Lowson Street Pre-School

Lowson Street Pre-School Harrowgate Hill Methodist Church, Lowson Street, DARLINGTON, County Durham, DL3 0EY

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 23 November 2016 18 September 2013

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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

 The manager is keen to provide the best possible outcomes for children in the future. She is very committed, motivated and focused on the continual development of the pre-school.  Staff plan activities to help children to achieve and grow in their learning. All children, including those who are in receipt of additional funding and those who have special educational needs, make good progress given their starting points and capabilities.  Partnership working with professionals and external agencies to safeguard children's welfare and development is very strong and a particular strength of the pre-school. The manager works extremely hard to ensure excellent support is given to children and their families who require additional help.  Parents speak highly of the care their children receive and say that they make good progress in their learning and development. They describe the staff as fantastic, supportive and friendly. Partnerships are positive and both parties work together

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This provision is good

successfully to promote children's learning.  Staff take every opportunity to encourage children to be independent. They encourage children to manage their personal hygiene themselves and give them opportunities to prepare their snack.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff have not fully considered how they can give children wider experiences to build on their good understanding of the world.  Staff do not consistently reinforce children's understanding of how to keep themselves safe.

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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

 explore additional ways that help children gain a wider understanding of the world  enhance children's understanding of explanations about how to keep themselves safe.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the pre-school manager.  The inspector held a meeting with the pre-school manager. She looked at relevant documentation, such as the pre-school's self-evaluation and evidence of the suitability of staff.  The inspector spoke to staff and children throughout the inspection.  The inspector spoke to a number of parents during the inspection, looked at written feedback 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 complete training and are knowledgeable of the local authority procedures for keeping children safe. The vast majority of staff have completed first-aid training. The premises are safe and staff are vigilant throughout the sessions to keep children out of danger. Documentation required for the safe and efficient management of the setting is in place and well organised. The manager provides staff with good support and mentoring to improve their individual knowledge and teaching skills. Self-evaluation is effective in helping to maintain good levels of provision and identify areas to improve.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The well-qualified staff support children's communication skills well. For example, they model good language and engage children in conversations which interest them. Children's interests are recognised and kept in mind when staff plan activities and experiences. An example of this is that staff know that some of the older children enjoy experimenting with writing. They provide resources, such as clipboards and pens, that capture children's interest and imagination. The manager rigorously monitors children's progress to identify where additional support may be needed. She uses additional funding effectively to narrow gaps in children's learning.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff take much time to get to know children and their families so they can provide the best care and fully promote children's well-being. They nurture children and build their confidence. Children's behaviour is managed very well and there is a happy, positive atmosphere in the pre-school. Staff support children to share and play well together. For example, they sit with children helping them to take turns as they build with bricks and play with small-world toys. They encourage children to develop a sense of responsibility. Children learn to help with tasks at snack time and when toys need to be put away at the end of the session. Staff quickly recognise who needs a little more encouragement to help, including those children who much prefer to dance to the 'tidy up' song. Children's health benefits greatly and they enjoy playing in the fresh air. They use resources, such as crates and balancing equipment, to help promote their physical development.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children learn a good range of skills that prepares them well for future learning, including going to school. They are motivated and keen learners who get much pleasure from their time at the pre-school. They build good relationships with their peers and play cooperatively. For example, during a role play activity, they take turns to cook dinner and decide who is going to go to the shop for the milk. Their listening and understanding skills, overall, are developing well and they are able to concentrate and focus. During story time they listen carefully to a favourite story about a bear and join in with much enthusiasm when appropriate.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 508117 Local authority Darlington Inspection number 1064209 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 42 Name of registered person Lowson Street Pre-School Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 18 September 2013 Telephone number 01325 362388

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reference number

Lowson Street Pre-School has been registered since 1999. The pre-school employs six members of childcare staff, including the manager. All hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and above. The manager has an early years degree and early years professional status. The pre-school opens Monday to Wednesday from 9am to midday and 12.30pm until 3.30pm, and Thursday and Friday from 9am to 3.30pm. The pre-school provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children and supports children who have special educational needs.

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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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