Bledlow Pre-School

Inspection of Bledlow Pre-School Bledlow Village Hall, Bledlow, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire HP27 9QF

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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 are happy and confident. They settle well and separate from their parents positively in this nurturing and exciting pre-school. Children thrive due to staff's high expectations for their learning and personal development. Staff plan an ambitious and carefully sequenced curriculum. Children learn through a balance of adult-led activities and child-initiated play. As a result, all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, make good progress. They are also ready for what comes next in their learning.

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The provision is good

Children are curious and excited to learn. For instance, they are eager to explore the animals frozen in ice. They carefully use tools to free them and then talk about their discoveries and how the ice feels. Children behave extremely well. Staff support them to take turns and negotiate with their friends as they play. They also remind children of the expectations and reasons for good behaviour, such as the need to walk inside to remain safe. Children develop positive independence skills and can do things for themselves. They learn to manage their own hygiene in order to promote their good health. Staff help children to thoroughly wash their hands, blow their noses and throw away the tissues. Children understand that this is to minimise the risk of germs.

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need to do better?

n Leadership and management is strong. The manager and committee work hard to make improvements in the setting. This helps them to develop an understanding of their different roles and responsibilities. The manager has sought effective support from the local authority team to ensure she is able to provide a high-quality provision. This helps them to meet children's needs and support their well-being effectively. n Overall, staff promote children's communication skills well. They always speak clearly and pronounce new words carefully. Staff use a range of strategies, such as modelling language, to support children's pronunciation and speech. However, when staff ask children questions, they do not always give them time to think and respond. At times, they are too quick to provide an answer themselves or move on. This does not ensure that children have time to process new information and strengthen their knowledge.

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need to do better?

n Staff know the children well. They gather a range of information from parents before children start. This supports them to consider children's needs and interests when they plan learning opportunities. Staff provide whole-group activities for children to participate in. Older children show focus and engage well at these times. However, some of the younger children struggle to concentrate and remain fully engaged. As a result, they begin to show a little frustration.

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need to do better?

26 January 2022 n Children's early mathematics skills are developing well. They can recognise numerals throughout the environment. Staff support children to learn the names of the numbers and to start counting effectively as they play. For instance, they count their friends when they arrive and the dots on dice in small groups. Children also use tape measures to determine how tall the towers are that they have made. n Children learn about the world around them, linked to their interests and experiences at home. For example, staff plan an activity related to construction and building houses. Children extend their learning from the story of the 'Three Little Pigs' when considering how to build their own structures. n Parents say that the staff at the setting support them and their children well. Staff keep parents informed about children's learning and progress. Parents share their delight that staff use interventions to support children who need a

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need to do better?

little more help. Staff encourage children to develop a love of books and reading. This means children are keen to share their favourite stories, songs and rhymes with their families at home. n Children learn about healthy choices and lifestyles. They have the opportunity to be physical and delight in being able to explore the large garden. Children use their feet to propel bikes and they understand the need to wear a helmet to keep themselves safe. Staff provide resources, such as books and models, to help children understand about good oral health. Additionally, this supports children to view visiting the dentist as a positive experience.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager and staff team have a secure knowledge of child protection matters and understand how to keep children safe. They use regular training to keep themselves up to date, and can accurately identify the possible signs that a child may be at risk of harm. Staff understand the procedures to follow if they have concerns about a child. This includes wider safeguarding issues, such as radicalisation and county lines. Staff maintain a safe and secure environment for children, through suitable risk assessments of the provision. The manager and committee follow effective recruitment procedures to ensure those working with children are suitable to do so.

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should:

n ensure staff continually give children enough time to think and respond to any questions they ask, to allow them to develop their thoughts and ideas further n review and strengthen the organisation of large-group times so that all children remain fully focused and engaged.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 140865 Local authority Buckinghamshire Inspection number 10210003 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 23 Name of registered person Bledlow Pre-School Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 01844273588 Date of previous inspection 25 January 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Bledlow Pre-School registered in 1997 and is situated in Bledlow, Buckinghamshire. It is managed by a committee. The pre-school employs four members of staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 and above, , including one who is qualified to level 4. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday during term time only. Sessions are from 9.15am until 2.15pm, except on a Friday when it closes at 12.15pm. 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 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 completed a learning walk together of all areas of the pre-school and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation of a planned activity. n The manager and the inspector discussed how the curriculum had been implemented and the impact that this had on children's learning. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector.

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Inspection activities

n The manager provided the inspector with a sample of key documentation on request.

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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

26 January 2022 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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