High Wych Pre-School Nursery

Inspection of High Wych Pre-School Nursery The Bullfields Centre, Cutforth Road, Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire CM21 9EA

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Overall effectiveness Good

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

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The provision is good

Children enjoy their time in the pre-school. They embrace opportunities to immerse themselves in imaginary play. Children climb into a box to protect themselves from a 'sea monster' wriggling on the floor. Other children search for jungle animals and bugs using magnifying glasses. Throughout their explorations and games, children expand their developing vocabularies. Staff introduce new words and phrases, encouraging children to embellish their own sentences.

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The provision is good

Older children benefit from dedicated adult-led activities that help strengthen their skills in preparation for school. For example, they create repetitive patterns using wooden shapes, helping to strengthen their mathematical development. Children's positive attitudes shine through. They show concern when younger children seem upset, offering to sit and play with them.

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The provision is good

Children behave exceptionally well. They respect and follow the clear guidelines set by staff and enthusiastically explain to visitors the reasons why rules are made. Children demonstrate they recognise some risks and are beginning to learn how to keep themselves safe. They explain that when they visit a neighbouring field they must wear a reflective vest. Children say they must only talk to other children or adults wearing the same colour and style of jacket. Children understand that they can trust people they recognise from pre-school to help to keep them safe.

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need to do better?

n The manager and staff make continual improvements to the quality of care and education they provide. They value the feedback they receive from parents, children and other professionals, helping them identify areas to review. The manager sets action plans and staff contribute ideas of how they can make changes that benefit the children. n The key-person system is effective. Staff work very closely with parents to find out what children can already do and understand. Regular conversations with parents help staff gather information about the progress children make at home. This helps staff make accurate judgements about children's development, allowing them to build on the achievements and understanding children have gained. n The manager allocates effectively the additional funding some children receive. This helps them develop the essential attitudes, skills and understanding they will need in their future education through new and memorable activities.

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need to do better?

n Children's emotional well-being is prioritised by the sensitive and caring staff. Bespoke arrangements are made to help children settle in to the pre-school when they first start to attend. For example, some children may be dropped off or collected before others, helping to reduce children's anxieties.

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need to do better?

22 January 2020 n Children enjoy their time outside. They enthusiastically sing songs on their daily 'wakey walk' in a neighbouring field. Staff adapt the walk, introducing listening skills and opportunities to find out about the plants that grow there. Children giggle while running on the grass and playing jumping games. n The manager and committee work hard to ensure that staff are happy and feel supported in their work. Regular chats, supervision and time set aside for staff to plan, reflect and complete administrative tasks are effective. n The manager ensures the well-qualified staff continue to expand their already excellent knowledge and understanding of how to teach and support children. Staff share new information and ideas they gather through training and reading professional publications with the team, helping to strengthen the quality of education for all children. n The manager sets rotas to help ensure all tasks are completed. For example,

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need to do better?

staff take turns to check the outside area is safe for children to access and that the daily register is maintained. n The hall is a welcoming and bright environment for children. Staff find creative ways to use portable, low dividing screens to provide areas for children to focus on quieter activities, spaces to relax and spaces for more physical activities. They display posters and pictures on the screens to help support children's awareness of letters, numbers, emotions and routines. n Staff make plans that focus on children's progress. They add challenges to help children build on what they already know. They generally use questions to spark children's curiosity and desire to have a go. However, for short periods and at certain times of the day, staff interrupt children's experiments and explorations to join more routine, and less stimulating, activities.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff have a good knowledge and understanding of how to identify and report concerns about children's safety and well-being. They know who they need to speak to and know where to find the contact details of appropriate agencies. Members of the management committee follow robust recruitment procedures they have put in place to help ensure that all staff and volunteers are suitable to work in the pre-school. The manager and staff continually review the possible risks when they take children to public spaces, such as the park and library.

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should:

n review and adapt daily activities to maximise the time children have to expand their knowledge through even more exciting, memorable and meaningful activities.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY426856 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10127405 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 28 Number of children on roll 64 Name of registered person High Wych Pre-School Nursery Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 07792612585 Date of previous inspection 4 May 2016

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Information about this early years setting

High Wych Pre-School Nursery registered at new premises in 2011 but has been in operation for 44 years. The pre-school employs 14 members of childcare staff. Of these, 10 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above, including one with qualified teacher status. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday during term time. Sessions are from 8.50am until 11.50am and midday until 3pm, with the option for children to attend from 9am until 3pm. The pre-school provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector observed inside and outside activities. She spoke to staff and children at appropriate times throughout the inspection. n The manager explained how and why different equipment and activities are used in the pre-school. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager. n The inspector held meetings with the manager and two members of the management committee. She looked at a range of documents, including action plans and children's records of attendance. n Staff described children's progress and future plans for activities to help support children's continued education. n The inspector spoke to a small number of parents and took their views into consideration.

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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.

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Inspection activities

22 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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