Tas Valley Preschool And Playgroup

Inspection of Tas Valley Preschool And Playgroup Village Hall, Grove Lane, Tasburgh, Norwich, Norfolk NR15 1LR

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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 Not applicable

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The provision is good

Children really look forward to their time at the welcoming pre-school. They benefit from caring staff who know their needs very well. This is because staff spend lots of time getting to know children's families, regularly offering help, advice and support. Many children spent more time at home due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. Despite this, children happily say goodbye to their parents and carers, chatting with confidence to their key person. Their good behaviour shows they feel safe and well cared for. Children benefit from freedom to move, run and play. They whizz around the pre-school garden on balance bicycles and run steadily as they push along their dolls in buggies. Children have many opportunities to make choices as they play and make suggestions for activities. They show confidence as staff follow and value their ideas.

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The provision is good

Children are active learners. Outdoors, they work together in the pretend kitchen, mixing sand with mud to create 'chocolate pancakes'. Children enjoy many opportunities to snuggle up with their key person, sharing a favourite story together. They quickly learn phrases from books. Children create pretend telescopes with their hands. They excitedly look through their 'telescope' to spot the 'shark' hiding in the book. Children look carefully at a wormery. They spot bugs outside and use books to find out more about them.

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need to do better?

n Staff study for additional qualifications to continue to develop their knowledge of child development. They understand how children learn. As staff play with children, they notice what they are interested in and use this to guide children's learning. Children respond well to this and involve staff in their play. n Parents praise staff and say how much they appreciate the high levels of support they receive. Staff stayed in close contact with children and their families during the COVID-19 lockdowns. They spoke to families regularly and provided lots of ideas of how parents could help children learn at home. Staff offer parents valuable guidance on how to help children with healthy eating and toilet training. n Staff swiftly notice when a child may need extra support. They assess children's development and identify gaps in their learning. The knowledgeable special educational needs and disabilities coordinator plans activities to support

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need to do better?

individual children. Staff know how to seek advice from other agencies. Early years pupil premium funding is spent well to enhance individual children's development. n Staff introduce children to lots of mathematical words, such as 'full' and 'empty', as they work together to make play dough. They offer clear explanations to help children understand how things work. Children, including those for whom the pre-school receives additional funding, are enthusiastic and curious learners.

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need to do better?

21 June 2021 n The manager and her supportive staff have researched different approaches to early years education. With guidance from the local authority, they have changed the way they plan for children's learning and arrange the pre-school environment. However, the manager has not fully considered how she will evaluate the impact that these changes have on children's development. n The manager is proactive in creating an ethos of respect, making sure that all children and families are equally valued. Staff help children to understand how their behaviour may affect another child. They point out pictures of facial expressions to help children develop an understanding of feelings. n Parents have noticed how much more independent their children are since going to pre-school. They say that their children are keen to try and help themselves at home. At pre-school, children get involved in daily routines. They help

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need to do better?

prepare food for snack time and work together to tidy away toys. n Staff help children to be ready for school. They work with the local primary school teacher to share information about children's individual needs. Staff recognise that some children need more help with listening carefully and learning about the sounds they hear. However, staff have not fully considered how they will help all children build up their knowledge of these skills, step by step.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager, staff and chair of the committee have a detailed understanding of their responsibilities to safeguard children. Staff regularly attend safeguarding training to keep up to date. They have detailed policies in place to help them seek advice or report concerns about children's welfare. The manager speaks passionately about her role in helping to keep children safe from harm. She works closely with parents to help them provide supportive environments for their children. The manager and staff keep up to date with wider safeguarding issues. They understand how children can be affected by domestic violence or radical ideas.

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should:

n evaluate the impact of the changes to the learning environment and staff interactions on children's learning and development n focus more precisely on helping children to listen carefully and learn about the sounds they hear, building on their existing skills and knowledge.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2500616 Local authority Norfolk Inspection number 10194503 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

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

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inspection

Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 23 Name of registered person Tas Valley Preschool And Playgroup CIO

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reference number

Telephone number 07856 370408 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Tas Valley Preschool And Playgroup re-registered as a charitable incorporated organisation in 2018. It is run by a committee of trustees. The pre-school is open on Monday and Tuesday from 9am to 3pm. On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday it is open from 9am to midday. There are three permanent members of staff and two bank staff. The manager holds a level 5 qualification. One member of staff holds a level 4 qualification, and one member of staff holds a level 2. The setting provides funded education places for children who are two, three and four years old.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the provider received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The manager and the inspector talked about how staff plan for children's learning. They discussed what staff want children to know and do. n The inspector observed activities and discussed these with the manager. She spoke to staff about their roles. n The inspector met with the chair of the committee to discuss her role and responsibilities. She looked at evidence of staff suitability checks. n The inspector spoke with parents to obtain 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

21 June 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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