Highfield Grange Pre-School

Highfield Grange Pre- School The Highfield Centre, Highfield Grange Avenue, Marus Bridge, Wigan, WN3 6GH

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 11 May 2017 24 April 2015

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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 Outstanding 1

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This provision is good

 The manager makes good use of local expertise and training to continually enhance her knowledge of developments in early years practice. This has helped her to maintain good quality provision for children.  Staff systematically assess children's learning and their progress right from the start. They quickly identify any gaps in children's learning. This helps to ensure children get the support they need to catch up and make good progress.  Staff provide a welcoming and stimulating environment where children thrive. Children feel safe and are very independent. Healthy lifestyles are promoted extremely well.  Partnership working is particularly strong. Staff make good use of their links with other professionals in the community to enhance provision for children. They are successful at encouraging parents to share information and engaging them in their child's ongoing learning. Parents speak very highly of the pre-school.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The monitoring of staff practice and children's progress is not always as incisive as possible to identify precise ways to raise the quality of teaching to the highest level.  Staff have not given enough consideration to how they can make use of boys' interests to help engage them as fully as possible in building their early writing skills.  Staff are not always fully effective in helping children correctly learn the sounds that letters represent.

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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 even better use of the information obtained from the observation of practice to identify further ways to improve teaching and help raise outcomes for children to an outstanding level  take more account of the interests of boys when planning activities to encourage them to build on their early writing skills  help children to gain a more accurate understanding of the sounds letters represent.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during indoor and outdoor activities and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector completed a joint observation of an activity with the pre-school manager.  The inspector spoke with staff and children during the inspection.  The inspector held discussions with the pre-school manager. She looked at relevant documentation, including evidence of the suitability of staff.  The inspector met with the local authority adviser. She spoke to a small number of parents and took account of the written testimonials of parents not present on the day.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

There have been positive improvements since the last inspection. The recently enhanced, vibrant outside play area enables children to continuously practice and challenge their physical skills and to learn in different ways. Staff are well qualified and receive regular training and support. Some targeted training, such as specialist support for speech and language, is having a positive impact on children's communication. The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. There are clearly understood procedures for working in partnership with others and for acting on concerns about children's welfare. Regular checks on the many long-serving staff help to ensure their continued suitability.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff recognise the uniqueness of each child and consistently use good or better teaching skills. They plan activities with specific intentions for children's continued learning and skilfully shape their interactions to promote strong attitudes to independent learning. For example, staff encourage children to have a go and keep on trying. Well-planned routines promote the skills children need in readiness for school, such as sitting and listening in groups or finding their name card at snack time. Staff use effective teaching strategies to promote children's communication. They give them time to think and speak and they make good use of song and rhyme. Staff recognise good opportunities for promoting mathematical development.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Children are highly motivated to independently access the very wide range of activities, both inside and outside. They engage for long periods and are highly confident. Children use their own ideas to lead and enhance their play. They can do this because they know what resources are available and where to find them. Children collaborate and are very keen to challenge themselves, such as making balancing beams higher. Their well-being is significantly enhanced by the excellent use of activities and community projects that promote healthy living. The pre-school has achieved a number of health-related quality awards, including for oral health. Children practice cleaning their teeth every day.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children make good progress. Children who speak English as an additional language make great strides in their learning. Children become confident communicators and develop strong social skills. They behave well and know what is expected of them. Girls in particular, enjoy using small tools and a range of media to help them be creative and learn the skills needed for later writing. All children develop high levels of personal independence. Children thrive in the outside area and demonstrate their well-developed skills in balancing, manoeuvring around objects and riding wheeled toys. They are well prepared for their eventual move to school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY321592 Local authority Wigan Inspection number 1092622 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 Highfield Grange Pre-School Management Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 24 April 2015 Telephone number 01942498950

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reference number

Highfield Grange Pre-School registered at this site in 2006. The pre-school employs five members of childcare staff, four of whom hold early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The manager holds an appropriate qualification at level 6. The pre-school opens during term time and offers two sessions per day, with the exception of Friday, which has a morning session only. Sessions are from 9am until midday and from 12.45pm until 3.15pm. The pre-school provides funded early education for 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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