Sowood Pre-School And Community Association

Inspection of Sowood Pre-School And Community Association Sowood Pre School, Stainland Road, Sowood, Halifax, Yorkshire HX4 9HY

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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 Inadequate

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The provision is good

Children's smiles and laughter are contagious in this welcoming pre-school. They enjoy their time here and show that they are happy, content and feel safe.

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The provision is good

Children use their hands and a range of tools to flatten play dough. They show their concentration skills and small muscle development as they stick birthday candles into holders. Children make pretend cakes. They hold conversations with each other and staff about the recent Jubilee celebrations. Children explain that the 'Queen's name is Elizabeth', that she has 'curly hair' and 'wears a purple hat'. They decide to make pizza for the Queen and discuss that she would like 'pepperoni, sweetcorn, ham, and mushroom' toppings. Children put their pretend food in the oven and make cups of tea. They engage in imaginative role play based on their own first-hand experiences. Staff have high expectations for children and place a great emphasis on back-and-forth conversations with them. Children are confident communicators. They develop the skills they will need for their move on to school.

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The provision is good

Children's behaviour is good. They show kindness and respect to their friends and adults. For example, children praise their friends for their good counting as they stick 17 candles in their pretend cake. They show a positive attitude to their play and learning.

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need to do better?

n Managers and staff have worked hard to meet the actions raised at the last inspection. They use assessment well to check what children already know and can do. Children make good progress from their starting points. n Staff model language well. They use signs and actions when speaking so that all children understand their words. Staff show children how to clap their hands and count the number of syllables in their name. They help children to learn about the structure of words. Staff teach children vital skills for their language and literacy development. n Children learn about similarities and differences between themselves and others. For instance, as they make pretend birthday cakes, they discuss that not everyone celebrates birthdays. Staff help children to learn that it is ok to be different. They prepare children well for the wider world. n Staff have good links with local schools. They provide a transition document to

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need to do better?

teachers with details of each child's current learning and development skills, health and medical needs. Staff also use a communication book to share information with other settings that children attend. They support children's continuity of learning well. n Staff prepare children well for their move on to school. Children try on school uniforms and talk about the school day. Teachers visit children in the pre-school

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need to do better?

13 June 2022 and invite them to the school with their parents. This helps children to prepare emotionally for the wider social network of school. n Managers encourage staff to complete training to enhance their professional development. They hold discussions through team meetings, training days and supervision meetings to check on staff's well-being. Managers support staff to undertake peer observations to help improve their individual practice. However, this procedure is not yet fully embedded to ensure a consistently high standard in the teaching of the curriculum. n A strength of the pre-school is the support it has in place for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Staff work with children on a one- to-one basis to help them achieve the best possible outcomes. Managers use funding effectively to provide children with additional learning opportunities. n Parents speak highly about their children's care and learning experiences at the

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need to do better?

nursery. They explain how they have seen their children grow in confidence in social situations, such as when they take them out to restaurants. There is an effective key-person system in place that supports good relationships with parents. n Children have lots of opportunities to develop their physical skills. They hop, slither like snakes and crawl like turtles when they take part in group activities. Children shout 'watch how I can balance' as they ride wheeled toys. They confidently invite visitors to a tour of the outdoor area and show how proud they are of all the resources available to them. n Staff support children's mathematical development well. They encourage counting as children take part in a range of activities. However, staff do not always challenge children's counting skills to help extend their knowledge of numbers further.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The designated safeguarding lead and all staff have improved their safeguarding knowledge, practice and procedures to keep children safe from harm. All staff have a good understanding of the possible signs and symptoms of abuse. They know their role and responsibilities to act on any concerns about a child's welfare. Staff keep detailed information about any injuries that a child may sustain. They are aware of the 'Prevent' duty guidance and other safeguarding issues, such as female genital mutilation, gang-related crime and witchcraft. The designated safeguarding lead attends multi-agency meetings to learn about local issues and the role of other agencies in child protection matters.

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should:

13 June 2022 n embed the system for monitoring staff's practice to ensure teaching is consistently of a high standard n support staff to challenge children's already good understanding of mathematical concepts, such as counting.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY561596 Local authority Calderdale Inspection number 10218062 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 21

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Name of registered person

Sowood Pre-School And Community Association

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reference number

Telephone number 01422374367 Date of previous inspection 26 November 2021

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Information about this early years setting

Sowood Pre-School And Community Association registered in 2018 and is managed by a committee. It is situated in Sowood, Halifax. The pre-school employs five members of childcare staff. Of these, three hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and above, including one with a level 6 qualification. 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 The inspector discussed any continued impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The manager completed a learning walk with the inspector and discussed the early years curriculum. n Children told the inspector what they like to do when they are at pre-school. 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 Parents shared their views about staff and the pre-school with the inspector.

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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

13 June 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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