Toad Hall Pre-School

Inspection of Toad Hall Pre-School St Gabriels Church Hall, Hyde Park Road, Plymouth, Devon PL3 4JN

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Overall effectiveness Good

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

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The provision is good

Children show excitement when they attend this pre-school and settle immediately. Friendly and nurturing staff greet children warmly and listen to their experiences from home. Children feel exceptionally safe and secure. They enjoy close interactions with staff, such as cuddles and responsive conversations.

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The provision is good

Children behave exceptionally well. They are respectful to adults, peers and the environment. Children demonstrate highly positive attitudes to learning and show an eagerness to join in with all activities. They are extremely motivated and display high levels of curiosity. Children use specific dolls during circle time to help them talk about their feelings and those of others. They are very independent and plan which activities they will play with. Afterwards, they hang pictures below their laminated name of the activities they have engaged with. At circle time, children talk about what they have learned.

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The provision is good

Staff know children well and plan activities that all children will enjoy and achieve in, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities. For instance, children retell familiar stories and act out narratives using related props to support their language skills effectively. In the 'discovery area', children use plastic knives and forks to cut up dough. This helps to prepare them with the necessary physical and independence skills before moving on to school. Children make good progress in their learning.

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need to do better?

n Children develop a good understanding of mathematics. Staff encourage them to count buttons to represent 'chocolate chips' and place them onto laminated cookie pictures. Children learn to use one number name for each button and match the quantity to the number correctly. n Partnerships with parents are effective. Parents comment that their children enjoy coming to the pre-school and know how to support their learning at home. For example, children can borrow books from the pre-school to share at home to support their early reading skills. n Staff plan specific group times where children can learn new knowledge with their key person. Children learn about healthy and not-so healthy foods. Staff talk to them about how lots of sugar can make them feel tired and result in a lack of energy. They encourage children to drink lots of water to prevent dehydration. Children learn about oral health and practise brushing plastic teeth

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need to do better?

on a mouth replica. n Children enjoy engaging in the wide range of activities. They pretend to bake cupcakes in the role-play bakery. Children use recipe books to look at the ingredients and decide how long to 'bake' these for. Outside, children teach staff

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need to do better?

6 April 2022 how to hula-hoop. However, staff teaching does not consistently meet children's individual needs, particularly during free play, to help them make even more progress in their learning. n Overall, children have good opportunities to be physically active. They can play outdoors and use the large climbing apparatus indoors. Although staff plan some group physical activities indoors, children spend considerable amounts of time sitting down completing adult-led activities. As a result, children sometimes lose engagement and concentration in their learning. n The special educational needs coordinator devises clear strategies alongside the key person to ensure children receive effective support. They liaise closely with other professionals to provide the best support available for all children. Regular meetings with parents and external agencies ensure a consistent two-way flow of information. n Children learn about letter sounds during activities. At group times, children pass

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need to do better?

around a small beanbag and identify which items they can see and the initial sound it makes, such as 'w' for 'waffle' and 'Wednesday'. During free play, children form letters in coloured rice and identify their names during self- registration. This helps to support their literacy skills. n The manager and staff attend regular training to keep their knowledge updated so that it benefits children. Recent training around communication has enabled staff to provide children with specific interaction programmes to encourage their language development. n Children have high levels of confidence. Staff have implemented 'wow' certificates for parents to complete at home. Children bring these into the pre- school to share with staff and peers alike and talk about their achievements.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The premises are secure. Entrances and exits remain locked during the hours of operation to ensure children's safety. The pre-school has good links with the local police patrol officer who occasionally comes in to meet the children. The manager and staff have a good understanding of child protection and can identify when a child may be at risk of harm. They are confident in the procedures to take should they have any concerns about the children in their care. All staff hold valid paediatric first-aid certificates to enable them to carry out medical treatment where necessary.

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should:

n ensure staff teaching meets children's individual next steps, particularly during free play and when outdoors, to help children make even more progress in their

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should:

6 April 2022 learning n adapt routines so children have more time to be actively engaged in learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 117243 Local authority Plymouth Inspection number 10125939 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 26 Number of children on roll 41 Name of registered person Toadhall Pre-School Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 01752 225102 or 0771 2263412 Date of previous inspection 19 June 2015

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Information about this early years setting

Toad Hall Pre-School registered in 1997. The pre-school opens Monday to Friday. Morning sessions operate between 9.10am to 11.40am and the lunch club from 11.40am to 12.40pm. Afternoon sessions start at 12.40pm until 3.10pm, during term time only. The pre-school receives free early education funding for children aged three and four years. There are 11 staff employed to work with the children, all of whom hold early years qualifications between level 3 and level 6.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the pre-school 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 and the inspector completed a learning walk together and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector spoke to children to find out about their time at the pre-school. n The inspector spoke to the nominated individual about her role in the pre- school. The inspector also spoke to parents to gain their views of the pre-school. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation together. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning.

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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

6 April 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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