Ford Pre-School

Inspection of Ford Pre-School Hugh Joicey Church of England First School, Ford, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland TD15 2QA

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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 are happy and settled at this friendly and welcoming pre-school. There is a strong focus on their well-being. For example, children learn about healthy eating as they grow their own fruit and vegetables in the large, enclosed garden. Children plant, water and harvest potatoes before helping to cook them in various ways. They help bake crumbles and press juice from fruit from the pre-school's apple trees. Children make a list of ingredients they need and visit the shops with staff to buy them. There is a strong focus on taking turns and playing cooperatively together. Expectations of children are high and their behaviour is good. Strong bonds with staff help children feel emotionally secure. They are praised by staff for their achievements. This helps develop their confidence and self-esteem.

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The provision is good

Children are encouraged to make their own choices. For example, they choose between different fruits at snack time and decide which toys they would like to play with next. Children benefit from daily fresh air and exercise. Support for their physical development is strong. Children strengthen their muscles to prepare them for later tasks, such as early writing. They balance and stretch on monkey bars and use a climbing wall. Children paint and make marks with large chalks. This helps develop their smaller movements and coordination.

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need to do better?

n Staff have lovely relationships with the children in their care. They are caring, calm and kind. Staff know the children individually very well. They have a good overall knowledge of child development and the milestones they want children to reach. There is good support for children to become increasingly independent. For example, they are encouraged to put their own bags away and wash their hands when pre-school starts. n Children learn from a rich set of experiences across all areas of learning. Overall, support for children's developing communication and language skills is good. For example, children learn words and phrases as they listen to stories and take part in singing and rhymes. However, staff have not fully considered how group times can be used more effectively to support younger children's speaking and listening skills. n Support for children's mathematical development is strong. Children learn about

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need to do better?

colour and number through play and general opportunities throughout the day. For example, they identify the colours of paint and count shells and bottle tops as they sort them into different containers. Children learn mathematical concepts, such as pairs, as they search for socks hidden in the woods by staff as part of a treasure hunt. They compare the lengths of lines they have drawn with coloured chalks. Children are motivated, enthusiastic and willing to have a go. n Support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities is good.

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need to do better?

11 November 2021 The pre-school works well in partnership with parents and partner professionals. Parents speak highly of the setting and the care their children receive. The pre- school has formed very strong relationships with the local school. Children are invited to take part in school lunchtimes and walks in the school grounds before they start at school. This helps provide a smooth move for all children to the next stage in their learning. n Children learn about nurture and the importance of looking after the natural world around them. They are encouraged to study nature and seasons over time. There is a strong focus on children learning through their senses. For example, they smell bluebells in the pre-school woodland and observe how sunflowers grow. Staff encourage children's imaginative play. For example, they speak to children on pretend telephones and sit patiently while the children bandage them in the pretend doctor's surgery.

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need to do better?

n The manager is dedicated and wants the best for the children and families in her care. The manager and staff team are well qualified and experienced. The manager is a strong leader and supportive of her staff team. Staff are good role models. They are respectful and work well together as a team. The manager and her staff evaluate the experiences for parents and children. They regularly update their knowledge and are dedicated to the continuous improvement of the setting.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff have a good awareness of how to keep children healthy and safe. For example, staff encourage them to wash their hands before mealtimes. They remind children of the safest way to travel down the slide and how to keep themselves safe when near the firepit during forest school activities. Managers and staff have a good understanding of their responsibilities around safeguarding. They know how to identify any concerns with children or staff, what procedures to take and who to contact. Managers and staff attend training to stay up to date with procedures to keep children safe.

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should:

n plan more effectively at group times to better support younger children's speaking and listening skills.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY269577 Local authority Northumberland Inspection number 10136831 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Sessional day care

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inspection

Total number of places 16 Number of children on roll 19 Name of registered person Ford Pre-School & Ford Toddlers Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 07899320510 Date of previous inspection 13 December 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Ford Pre-School registered in 2004. The pre-school employs six members of childcare staff. All staff hold appropriate early years qualifications, ranging from level 2 to level 6. The pre-school opens Monday to Friday from 8.45am until 3pm. The setting also provides out-of-school care. 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 manager and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the setting. n The manager discussed with the inspector how the setting organises and plans the curriculum and experiences for children. The inspector viewed the space inside the setting and outside in the woodland garden. n The inspector observed the quality of education during activities, and assessed the impact on children's learning. The manager and the inspector evaluated an activity together. n The inspector looked at a sample of the setting's documents. This included evidence of training and suitability of staff. n The inspector held discussions with the manager and staff. She spoke to parents to gather their views on the setting.

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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

11 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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