Sparklers Preschool

Sparklers Preschool Basildon C of E Primary School, School Lane, Upper Basildon, Reading, RG8 8PD

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 21 March 2016 9 September 2013

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Good 2

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

p.1

This provision is good

 Leadership and management are strong. The management team members regularly evaluate their service, so that it meets the needs of children well. Staff work well as a team and identify key priorities for future improvement.  Children enjoy coming to pre-school. The staff are welcoming and friendly, help children to settle well and promote their well-being effectively. Children eagerly join in with the wide range of interesting activities on offer.  Partnerships with other professionals help to meet children's individual needs effectively. Links with the local school are strong and children are supported well through times of change and as they prepare for the next stages in their learning.  The quality of teaching is effective and staff provide children with interesting and stimulating learning opportunities. Children achieve well.

p.1

It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not take all opportunities to gather detailed information about children's starting points when they join the setting, to better inform their early assessments and planning.  Occasionally, staff miss opportunities to further promote the early reading and writing skills of children who prefer to play outdoors, to help them make even better progress in this area of learning.

p.1

What the setting needs to do to improve further

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

p.2

What the setting needs to do to improve further

 gather more consistent information from parents about children's abilities and skills when they first start, to help build on what they already know and can do  strengthen opportunities to further develop the early reading and writing skills of children who prefer to learn outdoors, to help them make as much progress as possible.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector observed teaching and learning inside and outdoors.  The inspector spoke to members of staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection and held a meeting with the manager.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector took account of the views of parents spoken to on the day of the inspection.  The inspector checked a range of documentation, including records to show the suitability of all staff, children's learning records, observations and assessments, and a range of policies, including the safeguarding procedures.

p.2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. Managers and staff know the signs that might give them concern for a child's welfare and how to report these. Managers conduct thorough recruitment and induction procedures, and ongoing checks and support, to ensure that staff are suitable to work with children. The manager has a clear overview of how children are progressing because systems for tracking children's progress are good. Staff regularly attend training to improve their knowledge, skills and practice. This is cascaded down to other staff. Staff are well qualified to meet the varying care and learning needs of the children. The manager and staff are reflective of their practice and readily adapt and change their practice and the environment in order to meet children's needs. Staff seek the views of parents and share the setting's policies and procedures with them. Overall, partnerships with parents are well established, to help meet children's needs.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff use their good knowledge of children's individual needs to help them learn. They plan a range of activities and patiently show children how to use the resources. Managers and staff regularly observe, assess and track children's progress and use this to plan for their next stages in children's development. They involve and challenge all children in a way that supports their individual needs well. Staff model language well and engage in meaningful conversations with the children to develop and extend their language.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff encourage children to develop good levels of confidence and self-esteem. Children are particularly well behaved and considerate towards each other as they share and take turns. During snack time, they enjoy passing the milk around the table to each other. They enjoy healthy snacks and daily outdoors activities as part of developing their physical skills. Children are independent and staff encourage them to have a go at new things first, before they offer to help. Children enjoy joining in with simple tasks such as tidying up. For example, they use a dustpan and brush to sweep up paper on the floor as part of caring for their environment.

p.3

Outcomes for children are good

Children develop a good early knowledge of mathematics. They count and estimate, and use mathematical language during activities. They take part in lots of creative play where they express their thoughts and feelings. For example, they enjoy experimenting with paint and marbles to roll and mix colours. Children thoroughly enjoy their time at the pre- school and gain the skills they need for school.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number 955551 Local authority West Berkshire (Newbury) Inspection number 1028730 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 43 Name of provider Sparklers Committee Date of previous inspection 9 September 2013 Telephone number 01491671910

p.4

Setting details

Sparklers Preschool opened in 2001. It is situated in Upper Basildon in Berkshire. The provider employs five members of staff. Of these, four hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. The nursery opens Monday to Friday, from 9am until 3pm, during term time only. The nursery provides funded early education for children aged two, three and four years.

p.4

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.

p.4

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.

p.4

Setting details

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/, write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.5

Setting details

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our website for news, information and updates at www.ofsted.gov.uk/user.

p.5

Setting details

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

p.5