Cheveley Acorns Pre School

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

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 6 March 2018 31 October 2017

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Outcomes for children Requires improvement

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This provision requires improvement. It is not yet good because:

 The quality of teaching is variable. Staff do not always skilfully interact with the children enough to motivate and challenge them. Not all children make good progress in their learning.  Although the manager has worked well since the last inspection to improve systems to support and supervise staff's practice, these are not fully effective help increase staff's teaching skills to a consistently good level.  Staff do not provide children with opportunities to explore and learn more about the communities around them.

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It has the following strengths

 Staff encourage children to make good use of the outdoor environment. Children enjoy plenty of physical exercise and have good opportunities to use the wider school grounds.  Staff give children's safety good priority. They supervise them effectively and implement risk assessments thoroughly to minimise hazards in and around the premises so that children can play and explore safely.  There are good partnerships with parents. Parents value the pre-school and find staff welcoming and approachable. They have frequent opportunities to share in their children's learning.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

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

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Due Date

 support staff to develop their skills further to provide children with warm and positive interactions that challenge them to make good progress in their learning 28/05/2018

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Due Date

 make more effective use of the systems that support and supervise staff's practice, to raise the quality of teaching and children's learning to a higher level. 28/05/2018

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Due Date

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

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Due Date

 enhance children's opportunities to explore and learn more about the communities around them.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector spoke with children and staff during the inspection. She observed the activities and assessed the quality of teaching and children's learning.  The inspector had meetings with a representative of the management committee and the manager. She looked at relevant documents, including evidence of the suitability of staff and committee members.  The inspector spoke with a number of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.  The inspector looked at all areas of the premises used by the children and the resources available to them.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management requires improvement

The manager and her team have worked well with the local authority to address the weaknesses raised at the last inspection to improve outcomes for children. Self-evaluation has focused on addressing the previous actions. Children now have access to drinking water and staff follow risk assessments well, so children play in a safe space. The manager has implemented supervisory meetings with staff and has begun to identify ways to help them to develop their skills. For example, they observe and evaluate each other's practice. However, there is not enough focus on training opportunities to improve the quality of teaching further and to raise the outcomes for children. Safeguarding is effective. The manager and staff understand their responsibilities to protect children from harm and know the local procedures to follow if children are at risk. Staff recruitment procedures help to ensure anyone working with the children is safe to do so.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment requires improvement

Staff observe the children regularly to find out what they know and can do. They plan a suitable range of activities intended to support children's next steps. However, while staff are appropriately qualified and experienced, their teaching skills are not consistently good. They do not skilfully interact with children to challenge them and make the most of their learning experiences. This affects children's motivation to learn and concentrate. However, some activities support some aspects of children's learning well. For example, staff read stories with enthusiasm and give children opportunities to join in and ask questions. Children enjoy making cards for Mothering Sunday and staff write out their thoughts and ideas in the cards. Staff have established good two-way partnerships with parents, who praise staff for their dedication to their children.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare require improvement

Staff do not always successfully inspire children to enjoy their learning. At times, children are aimless and their normally good behaviour deteriorates. However, overall, relationships between children and staff are warm and friendly. Staff welcome parents and children warmly when they arrive. Children benefit from nutritious snacks and show confident practical skills when washing up their plates and cups. They play outdoors for much of the day and have plenty of opportunities for exercise. Children do not have frequent enough opportunities to learn about the community around them.

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Outcomes for children require improvement

Not all children make the best possible progress from their starting points. Staff's support does not consistently question and challenge them to concentrate and engage in learning. At times, children are bored and aimless. Nonetheless, they develop the basic skills they need for their future learning. Older children are encouraged to write, and some can form their names. Children take turns and use timers to help them negotiate sharing their toys independently. Children develop their physical confidence on balance beams. Children who receive additional funding benefit from increased resources.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 221783 Local authority Cambridgeshire Inspection number 1117761 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 27 Name of registered person Cheveley Acorns Preschool Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 31 October 2017 Telephone number 01638 731004

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reference number

Cheveley Acorns Pre School registered in 1991 and managed by a voluntary committee. 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 2.50pm on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and from 8.50am to 11.50am on Wednesday. The pre-school provides free funded early education places 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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reference number

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reference number

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

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