Blossoms Preschool

Inspection of Blossoms Preschool Queen Elizabeth Way, Colchester, Essex CO2 8LT

p.1

Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not applicable

p.1

The provision is good

Children arrive happy. They eagerly greet their friends and staff before deciding what to play with. Children enjoy a wide range of activities which reflect their interests and what they need to learn next. Babies smile and babble while making lots of noise with textured materials. They use their developing physical skills to move around the room and delight in peering through coloured plastic shapes. Toddlers show fascination in role play. They recreate experiences from home as they 'cook' the meal in a pan, before carefully tipping it out into a bowl to serve. Children confidently ask staff to make the toast, which they add to the bowl of food.

p.2

The provision is good

Children behave well and know the daily routines. For example, older children know that they need to wash their hands, then line up, ready to go into the dining area for snack and lunch. They sit down with their friends and wait for staff to bring the snacks. This helps children to learn good social skills and table manners. Older children use their fine motor skills to tap small pins through wooden shapes into a cork board. They hold the small pins carefully and remember to keep their fingers away from the small hammer as they secure the shapes to the board.

p.2

need to do better?

n The management and staff have recently made the decision to open two more rooms up to meet the needs of the current group of children. This provides children with more space to play and move about. However, in the new rooms, staff have yet to bring in a full range of resources to enable children to independently explore all areas of learning. n Children develop a love of books through planned story times and spontaneous moments when they cuddle up with staff to listen to their favourite story. However, in the pre-school room, in particular, staff do not consistently deliver a well-balanced curriculum to keep children fully engaged, especially during large- group times. Some children lose concentration as they cannot see or hear the book being read, while others find it difficult to sit still for long periods. n There are good partnerships with parents. Staff work hard to get to know the family as a unit, which helps them to tailor children's care and learning to meet

p.2

need to do better?

their individual needs. Parents comment on the good communication with their key person and other staff. They share that they can approach any member of staff or management for advice and guidance. n Children have daily opportunities to be outside in the fresh air and play with a wide range of resources. This helps to support their good health and physical well-being. n Staff meet regularly with the manager for supervision meetings. This helps to support staff's practice, professional development and identify any additional

p.2

need to do better?

26 April 2022 training needs. Staff feel valued and enjoy working in the pre-school. n Children make good progress in relation to their starting points. Staff observe and track children's progress, which they share online with parents. Staff note children's emerging interests and use these to provide activities and experiences which build on what children need to learn next. Regular assessment of children's progress helps to ensure that children are on track to be ready for the next stage in their learning. n There are good partnerships with a wide range of other professionals, such as social workers, health visitors, and speech and language professionals. These relationships help to close any gaps in learning for children who require additional support. The management uses the money from additional funding well to provide experiences for children that support their learning. For example, resources which light up have been purchased for the sensory room. This

p.2

need to do better?

provides somewhere for all children to relax, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities. n There is good support to help children who are moving on to to school. Staff encourage school teachers to visit the children in the pre-school and complete detailed reports which they pass to the teachers. Staff provide children with photos of the school environment and school uniforms to help children to develop the confidence to move on to the next stage of their learning.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

All staff have a secure understanding of their role to safeguard children. They know the signs and symptoms which may indicate that children are at risk of harm or abuse. Staff have a good knowledge of the dangers posed to children and young people through county lines or extremism and what to do should they have any concerns. They are aware of the correct procedure to follow if they have concerns about the conduct of a colleague or the management. This helps to keep children safe.

p.3

should:

n develop staff's understanding further of how to implement the curriculum effectively to keep children fully engaged, particularly during large-group activities n review and improve the range of resources available to children in some rooms to meet their different needs and interests.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number 2603455 Local authority Essex Inspection number 10237804 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

p.4

Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Sessional day care

p.4

inspection

Total number of places 60 Number of children on roll 104

p.4

Name of registered person

St Stephens Pre-School Community Interest Company

p.4

reference number

Telephone number 01206616950 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

p.4

Information about this early years setting

Blossoms Preschool registered in 2020. It opens from Monday to Friday during term time only. Sessions are from 8am to 4pm. The pre-school employs 16 members of childcare staff. Of these, seven hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. The pre-school provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

p.4

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 pre-school. n The inspector viewed all areas of the pre-school and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The manager and the inspector had a learning walk together. They discussed the curriculum and what it is that staff want the children to learn. n Children spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector observed the interactions between staff and children. n The inspector spoke to parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the pre-school.

p.5

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.

p.5

Inspection activities

26 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.

p.5

Inspection activities

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.6

Inspection activities

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk

p.6

Inspection activities

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.6

Inspection activities

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.6