The Meadows Primary Academy

Grange Tiny Hands Pre-School The Grange Community Centre, Middlefields, Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire SG6 4NG

p.1

Inspection date 25 September 2018 Previous inspection date 27 January 2016

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Good 2 Effectiveness of leadership and management Good 2 Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2 Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2 Outcomes for children Good 2

p.1

The provision is good

n The effective key-person system fully supports children to swiftly settle in to this welcoming pre-school. Children build secure bonds with all staff and enjoy sharing photographs of their family with them. n Children experience a wealth of interesting activities that ignite their curiosity and help them to make good progress. They learn about life cycles as they observe caterpillars creating their cocoon before transforming in to butterflies. Children also learn to care for and respect living things as they carefully handle giant African land snails. n The well-qualified team of staff receive regular supervision meetings and have good training opportunities. For example, they regularly visit other pre-schools to discuss new ideas with other professionals. This helps children to positively benefit from new practices, such as introducing new methods to extend children's attention skills. n The newly appointed enthusiastic manager and the staff team are reflective and

p.1

The provision is good

regularly evaluate the provision they offer. Their commitment helps them to drive forward identified areas for improvement.

p.1

It is not yet outstanding because:

n Staff do not always encourage children to independently manage their own personal needs. n Staff do not always gather detailed information from parents about their child's prior learning to enable them to sharply focus on children's precise learning needs from the outset.

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

n encourage children to independently manage their personal needs n gain more detailed information from parents about what their child knows and can already do when they first start.

p.2

What the setting needs to do to improve further

Inspection activities n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector spoke with staff and children during the inspection. n The inspector completed a joint observation with the manager. n The inspector held a meeting with the manager. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the pre-school and the administrator. n The inspector spoke to parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

p.2

Effectiveness of leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The manager and staff are very aware of the procedures for identifying and responding to any concerns about a child's welfare. Children's safety is at the heart of every member of staff who consistently follow robust procedures. The manager monitors children's progress thoroughly and takes swift action to address any gaps in children's learning. Staff work closely with other professionals and implement the strategies they recommend to successfully support children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities. Secure working partnerships with staff at other settings that children attend support children's continuity in learning. Parents appreciate the ideas that staff provide to support their children's learning at home.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff provide children with the choice to play either indoors or outdoors. They ensure that both areas are well-resourced with a very good range of stimulating activities. Children confidently explore and investigate. They work out, through trial and error, that they need to pour large amounts of water through the funnel on the water foundation to make the wheel and cogs rotate. Staff provide children with many opportunities to develop the small muscles in their hands in preparation for writing. Children mould scented dough into different shapes and use small tools, cutters and rolling pins. Staff place a strong emphasis on promoting children's communication and language. They introduce them to new words and express a genuine interest in what they say. This motivates children to talk about the pets that they have at home. Staff effectively support children who speak English as an additional language to make good progress.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff are positive role models. Children behave well, use good manners and are beginning to build friendships with each other. They are proud of their achievements and are eager to share these with staff. Mealtimes are a social occasion. Staff use this opportunity to help children to understand the importance of a healthy diet and provide them with clear messages of the importance of a good hygiene routine. Children develop good physical skills. They persevere in pushing themselves along on the scuttle bicycles and thoroughly enjoy moving their bodies in rhythm to their favourite songs.

p.3

Outcomes for children are good

Children complete complex puzzles and count the number of chalks in a container. They use mathematical language, such as 'big' and 'small' to describe the marks they make with paint on the paper and their hands. Children express a keen interest in books. They use the props that staff provide to help them to make up their own stories. All children gain the skills needed to help prepare them for their next stage in learning.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number 146473 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10063669 Type of provision Full day care Registers Early Years Register Day care type Childcare on non-domestic premises Age range of children 2 - 5 Total number of places 32 Number of children on roll 36

p.4

Name of registered person

Grange Fellowship Community Association Committee

p.4

reference number

Date of previous inspection 27 January 2016 Telephone number 01462 627333 (preschool hrs)

p.4

reference number

Grange Tiny Hands Pre-School registered in 1996. It employs six members of childcare staff. Of these, five hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above. The pre-school operates from 9am until 3pm, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, and from 9am until 12 noon on Wednesday and Friday, during term time only. It provides funded early education for two- and three-year-old children.

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.ofsted.gov.uk . 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 and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, 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 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.5

reference number

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 monthly newsletter for more information and updates: www.ofsted.gov.uk/user .

p.5

reference number

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

p.5