Lee Mill Pre-School

Lee Mill Pre-School Lee Mill Congregational Church Hall, Lee Mill, Ivybridge, Devon, PL21 9EF

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 13 March 2018 20 May 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

 The manager and staff are reflective of their practice and successfully involve parents and children in their self-evaluation. They are well qualified and experienced in childcare, and continue to review and adapt the environment in response to current research to improve outcomes for children.  Staff are caring and attentive, and form affectionate bonds with children. They get to know children's individual needs very well and interact with children positively. Children benefit from strong support for their social and emotional development.  The good support children receive to their learning supports their development well overall. For example, staff skilfully encourage younger children to compare quantities as they enjoy scooping and moulding sand. They begin to understand the concept of capacity, use mathematical vocabulary and develop good manipulative skills. Children make good progress from their starting points.

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This provision is good

 Partnerships with parents are strong. Staff successfully involve them in their children's learning, for example, by inviting them in to take part in activities. This promotes consistency and strengthens children's learning and development effectively.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff sometimes miss opportunities to fully explain the purpose of adult-led activities to motivate children to participate and extend their learning.  There are fewer opportunities for children who prefer to play outside to see and use numbers, to reinforce and extend their mathematical development further.

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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

 raise children's awareness of the purpose of adult-led activities, to fully support their motivation and extend their learning further  increase opportunities for children to see and use numbers to reinforce and extend their mathematical development when they prefer to play outside.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed staff engaged in activities with children.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager.  The inspector looked at a range of documents, including children's records.  The inspector held a meeting with the manager and discussed the pre-school's self- evaluation.  The inspector spoke to staff, parents and children, and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. The manager and staff are vigilant and know the signs that might lead them to be concerned about a child's welfare. They are clear about the local safeguarding procedures and keep children safe from harm. The manager supervises staff effectively and provides good support to their professional development. For example, recent staff training helped staff to review and improve their practice with the younger children. The manager monitors children's learning conscientiously to notice any gaps in their development. She uses funding effectively and works with outside agencies to help all children to reach their full potential. Good partnerships with other providers and local schools provide a consistent approach to children's care and learning.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff make accurate assessments of children's levels of development and plan interesting activities that support them to successfully achieve the next steps in their learning. They take every opportunity to develop children's learning through encouraging and extending their interests. For example, staff support children to construct bridges outdoors. They skilfully encourage children to experiment, make predictions and solve problems for themselves. Staff support children's communication and language skills effectively. They teach older children to pronounce the names of garden birds, which helps to widen their vocabulary effectively and promotes their understanding of the natural world well. Younger children become confident communicators as staff sensitively encourage them to extend their sentences, express their needs and interact with others.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children benefit from a stimulating learning environment with a range of interesting resources that inspires children to explore and investigate. Staff take children on visits to enrich their learning experiences and help them to learn about their local community. They provide interesting resources and activities that positively reflect other cultures to promote children's understanding of the wider world. Staff are very good role models and treat children with kindness and consideration. They provide gentle encouragement to children to share and cooperate during play. Children listen to each other, respect each other's views and behave well. Staff provide children with daily opportunities to be energetic, enjoy fresh air and adopt healthy lifestyles. They organise sociable mealtimes, where they talk to children about the importance of eating nutritious food.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children gain the skills they need for future learning and starting school. They take part in activities with enthusiasm and enjoyment. Older children identify letters of the alphabet and know the sounds they represent. They concentrate for long periods as they draw and control pencils skilfully. Younger children use chalks creatively and develop their good imaginations. They develop their independence and show pride in managing tasks, such as washing their hands before meals and after messy play, for themselves.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 509042 Local authority Devon Inspection number 1091161 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 14 Number of children on roll 5 Name of registered person Lee Mill Playgroup Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 20 May 2015 Telephone number 07598 324 945

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reference number

Lee Mill Pre-School registered in 1993. The pre-school is run by a voluntary committee. Sessions are available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9.15am until 2.15pm, during term times. The pre-school receives funding for free early education for children aged two, three and four years. There are seven members of staff, most of whom hold appropriate childcare qualifications, including two members of staff who hold qualifications at degree level.

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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

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

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