Boomerang Pre-School

Inspection of Boomerang Pre-School Upsall Grove, Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland TS19 7QU

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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 Requires improvement

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The provision is good

Children enjoy their time at the pre-school. They have warm and affectionate attachments with staff. Children show that they feel emotionally secure. Staff know children well and provide a stimulating learning environment for them. They take time to work with parents to find out about children's interests and what children can do on entry. This helps staff to plan effectively. They build on what children already know and can do. Children excitedly take part in stimulating activities. Staff design these around children's interests, cultures and learning styles. For example, staff teach them about their world as they look carefully at a bird's nest that is in the eaves of the building. They enjoy activities, such as making chocolate birds' nests, and they learn about how we live.

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The provision is good

Children behave well. Since the last inspection, the manager and staff have reorganised the pre-school room to help manage children's behaviour. Staff have introduced areas with resources that children can explore with and use in their own way. This helps children to become engaged in their play and to use their imagination and stay focused. Staff join in with their play to challenge children's thinking and to develop their learning further.

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need to do better?

n During the COVID-19 pandemic, the setting closed during a period of national lockdown. When the children returned to pre-school, staff assessed children's learning to find out if there had been any delays in their development. Staff complete regular observations and assessments. They look at where the children are and what they need to learn next. The manager closely checks staff assessments and how they are used to ensure that all children make good progress. n Children are confident and independent learners. Staff provide engaging opportunities for children to practise their mark making. This leads to them developing early writing skills. For example, children enjoy making marks with felt-tip pens on the whiteboard in the garden. They use paint to make shapes and take equal enjoyment in marking things with water and brushes. This develops into children starting to form the letters in their name. n Communication and language are a strong focus in the pre-school. Staff talk to

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need to do better?

children during their activities. Children become confident speakers and are keen to share their past experiences. For example, children describe what ingredients they use to make perfume. Staff introduce new words to extend children's vocabulary. For instance, they name the drinks area the 'rehydration station'. n Staff are not as skilful in supporting children to develop their thinking skills. For instance, when staff ask children questions, they do not always give children time to think and make a response.

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need to do better?

25 May 2021 n Staff help children to understand how things grow through practical experiences. Children plant seeds both indoors and outdoors. They observe how the carrots, spring onions and radishes grow through the clear sides of the planter to understand the changes. Children enjoy making paintings of flowers they have observed. n Staff teach children about oral hygiene in fun and practical ways. For example, children learn how to clean their own teeth and they practise on large models of teeth. Staff talk to them about why they need to clean their teeth and what sugary drinks do to their teeth. n The dedicated and passionate manager shows a good commitment to the professional development of her team. She carries out regular staff meetings and supervisions with staff. These play an integral part in the development of the setting and how staff promote children's progression. n Parents praise the quality of care their children receive. They appreciate how the

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need to do better?

manager and staff have kept in touch during the pandemic. Staff use social media and private messaging to keep them informed about what is happening at the pre-school. Though parents do not enter the pre-school during the pandemic, staff discuss their children with them as they drop off and collect them. However, staff do not share what parents can do at home in order to extend children's learning and development.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Managers and staff complete regular safeguarding training. This helps them to understand their responsibilities. Staff know how to report concerns about a child's welfare or any inappropriate actions of adults working with children. They are aware of wider safeguarding concerns, such as the 'Prevent' duty. The manager and staff put in place effective procedures to make sure that children are cared for in a safe and secure environment. This includes robust recruitment, selection and induction procedures for new staff. Effective staff deployment means that children are well supervised and cared for.

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should:

n improve staff's skills in asking children questions to help them with their thinking and reasoning n extend partnership working with parents by sharing ideas regarding what they can do with their child to continue their learning and development at home.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY551907 Local authority Stockton-on-Tees Inspection number 10136008 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

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

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inspection

Total number of places 28 Number of children on roll 28

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Name of registered person

Holy Trinity/Rosehill Out of School Club Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 01642 570102 Date of previous inspection 11 December 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Boomerang Pre-School registered in 2017. The pre-school employs eight members of childcare staff. Of these, seven staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 and 3. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday during term time. Sessions are 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 This was the first routine inspection the setting received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the setting and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the setting. n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together and the inspector spoke to staff and children during the inspection. 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 manager and inspector completed a joint observation together and discussed the quality of practice that they both observed. n The inspector held a meeting with the manager. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the pre-school. n The inspector spoke to a number of parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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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

25 May 2021 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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