St Joseph's Preschool & Playgroup (Harrogate)

Inspection of St Joseph's Preschool & Playgroup (Harrogate) 281 Skipton Road, Harrogate, North Yorkshire HG1 3HD

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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, safe and secure in this fun and engaging pre-school. They arrive with confidence and happily separate from their parents. Children readily join in with the daily routine. They form strong bonds with their key person and other staff, who are kind, considerate and attentive to children's needs. Staff recognise the uniqueness of each child and tailor their care needs accordingly. They use different ways to promote children's speech and language skills. Older children use complex vocabulary to express themselves. When sharing stories, staff use props to enhance children's experience of the books. Staff repeat words and ask younger children to recall words and their meaning. This helps staff to understand what children have learned.

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The provision is good

Children are independent and choose their own play. Children's imaginations develop as they play together in the role-play area. For example, they pretend to cook and make cups of tea. Staff have high expectations for children's behaviour. They provide age-appropriate reminders to children and give them explanations of why certain behaviours are not acceptable. Children learn how to wait patiently for their favourite toys. They develop an understanding and respect for the differing needs of their friends. Children learn to behave well, take turns and play cooperatively with their friends.

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need to do better?

n Staff implement an effective curriculum, and provide activities and experiences that support children's interests. They use information from their observations and assessments to target any gaps in children's learning. Children, including those in receipt of early funded education, have a very good attitude to their learning. They successfully develop many key skills which they need for their future learning, including school. n Staff teach children early mathematical concepts well. They capture opportunities for children to count and recognise numbers throughout the daily routine. Children are eager to do things for themselves and try out new skills. For example, two-year-old children persist until they successfully fit shapes into a puzzle. Older children have opportunities to recognise numbers and letters. However, staff do not consistently think about how they can help the most-able children to develop their early writing skills.

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need to do better?

n Staff are good role models and interact positively with children. They give children plenty of praise and encouragement as they play. This helps children to develop a can-do attitude towards their learning. Children with special educational needs/and or disabilities (SEND) are extremely well supported. The special educational needs coordinator is swift to work in partnership with other professionals, in order to help children with SEND reach their full potential.

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need to do better?

23 March 2022 n Staff promote children's good health well. Children have plenty of opportunities for fresh air and enjoy a range of activities in the outdoor area. They enjoy being physically active. Children learn to take managed risks, such as they climb the steps on the slide. Older children practise pedalling and manoeuvring wheeled vehicles along the path. Staff provide children with a good range of healthy and nutritious snacks. n Staff are skilled practitioners, who know children well. They help children to celebrate what makes them unique. Staff help children to learn about their own heritage and culture. They use focused learning times to explore children's similarities and differences. This helps to build children's positive self-esteem and confidence. n Children benefit from good quality teaching, which supports their learning and the good progress they make. The manager has started to monitor staff's

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need to do better?

practice. However, the arrangements for the supervision of staff, including the manager, are not yet fully embedded. This means that staff do not yet benefit from consistently targeted and specific support, to enhance children's learning experiences further. n Partnership with parents is strong. Staff communicate very well with parents. They find out what children already know and can do prior to attending the pre- school. This helps staff to plan activities and experiences from the start, to help extend children's knowledge and skills further. Parents are very complimentary about the staff team. They comment on how well their children are progressing in their development, especially in their confidence and language development.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff have a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities to keep children safe. They have secure knowledge of the 'Prevent' duty and other safeguarding guidance. Staff know the procedures to follow if they have any concerns about a child's welfare. They complete daily risk assessments to make sure that the areas where children play are safe and secure. Unauthorised visitors are unable to gain access to the premises. Staff supervise children closely. Staff and committee members are suitable to work with the children and to help to run the pre-school.

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should:

n provide a more motivating range of experiences for the most-able children to develop their early writing skills, to extend their literacy skills even more n strengthen the support given to staff, and evaluate and target professional development to enhance children's learning further.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 400342 Local authority North Yorkshire Inspection number 10225922 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Sessional day care

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inspection

Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 10 Name of registered person St Joseph's Playgroup, Harrogate CIO

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reference number

Telephone number 07792 657808 Date of previous inspection 20 September 2016

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Information about this early years setting

St Joseph's Preschool & Playgroup (Harrogate) registered in 1986. It is located in Harrogate, North Yorkshire. The pre-school employs two members of childcare staff, who hold early years qualifications at level 3. It opens during term time from 8.45am to 12.45pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and from 8.45am to 1.45pm on Thursday. 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 joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about the curriculum and what they want children to learn. n The inspector carried out joint observations of group activities with the manager. n Relevant documentation was viewed by the inspector. Evidence of the suitability of staff working in the pre-school and committee members was reviewed. n Children spoke with the inspector about what they enjoy doing. The inspector spoke to parents to understand their views on the pre-school.

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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 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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