Castle Hill Pre-School

Castle Hill Pre-School Fort Hill School, Kenilworth Road, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG23 8JQ

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 23 February 2018 20 May 2015

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 Outstanding 1

p.1

This provision is good

 The management team closely monitors the assessments of children's progress to check their accuracy. It addresses gaps in children's learning with staff. Additional funding is targeted well to support children that most need it. All children make good progress from the time they join the pre-school.  Staff have continued to develop the reading area, it is bright and appealing for children of all ages. Children are excited as they engage in different types of books. Staff support children to identify letters and words as they carefully turn the pages.  Parents' involvement in their children's education is good. Staff share details of learning with them on a daily basis. They offer parents advice about how to continue to support children with their early reading and writing at home.  Staff are excellent role models. They demonstrate how to maintain a high standard of dental health, for instance, children thoroughly enjoy copying them and cleaning their

p.1

This provision is good

teeth. They have fantastic fun as they display their dazzling smiles to their friends.  Children display a high awareness of how to avoid risks in the environment. They are extremely caring and conscientious. They remind peers that the food grater blade is sharp and will cut them if they put their fingers too close.

p.1

It is not yet outstanding because:

 Occasionally, staff do not allow children time to process information fully to consider how they want to respond and answer questions.

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

 offer children plenty of time to respond to questions to help them develop their speaking and thinking skills even further.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector talked to children about the toys they like to play with at school.  The inspector spoke to parents about the support staff offer to children.  The inspector held a meeting with the manager and her deputy, and she asked them how they reflect on their practice.  The inspector observed an activity with the manager, and they evaluated what they had seen.  The inspector discussed children's progress with staff and talked about the progress they are making.

p.2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. Staff are very knowledgeable about all aspects of safeguarding. They know what to do if they have any concerns about the behaviour of other staff towards children. The manager has a secure understanding of the information she needs to share with Ofsted, such as when there are new committee members. She supports them to fill out the correct paperwork so that the necessary background checks can be carried out. The manager takes her responsibility to supervise staff very seriously. She supports them to identify suitable training to raise the quality of teaching at the setting. For example, a member of staff enhanced her understanding of how to incorporate basic mathematics into play. Identifying numbers and using their counting skills are now part of children's everyday routine. Staff form good links with other practitioners that share the care of children. For instance, they talk about strategies they can follow to help children

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff encourage children to be imaginative and to use their storytelling skills. For example, they visited the pet shop and bought their favourite animals. They counted out the correct amount of money for the shopkeeper. Staff encouraged children to work together and they voted on how the story would develop. Children thoroughly enjoyed working together to complete the activity. Staff encourage children to develop a resilient attitude to learning. For instance, children took it in turns to estimate the number of children that would fit onto the soft mat. They were not worried whether their guesses were correct, they just attempted to guess again.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are outstanding

Staff plan a fantastic range of physical activities that encourages high levels of collaboration. For example, children worked together to 'drive' hula-hoop cars around the setting. They were incredibly successful as they worked together to negotiate the space around them without crashing. Staff support children to develop extremely high levels of personal responsibility. For instance, staff asked for help to clear the area. Children worked together to very carefully lift and move tables. Staff use highly effective methods to promote positive behaviour, such as when they use games to help children understand rules. Children always listen to instructions and they display excellent behaviour at all times.

p.3

Outcomes for children are good

Children who speak English as an additional language develop very good communication skills. Older children are focused and able to concentrate for very long periods. Children develop a good pencil grip and they discuss the meaning of the pictures that they draw. Children are well prepared for the move to the school environment.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number 110024 Local authority Hampshire Inspection number 1089058 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 30 Number of children on roll 26 Name of registered person Castle Hill Pre-School Committee

p.4

reference number

Date of previous inspection 20 May 2015 Telephone number 01256 355 719

p.4

reference number

Castle Hill Pre-School registered in 1990. The group operates from a portable cabin within the site of Fort Hill Community School in Winklebury, Basingstoke. The pre-school is open each weekday from 8.45am until 3pm, during term time only. The pre-school provides funded early education to two-, three- and four-year-old children. The pre-school employs seven staff, all of whom hold relevant childcare qualifications. The manager holds a level 5 qualification and all other staff hold a qualification at level 3.

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