Waterloo Road Community Pre-School

Inspection of Waterloo Road Community Pre-School Methodist church, Waterloo Road, Wellington, Somerset TA21 8JQ

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Outstanding

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The provision is good

Children are happy and emotionally secure in the nurturing environment at the pre- school. They are seen to fling themselves at their key person for hugs on arrival and are received with the same enthusiasm. Children arrive ready to take part in their morning 'wake and shake' and then are eager to explore and start learning.

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The provision is good

Children listen well in whole-group activities, such as story time, and learn to respect others' choices. For example, they vote on a choice of two books to read and staff sensitively support those who are disappointed with the outcome. Staff use every opportunity to encourage children to think of solutions to problems for themselves, which promotes their critical thinking successfully. Staff give children options and help them to discover what they want to know. For example, children find out if they can go down the slide quicker with or without sitting on a towel.

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The provision is good

Parents no longer enter the premises as they did before the COVID-19 pandemic. However, they confirm that their children settle quicker, and they share good information with staff to work together successfully, supporting children's care and development. Parents take books home to share with their children and comment that they have grown in confidence and independence since joining the pre-school.

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need to do better?

n Staff seek good information to know what children can do when they first start and make ongoing observations to know what they need to learn next. The pre- school does not have its own premises, and staff need to set up and pack away daily. They plan an inviting environment, indoors and outdoors, where children access a wide range of open-ended resources. This enables children to make choices, lead and extend their own ideas, and learn according to their individual preferences. n The manager has a strong ambition for each child's learning and development. She coaches staff to implement her ambitious curriculum, focusing on children becoming independent learners. Children are confident communicators. Staff use good questioning techniques to challenge children's thinking and extend their language skills. However, on occasions, some staff do not use the opportunities available to extend and challenge children's understanding of volume, numbers

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need to do better?

and shape. n Staff plan good activities to help children remember their learning. For example, everyday children have good opportunities to do cooking. Staff patiently enable children to manage tasks for themselves until they can make cakes independently. Even the youngest children learn to crack an egg and learn the order in which they need to add the ingredients. Staff extend older children's learning well, for example by discussing the parts of an egg and what they look

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need to do better?

14 February 2022 like when cooked in different ways. Children are later seen to practise their learning in their role play. n Children develop excellent skills as they become highly independent. For example, when they want a snack, they immediately go and wash their hands. They then select the equipment they need to prepare their chosen snack. Children pour their drinks, and safely use knives to cut up fruit and vegetables, and to butter crackers. When they are finished, they clear their place and wash up. Children behave extremely well and demonstrate high respect for their environment, their own uniqueness, and each other's differences. n Children are highly motivated to learn. Staff skilfully use children's emerging interests to focus their concentration fully and engage them successfully in their learning. For example, children use play dough and cutters to make bears. Staff use this to help them recall the story of Goldilocks and Three Bears. Children

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need to do better?

become engrossed in making the items from the story and even the youngest children persevere and are delighted with their achievements. n The manager leads a strong team, who share her ambition to provide a high- quality provision and help children to do the best they can. They work together seamlessly to meet children's individual care and learning needs. Staff implement their training effectively to benefit the children. For example, they use emotional coaching to very successfully enable children to manage their feelings and consider others. The pre-school has positive partnerships with parents and outside agencies, ensuring all children receive the support they need to prepare them well for school.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager and staff all receive regular training in all aspects of safeguarding children. They have a good understanding of their responsibilities and know what to do if they are concerned about a child's welfare and the procedures to follow to protect children from risk of harm. Staff carry out daily risk assessments and take effective action to keep children safe. The high ratios ensure good supervision for children, and staff support children well in managing risks for themselves, for example by ensuring the constructions they create for balancing are secure.

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should:

n focus staff supervision on helping them to gain a better understanding of how to fully support children's mathematical development.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 143058 Local authority Somerset Inspection number 10125942 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 26 Number of children on roll 23

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Name of registered person

Waterloo Road Community Pre School Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 01823 661676 Date of previous inspection 6 March 2015

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Information about this early years setting

Waterloo Road Community Pre-School registered in 1992 and is run by a parent committee. It operates from the Methodist Church hall in Wellington, Somerset. The pre-school is open on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 8.30am to 3.45pm, and on Tuesday from 12.45pm to 3.45pm, during term time only. There are nine members of staff. Of these, one holds an early years qualification at level 5, two hold an appropriate qualification at level 3, and four hold level 2.

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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 led the inspector on a learning walk around the pre-school and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector observed activities and the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's development. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation of a planned activity indoors. n The inspector spoke with several parents and children and took account of 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

14 February 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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