premises are secure and children are well supervised. However, the procedures for recruiting and vetting staff are not fully secure. There are gaps in the records to demonstrate that staff are suitable for their role. Staff attend some basic training, such as first aid and safeguarding. However, effective systems for monitoring staff performance and promoting their ongoing professional development are not fully established. This does not fully support staff to deliver consistently good teaching and learning. Some self- evaluation takes place and the manager has ideas on how to make further improvements, for instance, to the outside space.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

The quality of teaching and learning is not consistently strong. Occasionally, some adult- led activities are not stimulating enough to spark children's interest and sustain their attention. Staff accurately assess and monitor children's development. They play alongside the children and ask pertinent questions to encourage them to think for themselves and share their ideas. Children happily sing to themselves as they enjoy some sensory experiences, such as using dried peas to pour, weigh and measure. Staff establish positive relationships with parents and share information with others involved in the children's care. This helps to promote consistency in meeting children's needs. Staff involve parents in contributing to initial assessments of their children's skills on entry. They display information so that parents know what their children are learning in the setting. Regular review sessions give parents the opportunity to discuss their child's progress with their key

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare require improvement

Inconsistencies in some management procedures mean children's welfare and learning are not fully promoted. Staff create a friendly and welcoming atmosphere for children and parents. They build supportive relationships with the children, which helps to promote children's emotional well-being. Parents report that children are attached to the staff and they miss their key person when they leave to go to school. Staff successfully teach children about rules and expectations regarding their behaviour. For example, they give children scenarios to help them think about how to keep safe. Staff encourage children to follow hygiene routines and eat healthy snacks. The outdoor area offers some opportunities for children to exercise and ride wheeled toys.

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Outcomes for children require improvement

Overall, children make steady progress and work within the typical range of development expected for their age, given their starting points. Children learn to use good manners and understand the importance of sharing and being kind to others. However, children are not routinely provided with enough opportunities to do things for themselves. This does not fully promote their independence and help them to become ready for school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY479323 Local authority Cheshire West and Chester Inspection number 982545 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 2 - 5 Total number of places 22 Number of children on roll 14 Name of provider Shelly Wells Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 07835614662 01244380681

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Setting details

Upton Pre-school was registered in 2014. The pre-school employs five members of childcare staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above, including one with Qualified Teacher Status. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday during term time only. Sessions are from 9am until 12pm, with extended hours offered on Tuesdays, from 9am until 3pm. The pre-school provides funded early education for 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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