Exminster Pre-school

Inspection of Exminster Pre-school Deepway Centre, Deepway Lane, Exminster, Exeter, Devon EX6 8BG

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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 enter the pre-school, happy and excited to be there. They readily leave their parents at the door and friendly staff greet them warmly. Children feel safe and secure. They are confident in this warm and caring environment. Staff genuinely enjoy their time with children and they have high expectations of them. Young children develop their small-muscle skills as they use large tweezers to pick up and transfer pom-poms to different places. They thoroughly enjoy playing with musical shakers as they sing nursery rhymes with staff. Older children attempt to form letters from their name on their drawings. They learn to recognise the initial sounds in words and count with enthusiasm. Children of all ages concentrate on their chosen tasks and show great motivation and perseverance.

p.2

The provision is good

Children behave well. They know the daily routines and the expectations of the pre-school. Children are kind and considerate to others. They learn to share resources with others during activities and are confident to talk about their ideas with their friends in a group. Staff give children plenty of praise for their efforts, which gives them a sense of achievement and builds their self-esteem. This supports children's emotional well-being effectively.

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need to do better?

n The passionate and committed manager has designed an ambitious curriculum. She uses additional funding well to support children's learning. Staff carefully follow children's interests. They use information from observations and assessments to plan exciting activities. However, occasionally, staff do not build further on the older children's existing skills and extend their learning to help them make even more progress. n Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, staff provide children with even greater support for physical development. Children enjoy imaginative games as they play with a parachute, stretching and lifting it up high as they pretend to 'switch the washing machine on'. Underneath, children giggle with delight as they pretend they are 'clothes in the wash'. Additionally, children learn to move their bodies in different ways as they enjoy weekly sessions from a yoga teacher. n Staff provide many opportunities for children to be independent. For example,

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need to do better?

children put on their coats and shoes for outdoor play. Older children pour their own drinks and put butter on their fruit toast at snack. This helps children develop important skills that they need to move on to school. n The manager understands the importance of staff professional development. She holds regular one-to-one meetings with staff, where she discusses their teaching practice and well-being. Staff attend relevant training that improves their teaching, such as extending their knowledge of supporting children's

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need to do better?

28 March 2022 understanding of language through signs and gestures. Staff say they feel valued and supported by the manager. n Staff form strong partnerships with parents. They share regular updates about children's progress. Staff provide resources so that parents can support their child's learning at home. For example, staff offer cooking packs, including all the necessary ingredients. Parents are very complimentary about the care and education their children receive. n The manager has developed very strong links with the local school. For example, she invites teachers to meet the children at the setting. Staff take children to visit the school regularly. This helps children to become familiar with their new teachers and settle in well when it is time for them to start school. n Overall, staff support children's communication and language skills well. Staff use good intonation when reading stories to children, who snuggle up to staff

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need to do better?

and listen carefully. They introduce new words and encourage children to talk about the pictures in books. Toddlers join in with songs and older children express themselves to others articulately. However, staff do not provide all children who speak English as an additional language with enough opportunities to hear or use their home language to support their communication skills further. n Staff successfully help children to learn about good hygiene routines, such as washing their hands. They speak to children about what foods are healthy. Staff provide opportunities for children to learn about the importance of good dental hygiene. Children discuss why it is important to go to the dentist and look after their teeth.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

Staff have a good awareness of their safeguarding responsibilities and understand their duty to keep children safe and protected from harm. They complete safeguarding training to ensure that they recognise the signs and symptoms of abuse. Staff are confident in the reporting procedures to ensure that they act swiftly on any concerns about children. The manager has robust recruitment procedures for employing new staff and completes ongoing checks to ensure staff's continuing suitability to work with children. All full-time members of staff hold a current paediatric first-aid certificate so they can provide children with medical treatment where necessary.

p.3

should:

n provide more opportunities for the older children to extend their learning even further

p.3

should:

28 March 2022 n support staff to help all children who speak English as an additional language to communicate and listen in both languages to further develop children's speech.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number 106118 Local authority Devon Inspection number 10126065 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

p.5

inspection

Total number of places 45 Number of children on roll 72 Name of registered person Exminster Pre-School Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 01392 833320 Date of previous inspection 14 July 2015

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Information about this early years setting

Exminster Pre-school registered in 1981. It is run by a parent committee and operates in Exminster, Exeter, Devon. The pre-school is open Monday to Thursday from 8am to 5pm and on Friday from 8am to 3.15pm. It operates during term time only. There are 12 members of staff. Of these, two hold a qualification at level 5, seven hold a qualification at level 3, two hold qualifications at level 2 and one is unqualified. The setting receives funding to provide free 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 her evaluation of the provider. n The deputy manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector and the deputy manager carried out a joint observation of a learning activity. n The inspector held a discussion with the manager on a video call. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector.

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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

28 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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