St James Pre School

St James Pre School Community Centre, High Street, Whitehaven, Cumbria, CA28 7PY

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 18 January 2018 10 May 2017

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Requires Improvement

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Good 2

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

p.1

This provision is good

 Leaders have worked effectively to develop the provision since their last inspection. All the committee are known to Ofsted and all suitability checks are completed. Staff regularly review their practice, planning and record keeping. They set clear targets for continuous improvement and they are motivated and driven to improve the achievements of all children.  Parents speak very highly of the nursery, and are happy with the care and learning their children receive. They state that the staff are very welcoming and share regular information with them and give them information to support children's learning in the home.  Staff are experienced, confident practitioners. They create a warm and welcoming, well-resourced, indoor and outdoor environment. Children develop strong bonds with their key person and other staff. They are keen to share their experiences and confidently approach staff for reassurance and support. Staff foster children's emotional

p.1

This provision is good

well-being effectively.  Children's behaviour is good. Children learn to be kind to each other, take turns and play cooperatively. Staff act as good role models, offering age-appropriate reminders and boundaries.

p.1

It is not yet outstanding because:

 Occasionally, staff miss learning opportunities to further enhance children's understanding of the difference and diversity of the world around them.  Staff do not always promote children's independence with maximum effect.

p.1

What the setting needs to do to improve further

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

p.2

What the setting needs to do to improve further

 build on learning opportunities to help children to learn about difference and diversity and understanding of the world beyond their immediate experiences  enhance the experiences children already have to develop their independence even further.

p.2

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 leader.  The inspector held a meeting with the pre-school leader. She looked at documentation and evidence of the suitability of the committee and 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 good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The leader and staff know the procedures for reporting any safeguarding concerns and they have all completed training on child protection and wider issues. The leader supervises staff well. She observes their practice and provides feedback on their performance. Staff have opportunities to refresh their knowledge by attending training. This helps to raise the quality of teaching and children's learning. Robust risk assessments are carried out and safety checks completed daily for each session. Self-evaluation is effective. The management committee, leader and staff members have worked together with the early years advisers to further strengthen their practice since their last inspection. Staff work well with other settings and outside agencies. As a result, all children, including those who have special educational needs and/or disabilities are supported well.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Teaching throughout the pre-school is consistently good. Staff are well qualified and understand how children learn. They use this knowledge to give children time to think and encourage them to work things out for themselves. Staff accurately observe, assess, and plan exciting activities. They use child's next steps to plan for children's individual learning so they continue to make good progress. Staff support children's literacy skills well. For example, clipboards are used in the room for children to write lists and key group activities help children to recognise the letters of their name. Staff help children to learn mathematical concepts. For example, while building a tower they discuss whether the tower is shorter or taller than the child building it. Children's speaking and listening skills are effectively promoted. They enjoy listening to a range of stories and confidently join in. They act out favourite stories and retell them to each other.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff know the children well. They accurately assess children's individual starting points and build on these through their teaching. Staff gather relevant information from parents during settling-in visits and through their ongoing observations of children's play. Children have fun developing their physical skills. Indoors, they enjoy parachute games and singing action songs and, outside, they paint using brushes and water and ride wheeled toys. Children's mealtimes are organised well. They learn to line up to go to the bathrooms before and after eating and competently wash their hands. Children behave well and show kindness towards each other. For example, one child gives another one of his cars to play with.

p.3

Outcomes for children are good

Children enjoy themselves and have fun. They are active and highly motivated to learn and, as a result, they are making good progress from their initial starting points. Children benefit from staff's close interaction and become immersed in their play. Staff support children with colour mixing and help them explore their senses using textured materials. All children are developing the key skills they require for their future learning.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number 317601 Local authority Cumbria Inspection number 1099385 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 26 Number of children on roll 34 Name of registered person St.James Playgroup Whitehaven Committee

p.4

reference number

Date of previous inspection 10 May 2017 Telephone number 07929952452

p.4

reference number

St James Pre School registered in 1982. The pre-school employs five members of childcare staff, of whom, four hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. The manager holds a qualification at level 6. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday, during term time only. Sessions are from 8.30am to 3pm. Children have an option of staying for lunch. The pre-school provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. The pre-school supports children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities.

p.4

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.4

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.4

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.5

reference number

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

p.5

reference number

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

p.5