St. Marks Pre-School

Inspection of St. Marks Pre-School Somerset Road, SALISBURY SP1 3BL

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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 when they arrive and are eager to go into pre-school to play. Children have access to a wide variety of resources and staff provide interesting activities that spark children's interests. Children eagerly dig for 'dinosaur bones' together and make roads in the sand pit. Older children demonstrate good focus and concentration as they paint pictures of the flowers that staff display. Children are kind and considerate; they listen and follow rules well. For instance, children sit nicely and remain calm as they handle the ducklings and talk about how to care for them.

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The provision is good

Children talk about sharing with their friends as they recall that 'sharing is caring'. They confidently choose from the toys independently and involve their friends in their games. Children have good, secure relationships with the staff who care for them. They confidently talk about their interests and ask questions to help with their understanding. For instance, staff show children how dentists use mirrors to look at their teeth, after children show interest in what a dentist is. Overall, children behave well. Staff support children to learn about their feelings and to express themselves appropriately.

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need to do better?

n The manager and committee provide staff with good support to ensure that they can carry out their roles and responsibilities effectively. Staff report that they have regular team meetings, supervisions and training to help them to provide children with the support that they need. The team are ambitious and keen to improve. They have recently developed the garden to provide children with resources and equipment to develop their physical skills. Children confidently use the bicycles to ride around obstacles and enjoy climbing and balancing on the equipment. n The manager and staff provide an ambitious curriculum that is implemented well throughout the pre-school. Staff have a clear vision of what they want children to learn and they provide support so that all children can make progress in their learning. However, at times, staff do not ensure that some of the more capable children are offered more challenge to make even better progress in their

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need to do better?

learning. n Staff use their knowledge of children and their development well. They identify children that need extra support and provide them with an adapted curriculum to close the gaps in their development. Staff work closely with other professionals to ensure that children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities receive the support that they need. n Key-person systems are strong and well established. Staff know the children well and they work closely with children's parents to support children's individual

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need to do better?

10 March 2022 needs. Parents speak highly of the pre-school; they report that their children are happy and that staff fully involve them in their children's learning. Parents report that they particularly enjoy seeing photos of what their children have been doing at pre-school. Parents are invited into the pre-school to share their skills with the children and to offer support for more complex activities, such as woodwork sessions and gardening activities. n Staff are skilled at supporting children's communication and language skills. They use good methods to encourage children to think and to use new words to extend their vocabulary. Staff provide additional support for children who speak English as an additional language. For instance, they learn words in children's home languages to help them to communicate their needs. However, at times, some of the more quiet, less confident children struggle to be involved in group

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need to do better?

activities due to the more confident children speaking out. n Staff support children to have a positive approach to learning. They demonstrate confidence and independence as they explore and play with their peers. Younger children develop a love of stories; they happily share books with their friends as they use the pictures to tell the story. Older children confidently use books to find out information.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff understand their responsibility to keep children safe. They support children to learn about risks and to keep themselves safe as they play. For instance, children know that they must wear helmets if they want to ride the bicycles and staff work with children and parents to promote online safety. Staff have a good understanding of the signs of possible abuse or neglect and they know the procedures that they should follow if they have concerns about a child's welfare. The manager conducts thorough recruitment checks of any new staff to ensure that they are suitable to work with children. All staff receive thorough inductions and training so that they understand their role.

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should:

n continue to develop planning to ensure that all children are challenged in their learning, so that they achieve to the highest level n strengthen the organisation of group activities so that all children, including those who are more quiet and less confident, can be more involved.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY457663 Local authority Wiltshire Inspection number 10214355 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 Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 40 Number of children on roll 63 Name of registered person St Marks Pre-School Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 01722 330382 Date of previous inspection 6 December 2016

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Information about this early years setting

St. Marks Pre-School opened in 1970 and re-registered in new premises in 2013. The pre-school is based in the grounds of Wyndham Park Infant School and St. Marks Junior School in Salisbury, Wiltshire. The pre-school opens Monday to Friday, from 9am to 3pm. There are currently 18 staff employed to work with the children. Of these, one is a qualified teacher, two have level 6 qualifications, two are qualified at level 5 and seven are qualified to level 3. The pre-school accepts funding for early years education for children aged two, three and four years.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors Victoria Nicolson Sarah-Louise Clements

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the setting received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Inspectors discussed the impact of the pandemic with the provider and have taken that into account in their evaluation of the setting. n We carried out this inspection as a result of a risk assessment, following information we received about the provider. n The manager and the inspectors completed a learning walk together of all areas of the pre-school and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspectors talked to staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspectors observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The inspectors carried out joint observations of a group activity with the manager. n The inspectors spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account

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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

10 March 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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