Sandcastles Pre-school

Sandcastles Pre-school Barrington Street, Tiverton, Devon, EX16 6QR

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 27 November 2017 5 January 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 Good 2

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This provision is good

 Effective self-evaluation which includes the views of parents and children, helps the manager prioritise improvements that promote good-quality outcomes for children. For example, developing resources for staff to use when telling stories has led to all children, but particularly boys, becoming much more interested and engaged.  Children of all ages make good progress, relative to their starting points. Staff's effective relationships with other professionals help to ensure that children who have special educational needs receive good support to help them achieve well.  Children show through their behaviour that they feel emotionally secure. Babies quickly form strong relationships with staff, turning to them when they need comfort. Toddlers develop the confidence to explore and investigate. Older children are keen to find out more, and confidently question staff.  Staff have good relationships with parents. They make effective use of their daily

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This provision is good

discussions to know children's achievements at home, to include in assessments.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Older children have few opportunities to learn that there are different ways to find out information, including the use of a computer, to extend their knowledge further.  Staff miss some opportunities to encourage the older babies' developing independence. For example, they do not encourage those who are able to walk to use the sink and wash their hands before meals.

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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 older children's awareness of the different ways they can find out information, to further extend their knowledge  encourage older babies to be more involved in managing their personal care to further extend their physical development.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector and the manager completed a joint observation of a planned activity.  The inspector observed staff and children engaged in activities in each room and outside.  The inspector had discussions with the manager, staff, parents and children.  The inspector sampled required documentation, including safeguarding procedures, and talked to staff about how they implement these.  The inspector reviewed the effectiveness of systems to monitor children's progress and plan for their future learning.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The manager and staff team receive good support from the management committee, which encourages them to continue to develop their knowledge and skills. The manager's very good systems of tracking individual and groups of children help her to monitor the impact of staff training on children's learning. For example, following training, staff reviewed how they communicate with children and made changes to their practice. For instance, making sure they do not give complex lists of instructions to children who cannot yet process this much information. This had a particularly strong impact on the younger children's listening and attention skills. Safeguarding is effective. The manager and staff team have a thorough understanding of local procedures to safeguard children and protect them from harm. All staff wear their personal identity badge, and on the back are the contact numbers of relevant agencies to call if they are concerned, for immediate

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff use their good observations and assessments well to help them plan activities that are challenging and help children to make good progress. For example, babies explored cornflour gloop with their hands to feel the texture and push against the resistance, encouraging their physical development and their confidence to try new things. Toddlers enjoyed decorating Christmas stockings. They showed very good small-muscle skills as they carefully spread glue and cut collage materials, each child using these in their own way to create unique designs. Staff challenge older children well to help them think about and build on what they already know. For example, staff discuss the money children use in the shop during role play. They encourage children to think about how they could tell the difference between different coins and notes, and which have the higher value.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children of all ages enjoy being active. Babies have space to crawl, roll and pull themselves up as they prepare to become mobile and walk. Toddlers climb the slide safely and carefully, and balance well. Older children make up lively dances in the rain, using umbrellas as props. They twirled these energetically, taking care not to bump into each other.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children develop good knowledge and skills to prepare them for the next stage in their learning, including going to school. Children of all ages communicate confidently. Those who learn English as an additional language soon develop fluency in English. For most, any gaps in their progress in communication and language have closed by the time they start school. Within the setting, children confidently move on to each room as they grow older. For example, babies spend time with the toddlers before moving on, making sure they establish relationships with staff and continue to feel secure.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 106024 Local authority Devon Inspection number 1088970 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 0 - 11 Total number of places 46 Number of children on roll 70 Name of registered person Sandcastles Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 5 January 2015 Telephone number 01884 257546

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reference number

Sandcastles Pre-school registered in 1992. It is a committee run setting, based in the grounds of Castle School, Tiverton. The setting receives funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four years. The setting is open from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, all year. The setting offers before- and after-school care from 8am to 9am and from 3.30pm to 6pm for children attending Castle School. A play scheme operates during school holidays, which is open to all children in the community. There are 18 members of staff. Of these, 17 work directly with children, and 16 hold early years qualifications, two hold level 4 qualifications, 13 hold level 3, and one holds a level 2.

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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

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