St Johns Preschool

St Johns Preschool St Johns Vicarage, Irlam Road, Manchester, M41 6AP

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 24 May 2017 21 September 2016

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Previous inspection: Requires Improvement

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Outcomes for children Requires improvement

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This provision requires improvement. It is not yet good because:

 Although steady improvements are being made, leaders' knowledge of strong teaching practice is not secure enough to drive consistently good teaching and learning across the provision.  Staff do not consistently use what parents and other providers know about children's levels of development, to help them plan precisely how to meet each child's needs and monitor their progress right from the start.  Occasionally, older and most-able children do not always receive the levels of challenge they need to help them stay focused and achieve as much as they can.  The organisation of activities and routines are not consistently well planned. Children are not always supported to have a secure understanding of what is expected of them.

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It has the following strengths

 Leaders give high priority to safeguarding matters. They understand their responsibilities and procedures to follow should they have concerns about a child.  The youngest children are well motivated by the wide range of resources which are appropriate to their level of development. They are keen to join in and to explore.  Staff are caring, nurturing and meet children's emotional well-being effectively. They engage in play with the children and develop close relationships.  Children settle well and feel safe to access the full range of activities on offer both inside and outside.

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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

 strengthen leaders' knowledge of high-quality practice and use it to monitor the delivery of consistently good teaching and learning opportunities for all children  strengthen partnerships with parents and other settings that children attend, to help support precise assessment and targeted, consistent planning from the outset  establish more consistent support and routines that help children better understand what is expected of them  add further challenge to teaching and resources, particularly for older and most-able children.

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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 a small number of parents, staff and children during the inspection.  The inspector held discussions with the pre-school provider and the manager. She looked at relevant documentation, including the suitability of staff.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

Although leaders are monitoring teaching and learning more closely, gaps in their knowledge of effective teaching hinders the identification of some weaknesses. Leaders aspire to improve and have developed their practice by working on the weaknesses identified at the last inspection. They work closely with their local advisers and make good use of local expertise to support children who need it most. This is helping them close some gaps in learning. However, they do not always make good use of their relationships with parents and other settings that children attend to form an accurate assessment of each child's development and to plan ways to promote good progress. The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Training for child protection and first aid is prioritised.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

Although some teaching is improving, quality is not yet consistently good. Some resources and activities lack appeal for older and most-able children. They are not always well matched to their advanced stages of development or support children to challenge themselves further. Younger children enjoy the rich exploratory experiences staff provide. Staff promote children's physical skills and their communication and language well. For example, they provide opportunities for using tools to make marks on a big and small scale. They provide a variety of props to support understanding and engagement during singing time. Staff's knowledge of promoting mathematics in play is improving well.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare require improvement

Some routines are not consistently implemented and children do not always know what is expected of them. Circle time, which initially results in some good sitting and listening, is interrupted during the intermittent child collection arrangements. The subsequent afternoon self-registration, intended to support children to recognise their own written names, is rushed because the attention span of the remaining children has waned. Staff communicate with children well about any unwanted behaviour and promote kindness with calm, caring approaches. However, they do not always organise space and activities to help children securely understand and comply with rules and boundaries. Children's good health is promoted well. They eat healthy snacks and enjoy learning outside.

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Outcomes for children require improvement

Although some children progress well, older children are not always highly engaged or able to challenge themselves to achieve more. Despite this, all children develop some of the skills they need in readiness for school. Younger children develop confidence and enjoy exploring. All children receive support to practice good hygiene and to use the toilet. They learn to sit at the table to eat their packed lunches and they help to pour their own drinks. Children develop strong relationships with each other.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY482731 Local authority Trafford Inspection number 1074400 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 2 - 5 Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 35 Name of registered person Rachel Murray

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 21 September 2016 Telephone number 07787422846

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reference number

St Johns Preschool registered in 2014 and is privately owned and is situated in Manchester. The pre-school employs four members of childcare staff. Of these, the manager holds an appropriate early years qualification at level 4 and two member of staff hold childcare qualifications at level 3. The pre-school opens term time only. Sessions are from 9am to 3pm on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. On Friday the pre-school is open from 9am to 12pm.

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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

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

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