Seesaw Pre-School

Seesaw Pre-School East Barnwell Community Centre, Newmarket Road, CAMBRIDGE, CB5 8RS

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 16 May 2016 14 May 2012

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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

 Strong leadership and management, along with ambitious self-evaluation, help to ensure that the pre-school is well run. Staff are supported to develop their teaching skills. They work confidently with the children and have good relationships with them.  Parents are fully involved in their children's learning. Parents speak positively about the pre-school and the warmth and friendliness of the staff.  Children show caring attitudes towards each other. Older children learn to manage their behaviour. They take turns and share independently. Younger children receive praise and support for being kind and helpful.  The pre-school has an inclusive feel and children are valued as individuals. Children's home languages are acknowledged and displayed in the setting.  There is a good focus on children's speaking and listening skills. Staff promote language development through fun activities, such as clapping out the syllables of

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This provision is good

children's names. Books are used routinely to find out information and children access them spontaneously, eager for story times.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Occasionally, staff overlook opportunities to help children to manage some acceptable risks for themselves and enhance their understanding of safety.  Staff do not always take into account the individual needs and abilities of children during group activities. At times, a few children who find listening more difficult lose interest, which means their learning is not promoted as effectively as others.

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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

 make the most of all opportunities to help children to learn about managing acceptable risks in their play and extend their ability to keep themselves safe  enhance staff's planning of group activities so that every child taking part benefits from the best learning experience possible.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector observed the quality of teaching and spoke to staff about how they plan for children's progress.  The inspector looked at the premises and the resources available to the children.  A range of documentation was looked at, including staff's suitability and training, some policies and procedures and children's records.  Discussions were held with a number of parents and their views and comments were taken into account.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Managers and staff are fully aware of the procedures that protect children from abuse or neglect. All attend regular training and review their knowledge in team meetings. Managers accurately monitor the progress that children make in their development. Gaps in learning are swiftly spotted and addressed. Staff have good links with other agencies that support vulnerable children, such as the children's centre. The manager is highly qualified and uses her skills well to coach and mentor the staff. This has a positive impact on all children's development, ensuring that they are well prepared for school. Considered thought is given to the allocation of additional funding, ensuring it helps disadvantaged children to make good progress.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff use children's interests to provide stimulating activities that children enjoy, such as planning for pirate treasure maps. They interact well with the children and actively support their ideas. When children find ladybirds and woodlice in the garden staff talk about the insects and find magnifiers so they can be closely examined. Children develop their physical skills in enjoyable ways. They cut up their fruit for snack, or use scissors in creative activities. Children develop an interest in numbers as they count each other and estimate how many boys and girls. They watch how quickly radishes grow compared to other vegetables. Staff ensure that parents are thoroughly informed about their children's daily activities and their ongoing development.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children build warm and secure bonds with staff and settle well. Staff collect detailed information from parents about their children's routines, interests and aptitudes. They use this information well to ensure that children have their care and learning needs met from the outset. Staff have a good focus on children's healthy lifestyles. They provide nutritious snacks and give parents advice on healthy lunches. Visitors enhance children's understanding of being healthy. For example, the dentist talks to them about good food for teeth and how to keep them clean. Children thrive in the outdoor areas. They balance on logs, learn to ride their bikes around a track and use their pretend cooking skills in the mud kitchen.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children, including those who have special educational needs and English as an additional language make good progress. They develop their independence and learn to socialise with others. Children make choices in their play, take turns and follow routines, such as tidying up. Staff introduce them to their future schools and prepare them well for their new learning environment. Older children are enthusiastic, active learners who have a keen interest in early reading and writing in readiness for school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY438887 Local authority Cambridgeshire Inspection number 1042230 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 25 Number of children on roll 40 Name of registered person The East Barnwell Community Association Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 14 May 2012 Telephone number 01223294736

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reference number

Seesaw Pre-School is a registered charity managed by the East Barnwell Community Association. It opened in 2003. The pre-school supports children who have special educational needs or disability and children who speak English as an additional language. It is open each weekday from 9am to 3pm during school term times. The pre-school employs six members of staff including the manager. Of these, four hold appropriate qualifications at level 3. The manager has early years teacher status. The pre-school offers early education funded places to eligible two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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reference number

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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reference number

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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reference number

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reference number

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reference number

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

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