Attimore Barn Pre-School

Inspection of Attimore Barn Pre- School Attimore Barn Scout HQ, Ridgeway, WELWYN GARDEN CITY, Hertfordshire AL7 2AD

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

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

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The provision is outstanding

Children exhibit high levels of contentment and feel secure at this welcoming pre- school. Staff work extremely closely with parents and carers to support their children to settle. They get to know the children exceptionally well and very quickly become perceptive of their needs.

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The provision is outstanding

Children are inspired to learn. They delight in exploring the indoor and outdoor spaces, which are planned with a great deal of thought and expertise. Children confidently choose from the abundance of varied and imaginative resources that are wonderfully presented to capture their interest. For example, they enthusiastically delve into a tray filled with soil and herbs and explore real vegetables in the role-play shop. Children's vocabulary is developing rapidly. For example, they talk about making 'volcanos' while playing in the sand. Staff sensitively monitor what children are doing and skilfully offer support where needed. Children learn to manage risks and use tools appropriately, such as using safety knifes to slice fruit when making their fruit kebabs.

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The provision is outstanding

Children behave very well and play extremely cooperatively together. Staff are excellent role models. They give children important messages that reinforce and encourage positive behaviour. Staff sensitively encourage children to talk about and manage their own feelings. They support children to relate to others and continually provide children with meaningful praise.

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need to do better?

n The co-owners and staff team are dedicated to providing high-quality experiences for children and their families. Staff show a genuine enthusiasm and passion for their work with children. They regularly reflect on all aspects of the provision, including their own and each other's practice, to help them to continually improve outcomes for children. The management team's support and close monitoring ensures that any areas for development are swiftly addressed to maintain a high standard of teaching and learning. n Partnerships with parents and carers are exceptional. Parents offer the highest praise for the pre-school. They comment on the excellent communication and support they receive from staff, and how much their children have progressed since attending. n Staff promote a friendly and caring environment. They support children's emotional well-being superbly. Children are kind and considerate. They are

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need to do better?

extremely aware of the purpose of the digital timers and willingly share popular items, such as a water spray bottle, when their time is up. n Children enjoy being active. Outdoors, they carefully manoeuvre around objects as they use ride-on toys. Staff are exceptionally well deployed and vigilant. They

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need to do better?

23 February 2022 communicate effectively with each other to ensure children remain safe at all times. Children are extremely keen to take part in weekly yoga sessions. Staff praise children's growing skill in holding poses, focusing their attention and relaxing. Children recall previous learning, such as remembering to say 'namaste' at the beginning of the session. n Staff regularly involve children in events in the community, such as litter-picking walks, helping the food bank to fill bags, and sending Christmas cards to the local care home. They understand how these enriching opportunities contribute to deepening children's experiences of the wider world. n Staff give children clear and consistent messages. For example, they encourage children to make healthy food choices. During snack times, children select what they would like to eat and serve themselves. Those children who stay for lunch enjoy eating their packed lunch in a social atmosphere.

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need to do better?

n Children have many opportunities to develop the skills they need for the next stage in their learning. They eagerly join in with the familiar words and actions to songs and rhymes and learn to foster a love of reading, enjoying a wide range of books. Children beam with pride as staff acknowledge their achievements, such as finding their coat, putting it on, and doing up their zip independently. All children make substantial and sustained progress throughout their time at the pre-school. n Staff's development and ongoing training are high priorities. They highlight specific training to meet children's needs and regularly share learning across the staff team to continually develop their knowledge and skills. Less-qualified staff are mentored to gain relevant childcare qualifications. Staff state that they feel valued and listened to. They comment that they thoroughly enjoy working in the pre-school and have high regard of and respect for each other.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Safeguarding is given unquestionable priority. The management team implements thorough procedures to ensure the safe recruitment and ongoing suitability of staff. There is a strong focus on supporting children and families. All staff fully understand their role to protect children from harm. They keep robust records and know exactly what action they must take if they are concerned about the welfare of a child. Staff regularly attend training and have a very secure knowledge of safeguarding, including wider child protection issues. The manager ensures that staff keep their knowledge up to date.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY401168 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10127283 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

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

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inspection

Total number of places 32 Number of children on roll 52 Name of registered person Attimore Barn Pre-School LLP

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reference number

Telephone number 07981311356 Date of previous inspection 11 September 2014

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Information about this early years setting

Attimore Barn Pre-School registered in January 2010. It is one of four settings privately owned and managed. The pre-school operates from the Attimore Barn Scout HQ in Welwyn-Garden-City, Hertfordshire, and has sole use of the hut while in operation. The pre-school employs six members of childcare staff and an administrator. Five staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. The pre-school is regularly supported by the two co-owners, one of whom holds early years professional status. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday during term time. Sessions are from 9.15am until 3.45pm. 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, deputy manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the pre-school and discussed the early years curriculum. n Children and staff spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The co-owners, manager and inspector held a meeting together. The inspector looked at a sample of documentation, including evidence of staff's qualifications, training and suitability. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact that this has on children's learning. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation of a group activity. n Parents shared their views of the pre-school with the inspector during discussion

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Inspection activities

and the inspector took account of these 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

23 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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