Smallworld Pre-School

Smallworld Pre-School Leftwich Primary School, Old Hall Road, Northwich, Cheshire, CW9 8DH

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 11 September 2017 30 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

 The provider is ambitious. She gathers the views of parents, staff and children to help inform her ongoing plans for the development of the pre-school. Her actions to improve the setting are thoughtfully planned and effective.  Children settle quickly and feel secure at the pre-school. Staff develop positive relationships with children and get to know what they like and are interested in.  Staff have a good understanding of how to support children's development and the quality of teaching is good. Staff engage children in planned and purposeful learning activities, overall, to promote their progress.  Staff are good role models and manage children's behaviour well. Children are polite, well mannered and sociable. Children who are learning the rules of the pre-school are well supported.  Children are making good progress, from their starting points. They are well prepared to move on to the next stage of their learning and to school.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The provider does not make best use of the existing systems to thoroughly monitor and evaluate children's progress from their starting points.  Staff do not always make effective use of opportunities to extend children's awareness of mathematics. For example, they do not always help children to solve simple number problems or to explore size effectively.

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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

 enhance the monitoring arrangements to oversee and evaluate children's progress more effectively  make more effective use of opportunities to extend children's understanding of numbers and size.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector had discussions with parents and reviewed their written feedback to take their views into consideration.  The inspector spoke with staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection. She reviewed relevant documentation, including children's records and staff qualifications.  The inspector conducted a joint observation with the officer in charge.  The inspector observed activities in the indoor and outdoor areas. She evaluated the impact of teaching on children's learning.  The inspector met with the provider to discuss matters relating to leadership and management.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The provider has a good understanding of her responsibilities. She and the well- established staff team are passionate about providing a high-quality service for children and their families. The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Staff have a clear understanding of how to identify and report concerns relating to children's welfare. They have a good awareness of wider child protection issues. Staff use risk assessment and follow robust procedures to ensure that children's safety is consistently promoted. Staff benefit from high-quality supervision processes and professional development opportunities. They attend courses which help to build on their existing skills.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Overall, staff regularly observe children and conduct ongoing assessments of children's current developmental levels. They regularly share this information with parents to support children's learning at home. Children eagerly engage in messy activities, such as playing with malleable dough, painting and using food to recreate characters from familiar stories. Staff successfully use small-group times to extend children's communication and language skills. Children enjoy learning about the world. For example, they help to care for plants in the pre-school garden and explore different cultures and the wider world. In the outdoor area, staff help children to explore the properties of different materials. For example, they discuss what happens when they mix water with dried pasta.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff make very good use of opportunities to help children learn how to keep themselves safe and be healthy. For example, children follow hygiene routines before they engage in cooking activities and understand why this is important. They discuss what is healthy for their bodies and regularly engage in physical play sessions. Children use equipment, such as scissors, safely. Staff have carefully enhanced the indoor and outdoor areas of the pre- school. Children can access a variety of high-quality resources that supports their development in all areas. They can choose whether to play indoors or outdoors. This helps to promote their engagement and motivation. Staff organise daily routines to successfully minimise the potential disruption or impact these may have on children's concentration and engagement.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are well prepared for the next stage of their learning. Staff have established positive working relationships with local schools to share information and strategies which effectively support children as they prepare to go to school. Older children show empathy towards younger children or those who are new to the setting. They confidently speak with visitors and follow instructions and routines willingly. Children have good levels of self-esteem and have positive attitudes towards challenging activities. They choose to persist and respond well to praise and encouragement from staff.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 305301 Local authority Cheshire West and Chester Inspection number 1087755 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 2 - 10 Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 60 Name of registered person Smallworld Leftwich Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 30 June 2014 Telephone number 01606 45422

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reference number

Smallworld Pre-School registered in 2000. The pre-school employs seven members of childcare staff. Of these, all hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 and above. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday in term time only. Sessions are from 8am until 6pm and children can attend for a variety of sessions, including wrap-around care. The pre-school provides funded early education for two- and three-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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