Great Gransden Pre-School Playgroup

Inspection of Great Gransden Pre- School Playgroup The Sports Field, Caxton Road, Great Gransden, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 3BG

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

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

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The provision is outstanding

Children thrive in this calm environment, which fully embraces a child-centred approach, where the children's needs are truly valued and catered for. The wide- ranging variety of activities in the stimulating environment supports children to make excellent progress. Children are highly motivated to take part in the variety of interesting activities and demonstrate very high levels of engagement. For example, during a baking session, children show high levels of concentration as they learn cookery skills. They are taught to chop with a knife and to grate cheese as they follow the recipe to weigh all of the ingredients. Staff give ownership to the children during activities, resulting in children demonstrating high levels of self- esteem and pride in their achievements.

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The provision is outstanding

Children are relaxed and comfortable in the care of the professional, dedicated staff and demonstrate high levels of emotional security. Children settle quickly and have established strong, affectionate bonds with staff. They receive lots of praise and encouragement, resulting in children developing a can-do attitude. Children are given lots of opportunities to be physically active outside, alongside invitations for calmer activities, such as meditation and yoga. This successfully supports children to develop an awareness of their emotions and teaches strategies to support children to deal with these.

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need to do better?

n Partnerships with parents are excellent. Parents appreciate the child-centred approach and the highly effective, consistent staff team. Staff initially visit children at home, which supports them to build a secure foundation for the partnership. Parents report smooth transitions and staff that are highly attentive to each child's individual needs. Parents feel fully involved in their child's learning and development due to regular and open communication. Staff update parents and carers daily through oral feedback. They also update observations and assessments regularly through an online portal. Additionally, parents visit the setting once a term for a more in-depth discussion about a report summarising their child's learning and development. Enjoyable family events bring parents, children and staff together. n Outdoor learning is an important part of children's everyday routine. They are given numerous opportunities to learn outside during all weathers. Children

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need to do better?

develop physical skills, such as balancing, climbing and running. Furthermore, children use tools, such as saws and screwdrivers, during woodwork sessions to build fine motor control. n The children's voice is at the centre of the curriculum they have designed. Children are given lots of choice about how and where they choose to spend their time. Staff actively listen to the children as they talk and respond to their

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need to do better?

26 May 2022 wishes. Children are encouraged to take risks and given many opportunities to test ideas out; this helps to develop their self-esteem. For example, children pretend to be builders using the construction resources. They are actively encouraged to evaluate their own choices as staff ask 'Is it safe?' and then they carefully monitor children's decisions. n Children's communication and language skills are developed through highly productive conversations with the skilled staff. One of the ways staff do this is through their regular reading of a core set of books. This repetition helps children get to know these stories very well and gives them the language and confidence to retell the stories independently. Furthermore, staff learn key words and phrases in the children's home language to support settling in. All children are given the opportunity to learn Spanish and they enthusiastically count to 10 and join in with rhymes in Spanish.

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need to do better?

n Children's behaviour is excellent. Staff are clear about expectations and children respond positively to instructions. There is a very respectful culture and children mirror this in how they speak to one another. During minor points of conflict, skilled staff support children to talk about the rules of sharing and being kind. n Dedicated staff have an excellent understanding of child development. Staff discuss each child's needs and plan a wide variety of suitable, stimulating activities. Staff are clear about what their children need to learn next and ensure activities are planned. n The committee work closely with management to ensure the very high standards of the setting are maintained and continuously improving. Staff report high levels of support from management, which includes supporting their well-being. Training is given high regard. For example, during the pandemic, all staff were given access online to an early years training provider. Staff discuss their

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need to do better?

learning together during regular staff meetings, sharing new knowledge and skills with one another.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Management and staff have an excellent understanding of their safeguarding roles and give children's welfare and safety the highest regard. Staff regularly attend safeguarding training, which includes information about wider issues, such as female genital mutilation and radicalisation. Staff confidently understand about the signs and symptoms that may indicate abuse and have an excellent understanding of what to do if they are concerned about the welfare of the children in their care. Additionally, management know what to do if an allegation is made about a member of staff. Staff are vigilant and follow the pre-school's policy to maintain a safe and secure environment for the children. Furthermore, staff teach children to keep themselves safe. For example, they teach children to safely use real items, such as knives, screwdrivers and saws with support and close supervision.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY271973 Local authority Cambridgeshire Inspection number 10113225 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 37 Number of children on roll 51

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Name of registered person

Great Gransden Pre School Playgroup Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 01767 677040 Date of previous inspection 26 January 2016

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Information about this early years setting

Great Gransden Pre-school Playgroup originally opened in 1985 and registered again in 2003. The setting employs 11 members of childcare staff. Of these, one is qualified as a teacher and six hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. The setting opens from Monday to Friday, 9am until 3pm, during term time only. The setting 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 Inspector spoke to parents during the inspection and took account of written feedback provided. n The manager and the Inspector completed a learning walk, discussing the curriculum provided and reviewing the learning environment both indoors and outdoors. n The Inspector completed a joint observation of activities and reviewed this with the manager. n The inspector observed the quality of interactions between staff and children, and assessed the impact of these on children's learning. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in 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

26 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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