St John's Pre-School Macclesfield

St John's Pre-School Macclesfield St John The Evangelist C E Primary School, Ivy Road, Macclesfield, SK11 8QN

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 9 January 2018 3 March 2017

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This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Requires Improvement

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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 pre-school has a strong management team, supported by an active committee and administration staff. The manager has worked with her staff team to introduce several improvements since the last inspection. She is very proactive in encouraging staff to reflect on how they can do things even more effectively.  The manager and her staff are passionate about providing the best possible experiences for children. The warm relationships they have with children and the praise and encouragement they use develop children's confidence in their own abilities.  The well-qualified staff provide a varied range of activities. Small-group times are used effectively for direct teaching of concepts, such as numbers, name recognition, speaking and listening and early writing skills. Children concentrate well and grow in their understanding of the ideas being discussed.  Staff have recently concentrated on developing their use of mathematical concepts and

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This provision is good

language with children. This has had a beneficial effect on staff's confidence to teach these ideas and children's subsequent understanding.  Partnerships with parents are strong. Staff communicate with parents through a range of methods. They provide very practical support about how to extend children's learning at home and have lending libraries for books and outdoor play equipment.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 While most activities are well planned, there are occasions where children are not encouraged enough to develop their own creative and problem-solving skills.

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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

 make the most of opportunities for children to think through things for themselves and develop their ideas and creativity or solve simple problems.

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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 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, the business manager and the committee chairperson. 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

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The manager's work on safeguarding issues is meticulous. She puts children at the heart of her thinking and ensures, where necessary, that she works closely with parents and other agencies to keep children safe. She is supported by staff who have a good understanding of what would constitute a safeguarding concern and what they should do about any concerns. Children are marked in and out of the pre-school on the register by staff, who also ensure they know who will be collecting them. The manager regularly assesses staff's teaching abilities in a variety of ways and encourages them to develop their skills further, through training and their own research. Courses covering issues, such as autism, use of mathematics with early years and raising attainment, have been undertaken. The fresh ideas shared with all staff have a positive effect on the quality of the provision. Staff work with other providers to ensure

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

they gather all required information so they can complement what others provide.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff plan activities that support each child's individual learning needs. They gather information from children and parents about children's interests. Staff use these, along with their own observations, to plan activities and topic work which cover all areas of learning. Staff monitor children's progress regularly to ensure that any gaps in learning are identified and acted upon. They assess children's language skills and understanding, and provide sessions which start to build on their listening skills. Staff use additional funding well to provide additional support and resources for children. Staff have arranged the outside play space to provide an interesting environment which supports all areas of learning for children who prefer to learn outside. Staff use a range of opportunities throughout the day to develop children's understanding of mathematical concepts and language. Children confidently use numbers and quantities in their play.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children's behaviour is good. Staff act as good role models and offer children age- appropriate guidance and reminders so that they know what is expected of them. Staff promote children's independence well. Children enjoy healthy and nutritious snacks and learn about a healthy lifestyle. At snack time they develop their independence and physical skills as they help to prepare their own snacks. Staff work closely with the local school to ensure children are well prepared educationally and emotionally for the move on to school.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children make good progress. Most are working comfortably within the range of development typical for their age. Assessments are undertaken for children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities. This ensures plans are in place to help build on their abilities. Most children are able to recognise their own name and develop skills associated with writing. They gain an understanding of nature as they explore frozen water outside and see how a ball rolls down the access slope to the outdoor space.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY491503 Local authority Cheshire East Inspection number 1088457 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 2 - 5 Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 52 Name of registered person St John's Pre-School Macclesfield

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 3 March 2017 Telephone number 01625 430 800

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reference number

St John's Pre-School Macclesfield has operated since the 1980s. It re-registered in 2015 when it changed its status to a charitable incorporated organisation. The pre-school employs eight members of childcare staff. Of these, two hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 6 and five hold level 3. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday during term time only. Sessions are from 8.45am until 11.45am and 12.30pm until 3.30pm. Children can stay for a lunch club between the two sessions. The pre-school offers funded early education for two-, 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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T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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