Marshalswick Pre School and Nursery

Marshalswick The Ridgeway, ST. ALBANS, Hertfordshire AL4 9TU

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Inspection date 12 February 2019 Previous inspection date Not applicable

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This inspection: Good 2

Previous inspection: Not applicable 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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This provision is good

n The highly reflective management team adapt their provision to support the children who attend the pre-school. It meets with the rest of the staff team regularly. Together they discuss possible changes to implement and the impact these changes will have on the children. The management team supports staff with appropriate training opportunities to help them to meet children's needs well. n Staff support children's learning well. They assess children's individual levels of progress regularly and provide them with appropriate and achievable next steps. As a result, all children make good progress in their learning and development. n Children behave well at the pre-school. Staff provide them with positive praise and act as strong role models for them. Children listen well and follow the instructions they are given. Staff explain the reasons for the rules that are in place clearly, which helps children to understand why it is important that they follow them.

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This provision is good

n Staff provide suitable opportunities for all children to extend their learning further. They differentiate activities well and use suitable questioning to support all of the children. Children who speak English as an additional language progress well. Staff support them to develop their language skills quickly. This helps them to communicate effectively with others. n Staff sometimes miss opportunities to extend children's learning outdoors. n Staff sometimes carry out self-care tasks for children that they could do for themselves.

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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 use available opportunities more consistently, to provide children with high quality outdoor learning opportunities. n make the most of opportunities for children to fully develop their self-help skills.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

Inspection activities n The inspector observed the quality of the interactions between staff and children indoors and outdoors. n The inspector spoke to parents whose children attend the pre-school. She took their views into consideration. n The manager and inspector carried out a joint observation on a planned activity. They discussed the impact of the teaching on children's learning. n The inspector spoke to staff and children at appropriate times throughout the inspection. n The inspector looked at a range of documentation, including policies, staff suitability documents and children's learning records.

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Effectiveness of leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. Staff are confident about the processes to follow if they have concerns regarding children's welfare. They ensure that the environment is safe for children and they implement their policies effectively. Parents report that they feel well informed about the progress their children make. Staff share ideas with them to support children's learning at home further. They also work well in partnership with other professionals to support all of the children who attend the pre-school. They share information with staff at other settings, such as the local school teachers, to support children's move to school. The manager holds regular supervision meetings with the staff. She monitors the quality of their teaching and sets them achievable targets. This helps them to improve their practice further.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff skilfully adapt their teaching methods to support children's individual learning styles. Children enjoy learning in the light and airy environment and choose confidently from the range of resources on offer. Children develop their understanding of shapes. They confidently describe the shapes that they find in the environment. Staff support younger children to develop their counting skills. For instance, they help them to count the number of foam blocks they use to make a tower. Children enjoy participating in activities that staff plan for them. For example, they create cards for the people they love, to celebrate Valentine's Day.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Children settle into the session very quickly when they arrive. They confidently find their own name and self-register. Staff provide a nurturing and calm atmosphere for the children. Staff support new children to explore the toys which helps them to become more confident. They use the information they gain from parents before children start effectively. They provide children with toys that interest them and this motivates them to stay focused as they learn. Children form friendships with others and they interact positively with each other. Staff embrace children's various cultures and languages. As a result, children learn about and readily accept the differences between themselves and others. Children join together to sing the morning welcome song. They confidently sing hello in a variety of languages that are relevant to the children who attend the pre- school.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children progress well from their initial starting points. They strengthen their muscles as they play. For instance, they ride bikes and kick balls outside. Children learn to work together. For example, they all shake the parachute together to make it move up and down. They enthusiastically run underneath it when it is up in the air. They enjoy exploring a range of textures, such as sand, water and shaving foam. They develop the skills they need to become confident and inquisitive learners.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY541033 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10093797 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 32 Number of children on roll 27 Name of registered person Patel, Nita

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reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 07917088711

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reference number

Marshalswick registered in 2017. The pre-school employs six members of childcare staff. Of these, five hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above. One staff member holds qualified teacher status. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday term time only. Sessions are from 9am until 3pm Monday and Friday and 9am until 12 midday on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. There is an optional lunch club every day from 12 midday until 1pm. The pre-school also offers an optional breakfast club every day from 8.30am until 9am. The pre-school provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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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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