Owl Pre-School

Inspection of Owl Pre-School Shears Green Infant School, Packham Road, Northfleet, GRAVESEND, Kent DA11 7JF

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Overall effectiveness Good

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

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The provision is good

Children thoroughly enjoy their time at the pre-school. They are greeted with a friendly smile as they arrive, before quickly self-selecting from the fun, creative activities. Staff are sensitive to children's interests and follow their lead. Children focus for extended periods of time and become engrossed in activities that they have spontaneously developed. For example, children are highly motivated as they fly their own paper aeroplanes, each time trying hard to fly it further. Children show positive attitudes as they curiously explore dough. For instance, children watch carefully as their movements cause the dough to change shape.

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The provision is good

Children love music and movement sessions where they pretend to move like a Chinese dragon, smile with enjoyment as they explore the way a ribbon moves to music and keenly use pretend binoculars as they follow the words in a song. This supports children's good physical skills and enhances opportunities for children to use their imaginations.

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The provision is good

The managers are keen to provide a wide range of experiences and a rich curriculum. Staff incorporate mathematics well into their planned activities. For example, children successfully use a number line to measure and compare the heights of their constructions, and hold up the correct number of fingers to reflect the number of objects they have counted. Furthermore, children learn new mathematical language, such as 'taller' and 'longer', as staff support children to understand these concepts in play.

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need to do better?

n Managers are proactive in seeking the opinions of parents and review what they are doing to make ongoing improvements. As a result, they have adopted an electronic version of their policies to further improve parent access. They have also purchased all-in-one wet weather clothing for children so that they have even more time in the garden to enjoy the fresh air. n Staff have regular supervisions and yearly appraisals to effectively support their well-being and professional development. Managers further support staff through an effective buddy system and identification of their training needs. Recent training in creating a healthy food environment has enabled them to reflect on promoting healthy food choices for children. Staff who attend external training share their knowledge by giving presentations at staff meetings and introducing new ideas. n Staff create a multitude of opportunities that support children to develop their

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need to do better?

independence skills. As children arrive at the pre-school, all children effortlessly self-register, find a personal tray for their belongings and hang up their coats. Furthermore, children wash their hands, find a nursery coat to put on before

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need to do better?

23 January 2020 playing in the garden and use the toilet unaided. This helps to ensure children have the skills to succeed when they transfer to school. n Managers provide inclusive care and education very well. The staff and managers are remarkably committed to ensuring that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities receive the best possible support. They identify specific support children need and are proactive in working with a wide range of external agencies. They source different funding to purchase specialised equipment and provide specialist teachers. For instance, they have used funding to source a chair to enable a child to have greater access around the pre-school. n Staff know children remarkably well and plan activities effectively to support children's next steps and interests. Managers monitor children's development thoroughly, spotting gaps in children's learning, before quickly developing ideas

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need to do better?

to reduce these gaps for all children. For example, they support boys to develop the strength in their hands for early writing skills by using interesting activities, such as rolling cars in paint. n Staff support children's communication and language very well. They model sentences and offer a narrative as children play. Furthermore, they teach children new words, such as 'celebration', which enriches the words children know and use. However, staff do not always seek opportunities to encourage children to think of ideas and to critically think to the highest level. n Children demonstrate excellent behaviour. They play together harmoniously and show very good levels of respect for each other and the environment. For example, children work together to tidy away toys, listen intently to a story and negotiate when it is their chance to ride on the bicycle, through using a sand timer to help friends to understand when it is their go.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff can identify the possible signs of abuse and neglect. The managers and staff know local authority processes for referring any concerns they have about a child's welfare. Whistle-blowing procedures were fully understood. Robust recruitment and vetting arrangements are in place to ensure that those working with children are suitable. They have an effective induction process to support new staff to understand their role and responsibilities. Staff are well deployed, and they are vigilant in checking the pre-school to help keep children safe.

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should:

n explore further ways to support children to develop their critical thinking skills, offering higher levels of challenge.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 127430 Local authority Kent Inspection number 10128685 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Sessional day care Age range of children 2 to 4 Total number of places 29 Number of children on roll 54 Name of registered person The Owl Pre-School

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reference number

Telephone number 01474 331777 Date of previous inspection 10 November 2015

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Information about this early years setting

Owl Pre-School registered in 1976. It is situated in the grounds of Shears Green Infant School in Northfleet, Kent. The pre-school is open Monday to Friday from 8.45am to 11.45am and then from 12.30pm to 3.30pm. There are 13 members of staff, 11 of whom hold an appropriate level 3 early years qualification. The nursery receives funding for free early years education for children aged two, three and four years.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during indoor and outdoor activities and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n Discussions were held with the managers, staff and parents. n The inspector reviewed relevant statutory documentation, staff qualifications and policies used by the setting. n A joint observation was carried out by the inspector and one of the managers. n During a learning walk, the managers discussed with the inspector how the early years provision is organised and how they plan the curriculum and experiences for children.

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Inspection activities

23 January 2020 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

23 January 2020 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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