The Beagle Preschool

Inspection of The Beagle Preschool Darwin Street, NORTHWICH, Cheshire CW8 1BN

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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 at this setting receive a positive start to their education. They are excited to arrive in the morning and feel confident separating from parents at the door. Children form good attachments with staff, which helps them to feel settled and safe. Children of all ages develop their physical skills in the enclosed outdoor space. Here they can see pupils from the school that the setting shares a site with. They have friendly interactions with the school pupils, including children's older siblings.

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The provision is good

Children learn new things every day. They take part in activities that have been planned specifically for their needs. For example, children develop their mathematical skills as they count fish before the cardboard crocodile 'gobbles' them up. Staff have high expectations for all children and challenge children in their learning. For instance, as children build with plastic bricks, staff encourage them to use their imaginations to build a variety of different things. This helps children to make good progress in their learning.

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The provision is good

Children behave well. They follow instructions and understand the daily routines. For example, when the timer is set, children know it is nearly time for snack. When they hear the tambourine, children immediately tidy up and come inside.

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need to do better?

n Staff continually observe children and know them well. They teach children through carefully planned activities that focus on what children need to learn next. Staff nurture children's interests and teach them using things that they enjoy. This helps to make learning meaningful for children. n Support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is excellent. Additional support staff form strong bonds with children who have complex needs. The setting works in partnership with other agencies, such as speech and language therapists, to support children's development. The curriculum is adapted to meet the needs of children with SEND. For example, photo cards are used to help children to communicate. Children with SEND make good progress. n Children have opportunities to learn about the world around them. For example, children observe tadpoles and discuss the life cycle of frogs. They learn about

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need to do better?

road safety when they are visited by a lollipop lady. These experiences help to provide a broad curriculum for children. n Children develop their independence skills, such as putting on their coats and shoes. Older children select their own snack and pour their own drinks. This helps to prepare children for school. n The well-resourced environment supports children's development. Children eagerly explore and make choices about what they want to do. Children flow

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need to do better?

24 May 2022 freely from inside to outside, which allows them to develop preferences over how they learn. This helps children to become confident learners. n Children have positive attitudes towards one another. They collaborate and work well in a team as they build towers together with large bricks. They challenge each other to build them taller. Children show resilience when the towers fall, and encourage each other to rebuild. n Children learn about celebrations from other cultures. However, the diverse backgrounds and cultures of children within the setting are not always celebrated and shared. This means that children do not fully explore what makes them unique. n Partnerships with parents are good. Parents praise the welcoming staff and setting. Good communication means that parents know what their children are learning and how they can support this at home. For example, when children learn a song about brushing their teeth, they sing it at home. This helps to

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need to do better?

promote continuity in learning between the setting and home. n Additional funding is used to support children's needs. For example, a wooden teepee provides a quiet and secure space for children to read. Children, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds, achieve good outcomes. n Staff undertake appropriate training to deepen their knowledge and skills. They take part in regular supervisions with the manager, which helps the manager to identify any training needs. Staff well-being and mental health are always considered and staff feel supported to fulfil their roles.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff know about different types of abuse and know what signs to be alert to. They know how to report any concerns that they have. The door to the setting is locked and secured during the day. Good communication between staff means important information is shared, such as who will be collecting children. This helps to keep children safe. Staff carry out risk assessments to help them to keep the environment safe. For example, the outdoor area is checked before children go outside to ensure any hazards are removed. Robust recruitment practices help to ensure that people who work with children are suitable.

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should:

n strengthen how children's diverse backgrounds are shared within the setting to deepen children's understanding of their own and each other's cultures.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY452147 Local authority Cheshire West and Chester Inspection number 10233851 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 Sessional day care

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inspection

Total number of places 44 Number of children on roll 51 Name of registered person Acorn Childcare Nursery Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01606 786423 Date of previous inspection 15 February 2017

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Information about this early years setting

The Beagle Preschool registered in 2012. The pre-school employs eight members of childcare staff, six of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. The manager holds early years professional status. The pre-school opens Monday to Friday during term time only. Sessions are from 9am until 3pm. 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 nursery received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the nursery and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the nursery. n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n Children communicated with the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. 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. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The manager provided the inspector with a sample of key documentation on

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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

24 May 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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