Little Birch Preschool

Inspection of Little Birch Preschool Blandford St. Mary C of E, Birch Avenue, Blandford St. Mary, BLANDFORD FORUM, Dorset DT11 9QD

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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 Good

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The provision is good

Children receive a very warm, nurturing, and friendly welcome when they arrive. They respond positively to staff and learn in a happy, and safe place. There is a wide range of activities available for the children, which motivates them to learn. For instance, younger children show good concentration as they use small and large cutters in dough and add sticks as candles for a birthday cake. Older children enjoy playing matching games. They read out shopping lists to their friends, who help to find the correct pictures to place onto their lists.

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The provision is good

Children are beginning to manage their own feelings and behaviours and are starting to understand how these have an impact on others. When children struggle with regulating their behaviour, staff support them. For example, staff encourage children to share and to be kind to their friends. Children are developing a sense of right and wrong.

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The provision is good

The manager maintains a safe, secure, and clean environment for the children. She has introduced new routines, due to the COVID-19) pandemic. This means that parents no longer come into the pre-school itself. Despite this, children are confident to leave their parents at the door. They know that they need to wash their hands at regular times during their day to support good hygiene practice.

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need to do better?

n Staff observe children and make accurate assessments of their development across the areas of learning. They provide activities around children's interests. However, sometimes, staff do not focus on what it is they want children to learn from these experiences. They work to very broad learning intentions, which are not linked precisely enough to what the children need to learn next. This means that children gain limited new knowledge from the activities. n Staff are aware of those children who speak English as an additional language. They make good use of information from parents to support children's understanding of English, alongside their own home language. Staff plan large- group times to engage and enable all children to fully participate. For instance, children decide which language to use to sing hello to each other at circle time. n Additional funding is used well to enhance and enrich children's experiences.

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need to do better?

Staff use additional funding to address gaps in children's learning. For example, staff introduce resources to children that focus on poems to extend children's language skills. n Staff quickly identify if children need additional support in their learning. They make timely referrals to outside professionals, such as for speech and language therapy. The most vulnerable children get the support they need. Staff work closely with parents and professionals involved to support children consistently.

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need to do better?

10 November 2021 n Children are becoming increasingly independent. For instance, staff support younger children to wash their hands and feed themselves independently. Older children learn the importance of tidying up and become independent at putting on and taking off their coats. This helps to prepare children well for their eventual move to school. n Children are developing a positive attitude to leading a healthy lifestyle. Staff discuss healthy eating with children during snack times and lunchtimes. Children enjoy healthy snacks, and parents provide a packed lunch for their children. Staff support parents in promoting healthy eating, further supporting children's knowledge of how to keep themselves healthy. n Children have plenty of opportunities to engage in physical exercise. They play in a large playground, located within the school grounds. Staff deliver activities to support children's physical abilities. For example, children work on their hula

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need to do better?

hoop technique or ride a scooter with care. n The manager is proactive and keen to drive improvement. However, systems for performance management do not provide the manager with in-depth evaluations of staff practice. Staff are not provided with the highly focused support that they need to help extend their teaching skills to the highest level. n Parents are very complimentary about the service on offer. They are fully involved in their children's learning. Parents appreciate the opportunities to discuss children's education, for instance through parent's evening. These successful partnerships help parents to support their children's learning at home.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff demonstrate a good understanding of their roles and responsibilities. They are aware of signs that may indicate a concern about a child's welfare and the appropriate action to take. There are regular training opportunities to support staff in their ongoing knowledge and understanding of child protection as well as wider safeguarding issues. For example, staff receive formal face-to-face training at least every three years and revisit various areas of safeguarding at every staff meeting. Clear recruitment and vetting procedures ensure that staff are suitable to work with children.

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should:

n communicate clearly with staff the learning intentions for children, to focus teaching more sharply on extending children's learning n monitor staff and evaluate their practice more precisely to build and extend their teaching skills to the highest level.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 141119 Local authority Dorset Inspection number 10213110 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 20 Number of children on roll 30 Name of registered person The Little Birch Pre-School Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 07929363291 Date of previous inspection 14 June 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Little Birch Preschool registered in 1998. It operates from a purpose-built unit situated in the grounds of Blandford St Mary Church of England Primary School in Blandford, Dorset. The pre-school is run by a parent committee and is open Monday to Friday, from 7.45am until 3.30pm, during school term times. The pre- school receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years. The committee employs six members of staff. Of these, two have qualified teacher status and four have an appropriate childcare qualification from level 3 to 5.

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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 this into account in their evaluation of the provision. n The manager completed a learning walk of the environment with the inspector and discussed how the staff plan to teach children. n The inspector observed children and staff taking part in activities and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. The inspector and the manager reflected on a learning experience for children. n Children spoke to the inspector about what they enjoy doing at the pre-school. n Parents shared their feedback and experiences of the setting with the inspector, through discussions and written comments. n Leadership and management meetings were held throughout the inspection, during which the inspector viewed relevant documentation. This included

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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 November 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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