The Secret Garden Pre-School (Attenborough)

Inspection of The Secret Garden Pre- School (Attenborough) The Strand, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire NG9 6AU

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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

There is a buzz of excitement as children confidently move around their playroom choosing their play. Children demonstrate they feel safe and secure. They eagerly explore the wide range of exciting opportunities, which help them make good progress in their learning. Children relish playing outside and develop a sense of wonder. They squirt squeezy bottles, paint on large pieces of paper, make potions and stir 'witch's soup'. This ignites children's imagination and also helps to develop their small-muscle skills in readiness for early writing.

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The provision is good

Children build good relationships with staff and each other. They have positive attitudes and behave well. For example, children wait patiently for their turn to play hopscotch. They smile and laugh, and they benefit from the praise staff give them. This helps children to develop their self-esteem and encourages them to have another go.

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The provision is good

Children are developing good skills for their future. They concentrate and listen attentively during group activities. This is evident as they enthusiastically play games such as 'walk the plank'. Here children learn to recognise letter sounds and pronounce them correctly, and staff extend this to support children to blend the sounds together. Children move a toy pirate along the plank every time they say a letter sound correctly. They scream with delight as the pirate falls into the water, showing their enjoyment of the activity.

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need to do better?

n The management team is strong and reflective. Managers provide a curriculum that takes into consideration children's individual needs. Children access a varied and rich curriculum, which builds on their interests and what they already know and can do. Staff let children take the lead in their learning and plan activities to help children achieve their next steps. n Staff put time and effort into ensuring that all the children are nurtured. Staff support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who speak English as an additional language effectively to help them make good progress. The special educational needs coordinator does their best to secure additional support and funding for these children. n Staff support children's communication and language development well. They talk face to face with children, making eye contact. They ask relevant questions and introduce them to new words, such as 'absorb', 'soak' and 'nectar' as they

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need to do better?

talk about the bees in the garden. n Staff interact with children in positive ways overall and join in with their play. However, some staff miss opportunities to extend children's learning so that they can develop their thinking and knowledge. For example, children find a

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need to do better?

13 July 2021 snail among the flowers. Staff start a conversation about the snail's shell. They do not extend the conversation to talk in more depth, for example, about what snails eat or how they move. n Staff are not deployed effectively to support children as the routine changes. For example, at lunchtime, children sit around for long periods and become distracted and unsettled. n Partnership with parents is a strength. Parents state that they feel staff are approachable and they receive a variety of information about their children's day and progress. For instance, they constantly talk to their child's key person and receive emails regarding any changes to the pre-school routine. n Staff find out information about children from their parents when they first start attending the pre-school. They enquire about the experiences children have at home and extend these to aid future learning. For example, children have the

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need to do better?

opportunity to have tennis lessons to help develop and extend their physical skills. They also go for walks to the local nature reserve. n Staff promote positive behaviour and care practices are good. Children eat a variety of healthy foods. Staff follow hygiene practices consistently to promote children's good health. The management team intends for children to become independent and self-motivated. Staff encourage children to do things they are capable of, for example putting on their shoes, going to the bathroom themselves and helping to tidy toys away. n Staff take part in regular training to support their professional development. For example, they recently attended a course to help develop children's awareness of their senses. Staff learned how to use sensory resources to help children relax and increase their concentration levels.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Managers and staff have a good understanding of their responsibilities to report concerns about a child's welfare. They know the procedure to follow if an allegation is made about a colleague. They complete regular safeguarding training, including the 'Prevent' duty. The management team implements a robust recruitment, induction and supervision process to ensure that staff are suitable to work with children. Staff vigilantly carry out risk assessments to ensure that risks to children are minimised. For example, they are mindful to ensure the children walk carefully and safely on the path to their tennis session.

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should:

n develop staff's interactions with children so that they utilise all opportunities to extend children's thinking skills and deepen their knowledge

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should:

13 July 2021 n review the deployment of staff during changes in routine, to minimise the time children sit without being occupied, particularly during lunchtime.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY556296 Local authority Nottinghamshire County Council Inspection number 10174850 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 26 Number of children on roll 52 Name of registered person Secret Garden Childcare Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01159225723 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

The Secret Garden Pre-School (Attenborough) registered in 2018 and is located in Attenborough, Nottinghamshire. The pre-school is open from Monday to Friday all year round, except for bank holidays and a week at Christmas. Sessions are from 7.30am to 6pm. The pre-school employs 12 members of childcare staff. Of these, one member of staff holds a foundation degree in early years and 10 hold relevant early years qualifications at levels 3 and 4. The pre-school receives funding for the provision of free early education to children aged two, three and four years.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the provider received since the COVID–19 (coronavirus) 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 inspector completed a learning walk with one of the managers and discussed how they organise and implement the curriculum. n The inspector and one of the managers took part in a joint observation. The inspector considered the quality of education during activities and the impact this had on children's learning. n The inspector spoke with the managers, staff and the children at appropriate times throughout the inspection. n The inspector took account of the views of parents through talking to them by telephone. n The inspector had a discussion with the managers and owner about staff training and how they evaluate their practice. The inspector also discussed their

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Inspection activities

future plans for the pre-school. n The inspector reviewed relevant documents, including the staff's paediatric first- aid qualifications and evidence of the suitability of the staff.

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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

13 July 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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