St. Marks Pre-School

Inspection of St. Marks Pre-School St. Marks Church Centre, St. Marks Road, WESTON-SUPER-MARE, Avon BS22 7PW

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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 settled at the pre-school. They share warm and close relationships with the staff and one another. They choose whether to play inside or outdoors and enjoy a wide range of learning experiences. Children excitedly join in as they sing songs and move around. They form a circle and take it in turns to jump like a 'jumping bean', while everyone claps their hands to encourage every child's involvement. This develops children's confidence and self-esteem.

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The provision is good

Staff have high expectations of the children and support them to make good progress. Children experience a well-planned curriculum, which motivates them successfully and encourages them to explore and investigate. They play well together, whether they are acting out different scenarios in the role-play area or exploring dinosaurs in the water play. Children's behaviour is good.

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The provision is good

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the setting only closed for a short while and then reopened for most children. Communication has remained good between the parents and staff throughout. Although parents do not currently come into the setting, staff greet each family individually at the door and share information with parents verbally and through an app. This helps parents to feel well informed about and involved in their child's learning.

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need to do better?

n Children behave well. They have a good understanding of right and wrong. Staff use effective strategies to encourage children to manage their behaviour for themselves. For example, staff support children to use a sand timer to help them negotiate with one another to share favourite resources, such as a wheelbarrow. n Children take part in a good variety of activities. They enjoy using a wide range of materials to create pictures. They skilfully use scissors to cut shapes out of paper. Staff sound out the letters in children's names as they label their pictures for themselves. However, children have less opportunity to count and use numbers, particularly in routine activities, such as snack time. n Staff use language well to extend most children's vocabulary. For example, they introduce words such as 'heavy' when children play catch with different-size balls. Most children are confident to talk about and share their ideas when

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need to do better?

engaged in spontaneous activities. However, staff do not do all that they can to encourage children to use their language when taking part in adult-led activities. n Partnerships with parents are good. Parents enjoy receiving regular updates about their child's progress and appreciate the good communication provided by staff. Staff recognise the importance of effective partnerships with parents and the positive impact this has on children's learning and well-being. n The manager and staff regularly reflect on the provision and their practice. They

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need to do better?

17 February 2022 seek out regular training opportunities and assess the quality of the provision to identify areas for development. They have introduced more opportunities for children to partake in messy play and creative activities. As a result, children use their imaginations more. n Children develop good independence skills in managing their personal care. Children help to cut fruit and pour milk or water from a jug into their cup at snack time. They dress for outside play with little support. Children learn a wide range of skills, which prepare them well for school and their future learning. n Children have good opportunities to develop their physical skills and excitedly explore outside. They put on hard hats and take on the role of a builder. They pretend to mix cement in the cement mixer, move resources around in wheelbarrows and help one another to build towers of bricks to build a wall. n Children develop a love of books and stories. They listen well to a story at group

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need to do better?

time or enjoy sharing books with their friends. Staff support children's listening skills well as they ask them questions about the characters in the story or ask them to describe what they can see in the pictures of a book.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff are knowledgeable about child protection issues and have good safeguarding knowledge. They are clear on their role and responsibilities to keep children safe. There are thorough vetting and recruitment procedures in place to ensure that all those working with children are suitable to do so. The manager implements effective systems to ensure the ongoing suitability of all staff. Staff carry out thorough risk assessments to identify and minimise potential hazards so that children can play safely. Staff always remain vigilant and supervise children appropriately, engaging them in conversation to help them think about how they can keep themselves safe as well.

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should:

n extend opportunities for children to count and use numbers n develop staff's practice further to encourage children's language development more in adult-led activities.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY537705 Local authority North Somerset Inspection number 10225782 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Sessional day care

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inspection

Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 55 Name of registered person Owen, Emily Mary

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reference number

Telephone number 07949524650 Date of previous inspection 28 September 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Saint Marks Pre-School registered in 2016. It operates from Saint Marks Church Centre in Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset. There are seven members of childcare staff employed. One member of staff is qualified at level 6 and five are qualified at level 3. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday during term time. Sessions are from 8.30am until 3.30pm. Wrap-around care is offered before and after school from 8am until 6pm.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first 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 joined the inspector on a learning walk and discussed the curriculum and what she wants the children to learn. n The inspector spoke to children and staff during the inspection to gain their views about the pre-school. n The inspector spoke to parents to gather their views about the pre-school. n The inspector and manager completed a joint observation of an activity and discussed the quality of teaching. n The inspector observed children's interactions in play inside and outside. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working at the nursery.

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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

17 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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