Witchford Rackham Pre-School

Witchford Rackham Pre- School 83 Main Street, Witchford, ELY, Cambridgeshire, CB6 2HQ

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 13 October 2016 26 September 2012

p.1

This inspection: Outstanding 1

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Outstanding 1

p.1

This inspection: Outstanding 1

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding 1

p.1

This inspection: Outstanding 1

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding 1

p.1

This provision is outstanding

 Leadership is highly effective. The manager has successfully implemented changes over the last year to improve practice and children's experiences, such as sensory and messy play opportunities.  The manager successfully implements rigorous evaluation of the impact of staff practice to continually raise standards. Staff are highly valued and work efficiently together to ensure they provide consistently high standards in children's care and learning experiences.  The quality of teaching is inspirational. Staff consistently demonstrate high expectations of what children can achieve. They instinctively adapt and reshape activities, following children's emerging interests and making the most of every learning opportunity.  Staff highly value parents' contributions about their child's experiences at home. Staff work closely with parents to ensure assessments of children's progress and next steps in learning are shared promptly to promote continuity in children's learning at home

p.1

This provision is outstanding

and at pre-school.  Assessments of children's progress are accurate and continuous. This means that any gaps are swiftly identified and support is established promptly to ensure children receive the help they need to achieve their very best.  Children's emotional well-being is highly prioritised. The key-person system is highly effective. Children establish secure attachments with staff. They demonstrate that they feel safe and secure, and are confident to approach all staff.  Children's behaviour is exceptionally good. They demonstrate high levels of self-control and respect for each other and their environment.

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

 continue to make the most of professional development opportunities to maintain the high-quality provision.

p.2

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 and provider. 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 number of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

p.2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is outstanding

Safeguarding is effective. Staff fully understand their role to protect children from harm. Leaders ensure that staff receive regular training and updates relating to safeguarding to fulfil their responsibilities. Staff know what to do should they have any concerns regarding a child in their care. Rigorous recruitment procedures ensure only suitable adults work with the children. The manager enthusiastically inspires her qualified team of professionals. Staff effectively implement teaching strategies and ideas they develop from attending training events. They are deeply committed to continuously developing their skills, especially to support children's emerging needs.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding

The quality of teaching is consistently outstanding. Staff know the children exceedingly well and intuitively support them to achieve their next steps in learning. Children are very active and keen to try new things for themselves. They are imaginative as they build houses for dinosaurs. Staff encourage them to think how to join the house walls together. Children animatedly discuss their ideas with staff, often linking them to places they have visited. Children are highly motivated to investigate the weight and buoyancy of different items they find around the pre-school. When water is accidently spilled, staff make the most of this opportunity to explain and demonstrate absorption as they mop up the water. Children demonstrate extremely good attention and listening skills as they prepare a variety of vegetables with staff to cook soup. They name different vegetables and persevere as they chop the parsnips.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Staff are extremely strong role models for children. They value children for what they each bring to the pre-school, respecting and valuing their differences and promoting equality at all times. Children are well mannered, confident and sociable. They settle quickly, supported by staff's flexible approach to ensure their individual needs are met. Children learn how to keep themselves safe. When the fire alarm sounds, they know what to do. They remain calm and walk out of the building with staff to the designated assembly point. When younger children play with bubbles outside, staff teach them that if the mixture spills then the ground will become slippery. Children are proud of what they can do. They are beginning to write for themselves and sound out letters in their names.

p.3

Outcomes for children are outstanding

Children, including those who have special educational needs or disability, make high rates of progress, given their starting points and capabilities. Children are confident and are eager to do things for themselves. They enjoy each other's company, demonstrating respect for each other and the environment. Children are curious and deeply engaged in their investigations. They are confident talkers and acquire key skills to support their future education.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number 221733 Local authority Cambridgeshire Inspection number 1059448 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 48 Number of children on roll 32 Name of registered person Witchford Rackham Pre-School Committee

p.4

reference number

Date of previous inspection 26 September 2012 Telephone number 01353 666 782

p.4

reference number

Witchford Rackham Pre-School opened in 1980 and is committee run. It employs seven members of childcare staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 and above. The manager is qualified to level 5. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday during term time only. Sessions are from 8.45am until 11.45am and 12.30pm until 3.30pm. A lunch club operates between 11.45am and 12.30pm. The pre-school provides funded early education for two, three- and four-year-old children.

p.4

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.

p.4

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.

p.4

reference number

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

reference number

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

p.5

reference number

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

p.5