Whitney Crocodiles Pre-School

Inspection of Whitney Crocodiles Pre- School The Village Hall, Whitney-on-Wye, Hereford, Herefordshire HR3 6EG

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

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

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The provision is outstanding

Staff provide a safe, inviting space and on arrival children easily settle and show high levels of interest in their chosen activities. The routine provides excellent opportunities for children to work in groups and take on extra responsibility and lead. During circle time, children show excellent listening and attention skills and are extremely vocal and animated as they share their experiences. Staff are extremely skilled at motivating even the youngest children and those who struggle with their speaking skills to join in conversations. The daily routine is used exceptionally well to teach children to count and calculate and recognise letters and the sounds they make. For example, children show a very keen interest in recognising their name cards, and count and consider if there are more boys than girls. Staff have an exceptional knowledge of what they teach and make learning fun and exciting. For example, outdoors, children are extremely attentive as they

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The provision is outstanding

look at photographs of flowers and learn the names and identify their features. Children confidently talk about their experiences of gardening, flowers and the weather. Children thoroughly enjoy learning and are highly motivated during all activities. For example, children skilfully use willow to create a circle and weave string to make their creations. Children's behaviour is exemplary and even the youngest children respond extremely well to instructions. Children interact exceptionally well with each other and cooperate and negotiate as they play.

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need to do better?

n This small team shares the manager's ambitious vision of providing high-quality education and care to all children. Staff deliver a curriculum which is child- centred and mainly designed around children gaining knowledge and skills through the outdoor environment, as they explore and create. n Staff have the highest expectations of children and place an excellent focus on providing a wealth of resources for children to cut, combine and assemble. Children easily follow instructions as they create models and use tools to make large-scale items, such as a rope ladder, hammock and kites. n Staff provide exceptional opportunities for children to discover and connect to the natural world through the outdoors and the forest school sessions. Children gain an in-depth understanding about the changing seasons and how to care for their environment. For example, children actively sort and recycle waste, such as

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need to do better?

their leftover food, old clothes, plastic and garden waste. n The outstanding outcomes are clearly attributed to the highly effective deployment of skilled staff. They swiftly identify any children who may benefit from additional support and use excellent strategies and interventions to close gaps in their learning. For example, staff place a very sharp focus on helping children increase their communication and language skills and manage their feelings and behaviour.

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need to do better?

10 March 2020 n The small nature of the nursery results in staff forming extremely close relationships with all children and their families. Staff are relentless in ensuring they offer an inclusive approach and every child's unique home background is considered when delivering their educational programme. For example, parents are heavily consulted about their child's preferred learning style and this information is used exceptionally well to motivate children. n Promoting children's physical development is at the centre of the educational programme. The highly knowledgeable staff provide an inspiring range of activities to build children's core strength and to strengthen their arm and hand muscles. Staff help children develop high levels of resilience as they encourage and support them to be physical indoors and outdoors. They work extremely closely with parents on issues such as providing healthy lunch boxes, sleep

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need to do better?

routines and behaviour management, to promote children's well-being. n Staff skilfully provide an excellent range of controlled high-risk activities and help children learn to identify hazards and how to keep safe. For example, children use a range of tools as they cut and join wood, rope and string. They help fetch wood and cook food on the fire and learn about the rules in place to keep them safe. Children thoroughly enjoy the adventures, such as climbing trees and fences, making dens and creating and using mud slides. n The highly experienced and proactive manager works alongside the staff team and provides incisive support and coaching to ensure teaching is of the highest standard. The manager speaks extremely highly of the committee and the continued support she and her team receive to help maintain their well-being and the excellent practice.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff have an excellent understanding of child protection issues and the procedures to follow to safeguard children. There are stringent systems in place to ensure staff and committee members are suitable to work with children. Children's safety is given the utmost priority. For example, meticulous risk assessments are carried on all high-risk activities and each child assessed to ensure they are emotionally and developmentally ready to take part. The manager robustly monitors any accidents that occur and ensures continued risk assessments are carried out to keep risk to an absolute minimum. The high ratio of staff to children results in children being supervised extremely well at all times.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 223613 Local authority Herefordshire Inspection number 10116365 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Sessional day care

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inspection

Total number of places 26 Number of children on roll 18 Name of registered person Whitney-On-Wye Playgroup Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 01497 831121 Date of previous inspection 18 July 2013

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Information about this early years setting

Whitney Crocodiles Pre-School opened in 1974. It operates from the village hall in Whitney-on-Wye, Herefordshire, and is managed by a committee. The pre-school opens Monday to Thursday, term time only and sessions are from 9am until 3pm. The pre-school provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. The pre-school employs three members of childcare staff. Of these, one holds an early years qualification at level 5 and two hold qualifications at level 3.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector spoke with staff and children during the inspection. n The inspector completed a joint observation with the pre-school manager. n The inspector held a meeting with the pre-school manager. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the pre-school. n The inspector spoke to parents and took their views into account.

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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

10 March 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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