Alphabets Preschool

Alphabets Preschool Scout Headquarters, Recreation Ground, Botley, Southampton, Hampshire, SO30 2ES

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 15 June 2018 15 June 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

 Staff establish secure and trusting relationships with children. This helps children to have a good sense of belonging and develop positive well-being and self-esteem.  Staff use various ways to involve parents effectively in their children's learning. Parents value the good-quality care their children receive.  Children take part in a wide range of activities. They make independent choices from a good range of resources and play materials, indoors and outdoors.  Staff effectively support children's communication and language development. For instance, children begin to identify initial letters and sounds in preparation for their future learning and school.  The management team monitors individual children and groups of children's learning meticulously. As a result, staff identify any gaps in learning for groups of children and take prompt and effective action to address these.  Children have good opportunities to challenge their physical skills. For example, they

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This provision is good

explore interesting ways to move, such as balancing and walking on stilts.  Staff are good role models. They teach children to use good manners and show respect. Children understand the expectations staff have of them and they behave very well.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 At times, staff do not make the best of opportunities to share and gather information from other early years settings that children attend to promote continuity of learning.

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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

 extend links with other early years settings that children attend so all providers consistently contribute to children's learning.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and considered their views.  The inspector spoke with children, staff, the deputy manager and a representative of the committee at appropriate times during the inspection.  The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector completed a joint observation with the pre-school deputy manager.  The inspector reviewed relevant documentation, including evidence of committee and staff suitability, staff qualifications and children's development trackers.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The committee and staff have a secure knowledge and confidence about the procedures to follow should they have concerns about children's well-being and their responsibilities to protect children from harm. Safeguarding is effective. Staff are deployed well and are vigilant in their supervision of children. The management team closely monitors the consistency of the quality of care and teaching that staff provide children. They ensure that staff receive relevant training to keep their knowledge and teaching skills up to date to support the setting's development plans. Any additional funding is used very effectively. For example, the pre-school has recently purchased portable information and communication technology (ICT) equipment to support those children who have special educational needs (SEN) and/or disabilities even further.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff have a good understanding of the ways children learn. They observe children carefully and plan suitable next steps for each child's development. Staff skilfully encourage children's mathematical skills. For example, when looking at the outdoor thermometer children are supported to recognise the numerals upon it and are encouraged to compare the temperature to the previous day to see if it is higher or lower. Children develop their small muscles effectively, such as when they carefully use pipettes to collect water before squeezing it out into another container. Staff promote children's communication and language skills well. For example, they sing songs with children and ask them questions about their play and stories to help support their speaking and listening skills.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children consistently behave well and follow the pre-school's 'golden rules'. They are happy to help each other when painting each other's hands and to take turns when sharing the 'stop' and 'go' symbols when instructing those moving on bicycles and scooters. Staff support children's independence well and promote their personal care skills. At snack time, for example, children help to prepare the fruit, pour their drinks and then wash up their own plates and cups. Children enjoy visits from others from within their community. For example, they experience visits from local residents to learn about guide dogs and how they are trained to help those who cannot see as well as others.

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Outcomes for children are good

All children make good progress in preparation for school and their future learning. Children are confident, happy and play well with their friends. They are self-motivated and enjoy their time at the pre-school. They listen well, ask questions and are curious to find out things. All children enjoy mark making with a range of resources. Older children recognise their written names and enjoy 'having a go' at writing these independently.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 109823 Local authority Hampshire Inspection number 1089050 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 26 Number of children on roll 45 Name of registered person Alphabets Preschool Botley Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 15 June 2015 Telephone number 0786 754 2988

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reference number

Alphabets Preschool registered in 1990 and operates from the Scout Hall in Botley, near Southampton. The pre-school is open from 9am to 3pm each weekday during school term times. It is in receipt of funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four. The pre-school employs six members of staff, all of whom hold relevant qualifications at level 3.

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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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