Elfin Nursery Pre-School

Elfin Nursery Pre-School Village Hall, Cold Pool Lane, Up Hatherley, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL51 6JA

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 11 October 2016 25 February 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 ensures that the pre-school is welcoming for all children and parents. Staff work well with parents. They share information about children's care and learning effectively, to ensure that they work consistently to meet all children's individual needs.  Staff plan a good range of interesting activities and experiences that challenge the children effectively. Children are motivated learners and make good progress in their learning. They behave well, and are happy and confident as they play together.  Staff provide a calm and caring environment for children. They make the small outdoor area safe and stimulating. Children are eager to play outside and benefit from regular physical activity and fresh air. Staff ensure resources support individual children's needs. For example, there is an area where younger children can play safely away from more boisterous play.  The manager monitors the impact of teaching and learning effectively. For example,

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This provision is good

she assesses children's progress closely and plans effectively for their next steps with the children's key persons.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Children do not always have opportunities to think through their own ideas and explore their own creativity.  Occasionally, staff do not encourage children to do things for themselves, to build on their developing independence skills.

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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

 increase opportunities for children to think through their own ideas and explore their creativity  provide even more opportunities for children to build on their independence skills.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector spoke to parents and sought their views on their children's care and development during their time at pre-school.  The inspector observed a range of teaching and care practices indoors and outdoors.  The inspector carried out a joint observation of practice with the manager.  The inspector held a professional discussion with the manager.  The inspector viewed a range of documentation and policies for the pre-school.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. The manager and staff understand how to identify children at risk and the procedures they should follow. The manager provides good ongoing support for staff in this area. The manager supports the professional development of staff well. For example, she uses questionnaires and discussions to confirm their knowledge and understanding, and to establish good quality teaching. This has increased staff support to children to learn more about how healthy eating supports their good health. The manager has made recent changes to the self-evaluation process. This has helped her to focus more accurately on the quality and effectiveness of the provision, leading to staff having more input into planning to meet the needs of their key children more effectively. The manager has used funding effectively to support younger children's progress

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The manager and staff make effective use of observations to help them plan well for individual children's learning. They keep parents well informed about their children's development and work with them to support children's continuous progress through, for example, home/pre-school diaries. Staff plan a good range of interesting activities for children, which support their curiosity well; for example, as they play with toy farm animals and 'make' food for the animals from porridge oats and birdseed. Staff provide good opportunities for children to develop their language and communication skills. For example, they talk with them and share ideas when children make gingerbread men pictures using pre-drawn templates.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Sound partnerships between parents, the manager and staff ensure that all children receive good support relevant to their individual needs, for example, when younger children begin toilet training. Staff support children's positive behaviour effectively, helping them to understand the needs of others and share in the running of the session. For example, children take turns in being a 'monitor' with special responsibilities, such as ringing the bell for snack time. Older and most-able children are confident to express themselves, for example, they let staff know when they want to go outside to play.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children talk confidently to staff and other children. They enjoy learning independently and through shared activities. They learn that writing represents words and they experiment with letter sounds as they find their name cards during group time. Children learn about keeping healthy. They bring healthy snacks from home and talk about healthy eating with staff. Younger children gain new skills and enjoy learning through books and puzzles. Children gain good skills that prepare them well for their move to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 101540 Local authority Gloucestershire Inspection number 1061128 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 22 Name of registered person Falmai Reay

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 25 February 2013 Telephone number 07711 578619

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reference number

The Elfin Nursery Pre-School group registered in 1987 as a privately owned playgroup. It operates from Up Hatherley village Hall, Cheltenham. The pre-school operates on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9.30am to 2.30pm and on Tuesday from 9.15am to 12.15pm, during school terms. The pre-school receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years. The pre-school employs four members of staff; one holds qualified teacher status, two are qualified at level 3 and one at level 2.

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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

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