Hillside Pre-School and Early Learning Group

Inspection of Hillside Pre-School and Early Learning Group Hillside Road, Verwood, Dorset BH31 7HE

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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 Outstanding

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The provision is good

Children happily arrive at the pre-school and staff are readily available to welcome them. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, parents do not enter the setting in the usual way. Children have adapted well to the new routines. For example, they leave their parents at the gate with great ease.

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The provision is good

Children access a well-planned environment that is rich in learning opportunities and experiences. They take part in activities that staff target to enable each child to gain new skills they require for their next stage of learning. Children enjoy messy play and using their senses. They explore real fruit and herbs with their hands, create mixtures and smell the juice. Children develop their speaking skills and begin to understand mathematical concepts. For instance, when a staff member cuts an orange into two, older children comment that it has been cut into half. Children benefit from outdoor play. Staff provide effective supervision to enable children to take risks in safe surroundings. Children learn to climb on a wide variety of equipment, and staff are always on hand to offer support and words of guidance. This enables children to think through their actions and to assess risks.

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need to do better?

n The manager and her deputy have a clear understanding of how to plan an effective curriculum across all areas of learning. They plan an interesting curriculum based on children's interests and individual needs. For example, younger children develop an awareness of emotions. They engage with staff during planned activities, exploring facial expressions and learning to recognise and describe their feelings. n Children's level of engagement in activities is high. Staff play alongside as role models. They provide a narrative for their interactions and introduce new words, such as 'squish', 'squeeze' and 'slimy'. However, occasionally, some staff interactions with the children are not focused on extending and challenging all children's learning to a higher level. n Staff have high expectations for children's behaviour and conduct. They have embedded the rules of the setting, and children play well together, sharing

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need to do better?

resources and toys. Children learn how to manage and self-regulate their behaviour. For instance, younger children use large sand timers so that everyone takes turns to use a specific scooter outside. This helps children to understand that they must wait until all the sand has fallen through before it is their turn. n Children learn to be independent and manage their personal care needs. They select what they would like to eat for snack, pour their own drinks and put their plate and cup away when they have finished. Staff are close by to offer support and encourage children to try different foods.

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need to do better?

16 February 2022 n Children learn to be respectful of, and interested in, the differences between themselves and others. The cultures and experiences of children are fully embraced by staff. Children learn about food from other countries and about different festivals and celebration days. They gain an understanding of the community where they live. n The pre-school has served the community for many years. Generations of children have attended the setting. Many staff have worked in the pre-school for years. This helps to support continuity for the families that attend. Parents make comments such as, 'Staff are so invested in the children, which makes the environment positive and exciting' and, 'Staff always have time to listen'. They appreciate the ways in which staff keep them updated on their children's learning and development. n The manager is passionate about her role and strives for improvement. Since

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need to do better?

the last inspection, staff now make the most of the wide variety of technology equipment. The manager encourages staff to improve their practice. Staff have a good understanding of their improvement plans and are already taking steps to achieve their goals. They make good use of research and training to develop the pre-school's curriculum to meet the needs of all children. n The committee and staff team work together effectively. The committee shares staff's dedication and commitment to providing each child with the support they need. The chairperson makes regular visits to the pre-school. She monitors the performance of the manager's practice and the implementation of the curriculum.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager and staff understand their responsibility to keep children safe and protect their welfare. They are aware of the possible signs and symptoms that may indicate a child is at risk of harm. Regular training and staff meetings help to keep the staff's knowledge of legal requirements up to date. The premises are safe and secure. Staff complete daily checks of their rooms and outdoor areas to identify and remove any hazards, so the children can play in a safe environment. The committee and the manager have secure procedures in place for recruitment and suitability checks.

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should:

n support staff to further develop the quality of interactions to extend and challenge all children's learning to a higher level.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 144286 Local authority Dorset Inspection number 10126087 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 40 Number of children on roll 53

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Name of registered person

Hillside Pre-School and Early Learning Group Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 01202 820679 Date of previous inspection 13 November 2015

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Information about this early years setting

Hillside Pre-School and Early Learning Group registered in 1992 and moved to its current premises in 2009. It operates from purpose-built mobile playrooms in the grounds of Hillside Community First School in Verwood. The provision includes a pre-school and before- and after-school care, all of which operate Monday to Friday during term time. The pre-school opens from 9am until 3pm. It receives funding to provide free early years education for children aged two, three and four years. The before- and after-school provision operates from 7.45am to 8.35am and from 3pm to 6pm for children who attend the Hillside Community First School. There are 14 members of staff employed to work with the children. Of these, one holds early years teacher status, one holds qualified teacher status, two hold an appropriate childcare qualification at level 4, six hold level 3 and three hold level 2. The manager holds an appropriate childcare qualification at level 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 that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The inspector completed a learning walk with the manager to discuss how the provision is organised. n A leadership and management meeting with the manager and deputy of the setting was held to discuss safeguarding arrangements and to sample documentation. n A joint observation of the quality of education was conducted and evaluated by the manager and the inspector. n The inspector observed children playing and learning, and talked to children and staff. n The inspector spoke to a sample of parents and viewed documentation to gain their views of 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

16 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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