Sunbeams Pre-school

Sunbeams Pre-school The Summerhouse, Marden Vale Academy, William Street, Calne, Wiltshire, SN11 9BD

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 6 January 2017 3 April 2014

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

 Managers support the professional development of staff well. For example, they observe staff and hold individual meetings that help to improve practice and teaching skills. The quality of teaching is good overall.  Children have fun at this friendly pre-school. They explore exciting spaces and choose from a wide variety of interesting and challenging activities. Children are keen to learn.  Staff monitor children's development accurately. They tailor activities so that every child makes good progress, including those at risk of falling behind and the most able.  Staff teach the basics well. Children learn to play with others, manage their feelings and behave well. A strong focus on developing children's speaking skills has been very successful.  Staff work closely with parents, sharing information and keeping them well informed of their children's progress. Staff provide workshops, helpful advice and activities that

p.1

This provision is good

enable parents to better support their children's learning and development at home.

p.1

It is not yet outstanding because:

 At times, staff do not recognise opportunities that arise to support children to develop their own play and ideas.  Some group activities do not engage younger children and they become distracted and unsettled.

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

 target support and guidance even more precisely for staff to help them encourage children to develop their own play and ideas more effectively  review the organisation of some large group activities to more fully include the youngest children.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector observed and spoke with staff and children during indoor and outdoor activities.  The inspector conducted a joint observation with the manager and discussed how the management team monitors and develops the quality of teaching.  The inspector looked at a sample of documents, including evidence of staff suitability, policies, the self-evaluation record, children's records and tracking of children's progress.  The inspector took account of parents' comments, from speaking with several during the inspection and from parents' questionnaires gathered by the pre-school.  The inspector held discussions with the management team, including safeguarding arrangements, monitoring and plans for improvement.

p.2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff are vigilant in reporting concerns and the manager works closely with appropriate agencies to help protect children. Managers use feedback from staff, children and parents when deciding what improvements to make. They make good use of information about children's progress to make changes to the curriculum where gaps in learning are identified. For example, staff have created quiet areas to encourage conversations about emotions, which have helped children manage their feelings. Good links with the host school help prepare children well for moving on.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff target support for children's speech and social skills very well using a range of effective strategies. For example, they routinely use hand sign language and picture cards to reinforce what they are saying. This is especially helpful for children with speech difficulties and those learning English as an additional language. Daily group activities help children gain useful listening skills in readiness for reading. Staff play alongside children, generally supporting their learning well. They make very good use of daily routines to extend all areas of children's learning. For example, children count and match written numerals when collecting eggs, and finding the right number of cups and plates for snack time. Well-resourced outside areas benefit all children, especially those who learn better outside.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children form close relationships with the staff who create a welcoming and playful atmosphere. Children settle quickly and grow in confidence. Staff give children a high level of individual attention and teach good social skills from the start. Children enjoy playing outside for much of the day, where staff help them to learn how to use the large play equipment safely. Children learn a great deal about healthy living. They grow and eat their own fruit and vegetables and thoroughly enjoy caring for the chickens and collecting eggs. Children understand the importance of good hygiene and remind visitors to use hand gel after feeding the chickens.

p.3

Outcomes for children are good

Children show confidence and ability in managing many of their own needs. For example, they require little help to put on boots and coats. Children love stories. Older children hear sounds in words and begin to link them to letters. They enjoy having a go at writing, such as marking off jobs on the 'chicken check list' or taking their own register. They use numbers and shapes as they play; for example, older children share out bricks evenly. Children are keen, inquisitive learners and are well prepared for starting school.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number 199434 Local authority Wiltshire Inspection number 1068579 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 42 Number of children on roll 53 Name of registered person Sunbeams Pre-school Committee

p.4

reference number

Date of previous inspection 3 April 2014 Telephone number 01249 816987

p.4

reference number

Sunbeams Pre-school registered in 1992. It operates from the grounds of Marden Vale Academy in Calne, Wiltshire. The pre-school is open on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9am until 3pm and on Thursdays from 9am until midday, during school term times only. The pre-school receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years. There are 13 staff members who work directly with the children. The manager holds a qualification at level 4 and the remaining staff hold qualifications from level 2 to level 6.

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