Locking Stumps Pre-School

Locking Stumps Pre- School The Village Room, Glover Road, Birchwood, WARRINGTON WA3 7PH

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Inspection date 2 November 2018 Previous inspection date 9 May 2016

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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

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The provision is good

n The passionate managers of the pre-school work in partnership with the staff team and have a strong vision for improvement. The strengths of each practitioner are utilised to support individual children, and managers maximise all opportunities to gain their views and include them in the self-evaluation process. n The quality of teaching is consistently good. Practitioners know children in their care very well and make accurate assessments of their development. Next steps in learning are agreed in partnership with parents, which ensures they are able to contribute to their child's development at home. n Children are confident and form secure attachments with their key person. Children are encouraged to be independent and practitioners respond to their needs sensitively when they may need help. n Partnerships with other agencies are strong and, as a result, interventions are timely. All children make good progress and leave the pre-school with the key skills they need

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It is not yet outstanding because:

n Group activities using books do not yet engage all children or take account of their age and individual interests. As a result, children sometimes lose interest in the activity. n The environment does not always provide highly challenging experiences, therefore, the most able children are not always engaged and motivated to learn.

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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

n ensure group activities using books meet the needs and abilities of all children n continue to enhance the environment using children's interests, ensuring older children have opportunities for their knowledge and understanding to be challenged.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

Inspection activities n The inspector observed activities in the indoor and outdoor environment. n The inspector took account of the views of parents and carers spoken to on the day and from information included in parents' written comments. n The inspector spoke to staff, the manager and the treasurer, as well as with the children, during the inspection. n The inspector looked at a range of documentation, including evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of an activity with the manager.

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Effectiveness of leadership and management is good

The leaders of the pre-school are passionate about improving quality and have a well- established system for self-evaluation. Action plans take account of the views of all practitioners and parents. Safeguarding is effective. Practitioners are empowered by the managers to report any concerns and all know the correct procedures to do so. Systems for monitoring groups of children are well embedded. The managers ensure that changes to provision take account of this information to drive improvements and identify training needs. Managers encourage practitioners to access training in a timely manor and continue to monitor the impact through close supervision.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The well-qualified and knowledgeable team provides a welcoming and sensitive learning environment. There is a focus on supporting those children who are falling behind their peers using effective and consistent teaching strategies. Small groups of children are observed having time with practitioners where simple language is modelled through pushing cars down a trip trap ramp. Parents are invited to be involved in their child's learning and development and, as a result, assessments take account of what the parent knows about their child. Children's interests and stage of development are used to plan fun activities which enhance children's physical and language development, as well as promoting literacy and numeracy skills. Younger children create large marks in shaving foam and are encouraged by practitioners to test out their own theories of whether you can roll the foam. Children can be observed exploring how many scoops of sand they

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

need to fill up a big bucket. Practitioners play alongside them, modelling number language and asking open-ended questions which support them to work out problems independently.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children's independence is promoted throughout the daily routine. Children help to set out for mealtimes and take an active role in shaping their learning experiences through voting for activities. Children show respect and have genuine care and compassion for their peers, which is modelled by the practitioners in their environment. Children know what is expected of them because approaches to rewarding children and setting out expectations are consistent. Younger children are supported to share resources through the use of sand timers, and children show great pride and excitement when receiving a certificate for demonstration of positive behaviour.

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Outcomes for children are good

The pre-school places emphasis on ensuring children are well prepared for their onward learning journey. Well-established links with local primary schools ensure that practitioners are aware of what key skills children need to develop to be ready for school. Children at the pre-school make good progress from their starting points and gaps in attainment are closing. All children and enthusiastic learners who thrive in an environment that promotes their self-confidence and celebrates their individuality.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 315212 Local authority Warrington Inspection number 10066542 Type of provision Full day care

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Childcare on non-domestic premises Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 16 Number of children on roll 31 Name of registered person Birchwood Pre-School Committee

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 9 May 2016 Telephone number 01925 819076 option 4

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reference number

Locking Stumps Pre-School registered in 1982. The pre-school employs six members of childcare staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday, during term time only. Sessions are from 8.45am until 3.30pm.

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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.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.

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

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