St Mary's Pre-School

Inspection of St Mary's Pre-School St Mary's Church Hall, Mayfield Avenue, Blackpool, Lancashire FY4 2NT

p.1

Overall effectiveness Good

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

p.1

The provision is good

Children join in activities with high levels of enjoyment and enthusiasm. They listen attentively and follow instructions from the staff and football coach. Children thoroughly enjoy physical activities, for example, as they run, jump, walk sideways, crawl and hop. Children are confident and proud of their achievements. For example, children exclaim, 'I made that!' and describe their paintings of a character from a familiar book. Children show that they feel happy and safe. They enjoy making choices throughout the day and explore the environment with a strong sense of belonging.

p.2

The provision is good

The manager has high expectations for every child. She is committed to help children have the best start and provides opportunities that they may not experience at home. For example, children play with vigour and energy, and experience all weather conditions in the outdoor play area. Police officers visit the playgroup and teach children about different occupations. Children take part in regular outings to learn about their community and the world around them. For example, children visit the local rest home and shops. Staff provide gentle reminders to children of expectations and promote sharing and taking turns. Children behave very well and enjoy inviting others to join them in their play.

p.2

need to do better?

n Children arrive with enthusiasm and are provided with a warm welcome from the friendly staff. They make friends easily and form secure attachments with their key person and other staff members. Children are excited and motivated to play, explore and learn. n Staff promote children's mathematics skills well. For example, they support children to match balls and beanbags to the corresponding coloured hoops. Children hold up their fingers as they count to five and recognize the shapes of everyday objects, such as plates. n Children play with imagination and creativity. They pretend to feed dolls and design their own creations as they make shapes using the magnetic construction toys. Children make patterns with their shoes as they stamp the soap suds and use brooms to make pretend snow. n Staff share ideas with parents for activities about what children need to learn next, to continue learning at home. Staff seek early support, when needed, to

p.2

need to do better?

help to close any gaps in children's learning and development. Parents say that their children are making amazing progress. They say that children develop good language skills and learn to put on their own coats and shoes, ready for school. n The quality of teaching is consistently good. However, newer staff have not yet fully benefited from highly focused training, monitoring and supervision to raise their skills and the quality of teaching to the highest level.

p.2

need to do better?

26 November 2019 n Staff recognise the different ways that children learn. For example, they provide activities for children who enjoy filling and emptying, and challenge children to pour the water into different vessels. However, staff do not rigorously evaluate the planning of the environment to maximise purposeful and exciting opportunities to support children's learning. n Children enjoy plenty of opportunities to develop their listening, language and literacy skills. They use puppets to re-tell stories, join in action songs and rhymes and learn to write their own name. Additional funding is used well. For example, children thoroughly enjoy using the karaoke machine to sing favourite songs. This helps to build their confidence and self-esteem. n The manager and staff have high expectations for children's behaviour. They support children to help manage their own feelings and emotions, within a nurturing and friendly environment. Children show high levels of confidence and

p.2

need to do better?

self-assurance and they settle in very well. n Children develop good independence and self-care skills. They learn the reasons for washing their hands and are confident to serve themselves their snacks. Staff provide parents with ideas for nourishing lunchboxes and children are beginning to understand how to make healthy choices.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

Staff make children's safety and welfare a priority. They have robust knowledge and understanding of their roles in safeguarding children. Staff know the procedures to follow should they be worried that a child is being abused. They understand wider safeguarding issues, including the 'Prevent' duty. Staff teach children to learn how to keep themselves safe. For example, during imaginative play, children use oven gloves when they take the cake out of the oven. They use the knives with care as they spread butter onto their crumpets. Children know to walk up and down the stairs in single file, while holding on to the bannisters.

p.3

should:

n build on existing good performance management, teaching and supervision arrangements for new staff, to help raise the quality of teaching and learning to the highest level n review the environment so that children can choose from a variety of purposeful, exciting and challenging experiences to promote all areas of learning at the highest possible level.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number 309477 Local authority Blackpool Inspection number 10106704 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 30 Number of children on roll 16

p.4

Name of registered person

St Marys Pre School Playgroup (Blackpool) Committee

p.4

reference number

Telephone number 01253 403 707 and 07718 072 582 Date of previous inspection 16 October 2015

p.4

Information about this early years setting

St Mary's Pre-School registered in 1967. The playgroup employs five members of childcare staff. Of these, all hold appropriate early years qualifications to at least level 3, including one staff member who holds a qualification at level 6. The playgroup opens during term time only. Sessions are Monday to Friday from 8.30am until 3pm, except for Thursdays, when the opening hours are from 8.30am until midday. The playgroup provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

p.4

Inspection activities

n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors and evaluated the impact this has on children's learning. n The manager completed a tour of the setting and joint observations with the inspector. n The inspector held meetings with the manager. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the playgroup. n The inspector took into account the views of parents, including those of parents who were spoken to on the day. n The inspector spoke with staff and children during the inspection.

p.5

Inspection activities

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.

p.5

Inspection activities

26 November 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.

p.5

Inspection activities

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.6

Inspection activities

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.6

Inspection activities

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.6

Inspection activities

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.6