Cheveley Acorns Pre School

Cheveley Acorns Pre School Cheveley Acorns Pre School, Chevely Community Room, 1 Park Road, Newmarket, CB8 9DF

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 31 October 2017 14 July 2014

p.1

This inspection: Inadequate 4

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Inadequate 4

p.1

This inspection: Inadequate 4

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Inadequate 4

p.1

This inspection: Inadequate 4

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Inadequate 4

p.1

This provision is inadequate

 Potential hazards, as identified in risk assessments, are not addressed and minimised effectively to ensure children are kept safe.  Effective systems are not in place to supervise staff's practice or help them develop their knowledge and skills. As a result, the quality of teaching is weak.  Staff do not plan challenging learning experiences, which stimulate and engage children to enable them to make good progress.  Fresh drinking water is not available and accessible to children at all times throughout the day.  Self-evaluation is weak. The provider has not identified where improvements are required.

p.1

It has the following strengths

 Partnerships with parents are positive. Parents find staff friendly and approachable.  Staff provide children with daily opportunities to be active outdoors.

p.1

What the setting needs to do to improve further

To meet the requirements of the early years foundation stage the provider must:

p.2

Due Date

 implement appropriate action, as identified in risk assessments, to minimise potential hazards and assure children's safety 07/11/2017

p.2

Due Date

 implement effective systems for supervision and coaching to support staff in their ongoing professional development to raise the quality of teaching and learning 01/12/2017

p.2

Due Date

 ensure fresh drinking water is available and accessible to children at all times 01/11/2017

p.2

Due Date

 provide suitably challenging, enjoyable activities and experiences to meet children's individual learning needs and support them in making the best possible progress. 01/12/2017

p.2

Due Date

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

p.2

Due Date

 make effective use of self-evaluation to identify and address weaknesses to improve outcomes for children.

p.2

Inspection activities

 We carried out this inspection as a result of a risk assessment, following information we received about the provider.  The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the pre-school manager. She spoke with children and staff during the inspection.  The inspector held a meeting with the pre-school manager and spoke with the chair of the committee. 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.

p.2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

Safeguarding is not effective. Risk assessments are carried out and state that children must not have access to the manager's office where cleaning materials are stored and chairs not in use are stacked up. However, children play in the office with the manager, which compromises their safety. Nevertheless, risk assessments are carried out appropriately for outings. Staff know how to identify signs and symptoms of abuse and what to do should they have concerns about a child's welfare. They receive regular training to keep up to date with wider safeguarding issues, such as the potential risks of children being exposed to extreme views and behaviours. Staff are deployed suitably to ensure ratios are met children are supervised at all times. Recruitment procedures are in place and suitability checks are completed for staff and they are in process for recently appointed committee members. The manager conducts regular supervisory meetings with

p.3

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

staff. However, training opportunities are not identified to target support for staff that improves the quality of teaching, so that children make good progress. While self- evaluation is undertaken, it does not identify strengths and weaknesses across all areas of practice.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is inadequate

Staff do not engage children in purposeful interactions to challenge and motivate their learning. They observe children and assess their progress but they do not use the information well enough to plan and provide challenging and enjoyable experiences for children. Children quickly lose interest and wander off. Teaching is not focused on what children need to learn next to help them to make good progress. Children enjoy regular access to the outdoor area and filling buckets with mud. However, staff do not help children to explore early mathematical concepts, such as quantity and capacity as they play. Children enjoy pouring water into funnels and pipes. However, staff do not do enough to extend children's thinking skills or their learning. Nevertheless, children listen well as staff read a story with enthusiasm and intonation, which captures their attention. Children happily answer questions and predict what will happen next in the story.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are inadequate

Weaknesses in leadership and management have a negative impact on children's welfare and learning. In addition, children do not have access to drinking water throughout the day to ensure they are well hydrated. However, staff are kind and encouraging. They genuinely care about the children. Children behave well and follow instructions, such as to line up to go into the garden. They enjoy climbing on the apparatus in the garden and the freedom to run around. Children are learning to share and take turns. They use a sand timer to regulate turns for popular resources, such as the pre-school tablets.

p.3

Outcomes for children are inadequate

Weaknesses in teaching mean that children do not make sufficient progress in their learning. Some children are not well prepared for their next stage in learning. Overall, children's progress from their starting points is not good enough. Despite this, children are developing independence in their self-care routines, such as washing hands before eating and putting on their coats and shoes.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number 221783 Local authority Cambridgeshire Inspection number 1116048 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 22 Number of children on roll 22 Name of registered person Cheveley Acorns Preschool Committee

p.5

reference number

Date of previous inspection 14 July 2014 Telephone number 01638 731004

p.5

reference number

Cheveley Acorns Pre School registered in 1991 and is committee run. The pre-school employs six members of childcare staff. Of these, five hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. The pre-school opens term time only. Sessions are from 8.50am to 11.50am and from 11.50am to 2.50 pm on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and from 8.50am to 11.50am on Wednesday. The pre-school provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

p.5

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.5

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.5

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.6

reference number

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our website for news, information and updates at www.ofsted.gov.uk/user.

p.6

reference number

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

p.6