St Oswald's Pre-School

St Oswald's Pre-School St. Oswalds Park, Wren Close, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, DL5 4BG

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 29 June 2017 17 June 2014

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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

 Staff know how children learn and develop. They attend well to the needs of individual children, including children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities. Overall, children make good progress. Staff prepare children well for the next stages in their learning.  The manager effectively oversees the professional development of the staff. For instance, she closely monitors staff's practice and has regular supervision meetings with them. Staff have access to relevant training to further strengthen their skills and extend their knowledge.  Children are learning to share, take turns and treat others with respect. They are sociable and develop positive relationships with their friends. Staff are kind and caring and know the children and their families well. Children's behaviour is good.  Staff work effectively in partnership with parents. For example, they regularly inform parents about their children's progress. Stay-and-play sessions are held that help

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This provision is good

parents to see how their children learn in the pre-school.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Occasionally, staff miss opportunities to explore further ways to extend children's thoughts and ideas, such as during their interactions with them.  The manager has not yet fully developed an effective system to monitor the progress that different groups of children are making, particularly those children that receive funding.

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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

 develop further the techniques staff use to engage children to extend their thoughts and promote their thinking skills  build on the information gained from assessments to measure more accurately how groups of children make progress, to help narrow any gaps and increase the potential for them to achieve at the highest possible levels.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector had a tour of the premises and spoke with staff and children during the inspection.  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 and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the pre-school.  The inspector spoke to a number of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. The manager and staff have a confident knowledge about what they would do if they had a concern about a child's welfare. The manager regularly tests staff's understanding of the procedures they would follow to ensure their understanding is robust. Staff work very well together as part of a team. They closely supervise the children inside and outdoors throughout the day to maintain their safety at all times. The manager has immense drive to improve the outcomes for children. Since coming into post earlier this year, she has evaluated and implemented several improvements to the pre-school. For example, staff's views were sought and the room layout has been changed for children to gain better access to resources. Parents and children have all shared their views to source improvements. The provider follows clear recruitment and induction procedures to ensure that staff are suitable for their role.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Children are excited about the range of resources on offer and staff incorporate learning opportunities into activities throughout the day. For example, children are excited to see if a dinosaur has hatched from an egg. They talk to their friends about it and lively discussions are held with staff about what type of dinosaur it is. Staff introduce new vocabulary and model language during their activities. They support children's mathematical development well and increase their awareness of numbers in the environment and counting in the correct order. Children join in with familiar number rhymes and understand how many are left when one is taken away. Activities, such as making and playing with dough, help to strengthen children's hand-muscle control ready to be early writers.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff offer a warm and welcoming learning environment. Children and their parents know their key person very well. Staff tailor care plans to best suit each child. Children settle in quickly and continue to develop their independence and confidence. Staff have good links with other early years providers to help children settle quickly when the time comes to move on. Staff promote children's knowledge and understanding of healthy lifestyles and good hygiene procedures. Children make healthy choices and enjoy helping to prepare snack. For example, they make fruit kebabs, cutting up apples and bananas and threading them onto skewers. Children enjoy planting and growing in the garden and have opportunities to learn about where some foods come from. They have access to the garden in all weathers and like to be physically active.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children make strong progress from their starting points. Older children are prepared well for their future learning and eventual move on to school. For example, children hold pencils very well and learn to write their names and other familiar letters. They are active learners who enjoy playing collaboratively and imaginatively. For instance, they make food in the mud kitchen with staff and their friends.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 314174 Local authority Durham Inspection number 1087778 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 3 - 4 Total number of places 40 Number of children on roll 55 Name of registered person Great Aycliffe Town Council

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 17 June 2014 Telephone number 07974 704 213

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reference number

St Oswald's Pre-School registered in 1992 and is located in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham. The pre-school employs five members of childcare staff. All staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above, including one member of staff who has achieved early years professional status. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday, during term time. Sessions are from 8.45am until 3.30pm. The pre-school provides funded early education for 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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