Abracadabra Pre-School

Inspection of Abracadabra Pre-School Rear of Cedar Lane, Milnrow, Rochdale, Lancashire OL16 4LD

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Outstanding

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The provision is good

Children enjoy the time they spend at pre-school. There is a strong sense of community, and staff work in close partnership with a range of services to ensure that all children and families receive the support they need to make good progress. Staff know children well and use the information they gather about children's prior learning and interests effectively to help them to settle. Staff provide a range of activities and opportunities, both indoors and outdoors, that ignite children's interest. For example, the 'builders' yard' outside is a popular area, where children use their developing mathematical skills to measure and compare the size of the walls they build to those of others. Children enjoy playing outside, particularly in 'Gruffalo Wood', where they dig, climb and travel along the zip wire with support. Staff are kind and very nurturing, offering reassurance and cuddles when needed. Staff help children to understand when some behaviours are not wanted and to

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The provision is good

build their friendships effectively. Overall, staff are attentive to children's learning needs. However, some staff do not consistently recognise opportunities to challenge children and extend their learning fully. Children are independent and are encouraged to try to do things for themselves. Staff give children time to 'have a go', particularly when putting on wellington boots and fastening coats, or when washing their hands after using the bathroom. This helps to ensure that children have the self-help skills needed in preparation for school.

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need to do better?

n The experienced management team consults with parents and children when evaluating the success of the pre-school and planning future developments. It uses its knowledge of the local community to plan activities, such as gardening and trips to church, to enrich and enhance children's experiences. n Managers monitor staff closely and observe them in their role. They make suggestions as to how staff can improve their practice further and plan targeted training opportunities to help staff to develop their knowledge and skills. However, opportunities for staff to learn from each other, share their skills and expertise and raise the quality of teaching to the highest level, have not yet been developed. n Staff have a good understanding of what children need to learn next. Overall, staff recognise when further support may be needed to help children to develop and thrive. However, some staff do not consistently recognise opportunities to

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need to do better?

extend children's learning during play. Staff give high priority to developing children's communication, social and physical skills. They successfully promote a love of books and reading. Staff share stories and encourage children to treat books with care. They have introduced a very popular storybook lending library. Parents enthusiastically loan books to share with their children at home. n Staff observe children as they play and accurately assess their learning. They

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need to do better?

3 October 2019 identify any gaps in children's learning and focus upon these, providing experiences that help children to make good progress. Additional funding is used effectively to provide the targeted resources and experiences some children require to thrive. n Children learn to recognise numbers and to calculate. They enjoy singing number rhymes and confidently compare the different quantities of dough, remarking on who has more and less when rolling dough into balls. Children play games and talk about who is first, second and third as they race outside. n Staff provide a range of healthy and nutritious meals and snacks. They discuss the importance of eating a healthy variety of food and remind children to wash their hands before they eat. Children have a good understanding of the effects of exercise on their bodies. They talk about how their breathing becomes quicker after they play football with 'Football Gary'.

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need to do better?

n Children are confident and have a good understanding of their daily routines. They play well together, sharing and taking turns. Staff offer their praise and encouragement, which children find highly motivating. Staff care deeply about children's emotional well-being. They talk to children about how they are feeling and take steps to ensure that all children feel included. n Parents speak very highly of the care and support families receive from staff at the pre-school. They feel very well informed of their child's progress. Staff provide support with a range of developmental needs, such as toilet training, sleep routines and toothbrushing.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff can identify signs that would give them cause for concern about a child's welfare. They understand the procedures to follow to refer any concerns in order to ensure that children are protected from harm. Staff undertake safeguarding training and receive regular information updates to ensure their knowledge remains up to date. Regular checks of the environment are undertaken to ensure that it is a safe place for children to play. Children are reminded of the importance of considering their own and each other's safety, especially when playing outdoors.

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should:

n develop further the monitoring arrangements for staff and provide systems for sharing best practice that raise teaching to an even higher level n enhance teaching skills and support staff to make better use of opportunities to extend and challenge children's learning as they play.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 316414 Local authority Rochdale Inspection number 10109872 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care Age range of children 2 to 4 Total number of places 26 Number of children on roll 37 Name of registered person Abracadabra Pre-School Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 01706 290 376 Date of previous inspection 30 March 2015

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Information about this early years setting

Abracadabra Pre-School registered in 1997. The pre-school employs seven members of childcare staff. Of these, one is qualified to level 6, one is qualified to level 5, two are qualified to level 3 and two are qualified to level 2. The setting opens from 8.30am until 4pm, Monday to Friday, during term time only.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector completed a learning walk with the manager and observed the quality of teaching during activities, indoors and outside, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The deputy manager and inspector carried out a joint observation. n The inspector observed the staff and children as they played and held discussions with them at appropriate times during the inspection. n Parents talked to the inspector about their views of the pre-school. n The managers and inspector discussed the leadership and management of the pre-school. n The inspector sampled documentation, including staff suitability checks and children's records.

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Inspection activities

3 October 2019 We carried out this inspection 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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Inspection activities

3 October 2019 regulates and inspects to 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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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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