Oakley Pre-School

Inspection of Oakley Pre-School Methodist Church Hall, High Street, Oakley, Bedfordshire MK43 7RG

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Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

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

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The provision requires improvement

The provider has not ensured that information regarding committee members supplied to Ofsted is correct. Children enter the setting happily and are ready to learn. They have developed good relationships with staff and quickly become engaged in activities. During the morning dance session, staff support those children who choose not to participate by allowing them to observe. This supports children to develop their confidence at their own pace.

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The provision requires improvement

Staff are knowledgeable about all children in the setting and of the next steps in their learning. This ensures all children made good progress. Children are well behaved and polite. They actively seek each other out to play with. Children readily take turns, listen to each other and contribute to each other's play ideas. This helps to develop their social skills.

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The provision requires improvement

Children have opportunities to develop their mathematical skills throughout all areas of the setting. They talk about the length of time they have been fishing with a member of staff. Children investigate differing ways of looking at the time, including on a digital watch and on the clock in the garden. At the snack table, children cut their fruit independently. They talk about cutting it in half and giving this to their friends. Other children count the number of pieces they have cut their satsuma into.

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need to do better?

n The provider has not returned the correct forms for all committee members in order to provide Ofsted with the appropriate information to check their suitability. However, committee members do not have unsupervised contact with children or have sole responsibility in making decisions that affect children's well-being. n Staff create activities in the environment which excite children to learn. Children concentrate at activities for long periods of time and enjoy completing investigations. For instance, they see how far they can make a bean bag fly when catapulted from the slanted beam. They measure how far each one goes with an object and then look to see if they can beat that. This is extended further when a staff member attempts to catch the bean bags as they fly in the air. Children are quick to join in, developing their physical skills further. n Key persons know their children well. They share information effectively with

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need to do better?

each other, so that they have a good knowledge of all children who attend. This helps to ensure that all children make good progress. Children with additional needs are supported well throughout the setting. The manager and her team work closely with professionals to ensure that the environment is adapted to support all children.

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need to do better?

5 May 2022 n Staff monitor all children's development well and quickly identify gaps in learning. Staff use effective teaching techniques. They encourage children to think of ideas and follow their lead. For example, when building an ice-cream truck in the garden, staff encourage children to think of the most stable base before helping them to build. This develops children's cognitive skills. n Staff support children's language development exceptionally well. They introduce a wide vocabulary to children when reading stories. For example, staff use the word 'camouflage' to explain how animals hide in the jungle. They engage children in conversations, prompting discussions about their interests. This helps children to become confident speakers and develop excellent communication skills. n Parents speak highly of the setting. They appreciate the level of communication they receive, both day to day and on their child's overall development. They feel

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need to do better?

included in their children's learning. The setting offers parents activity ideas to support them in guiding their children's learning at home. Where children attend more than one setting, staff share lots of relevant information with other providers. Local childminders praise the information they receive and compliment how well the staff work with them. n The manager has a clear vision for the setting, moving forward. She has a good understanding of her curriculum intent, and this is successfully implemented by her staff team. Staff report that their morale is high, and they are proud to be part of a team that puts children at the heart of what they do.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

All staff receive safeguarding training, and the manager ensures this is kept up to date. Staff are knowledgeable on the signs and symptoms of abuse and know whom they report any concerns to. Staff have completed training on the wider aspects of safeguarding, such as the 'Prevent' duty guidance and County Lines. Staff are aware of what to do if an allegation is made against a member of staff. Robust recruitment and vetting arrangements are in place to help ensure that all staff working with children are suitable.

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Due date

provide Ofsted with the necessary information to enable suitability checks to be carried out for all members of the committee. 06/06/2022

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Setting details

Unique reference number 219186 Local authority Bedford Inspection number 10137431 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Sessional day care

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inspection

Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 43 Name of registered person Oakley Pre-School Playgroup Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 01234 826 452 Date of previous inspection 23 January 2014

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Information about this early years setting

Oakley Pre-School registered in 1968 and is situated in Oakley, Bedfordshire. There are seven members of staff employed to work with the children. Of these, three hold an appropriate early years qualification at level 3, one holds level 4, one holds level 6 and one has qualified teacher status. The pre-school is open Monday to Friday from 9.15am to 3.30pm during term time only. It receives funding for the provision of 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 the evaluations of the provider. n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together of all the areas of the setting and discussed their curriculum and what they want children to learn. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this was having on children's learning n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation of a group activity. n Parents spoke to the inspector and shared their views with her about their experiences of the setting. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff and committee members.

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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

5 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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