Lowdham Preschool

Inspection of Lowdham Preschool Village Hall, Main Street, Lowdham, NOTTINGHAM NG14 7BD

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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 enjoy their time at pre-school. They enter the setting with confidence and happily say goodbye to their parents. Children are independent. For example, they readily volunteer to make snack for their friends. Staff supervise children as they safely use a knife to butter crumpets. Children know the routine. They serve themselves snack and clear away their dirty plates and cups. This helps children to learn to do things for themselves.

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The provision is good

Children demonstrate secure attachments. For example, they freely hug and cuddle staff. Children are making friends. They are keen to invite others to sit with them at lunchtime. Children show interest in others. They listen to each other as they talk about what they have for lunch. This encourages children to share information and become confident communicators.

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The provision is good

Children embrace outdoor play. They excitedly create an obstacle course with staff and children say 'this is cool!' Children line up and take turns to crawl through tunnels, climb over tyres and walk carefully across balance beams. This helps children to develop their muscle strength and coordination skills. Other children work together to make a mud cake. They agree different roles, such as fetching water, gathering wood shavings and stirring the mixture. This helps to develop children's social skills.

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need to do better?

n Since the last inspection, the manager has undertaken a full review of the pre- school's risk assessments. This includes the supervision of children in order to keep them protected from unnecessary risk. Staff effectively support children to manage their personal care needs, and give consistent messages to help children to follow instructions. This helps children to develop the skills they need to support their readiness for starting school. n Staff support children's language and communication skills well. For example, children have learned the word 'metamorphosis'. Children eagerly tell visitors that this is when a caterpillar turns into a cocoon and then into a butterfly. Staff extend this and explain the butterfly will 'emerge' from the cocoon. This encourages children to expand their vocabulary. n Staff help children to develop their small-muscle skills. For example, staff notice when children struggle to open packets. They model how to use their fingers

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need to do better?

and thumbs. Children copy and show pride as they succeed. In addition, children use chalks to make marks. They draw circles and lines as they try to write the names of vegetables. This helps children to develop the muscles that they need for early writing. n Staff understand how to implement the pre-school's curriculum to help children

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need to do better?

5 July 2022 continually learn and gain further knowledge. They identify children's interests, plus any specific targets that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities may have. However, occasionally, staff do not interact effectively with some children, meaning that children could make even more progress than they currently do. n Staff support children's early mathematical skills. Children sit with staff and stack dominoes. They use language such as 'taller' and 'bigger'. Staff challenge children to compare the piles. Children identify which one is taller. In addition, children take part in a scavenger hunt. Staff challenge children to find 12 different items from nature. Children learn to sort objects into groups. n Staff encourage children to experiment. For example, children want to put one sandcastle on top of another. When this does not work, staff help children to consider what happened. Children are given time to think and give suggestions.

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need to do better?

Children keep trying and discover things for themselves. n Staff provide children with healthy snacks and fresh drinking water. Children demonstrate good hygiene routines. They know to wash their hands after they use the toilet and before eating. Staff provide gentle reminders when necessary. n Overall, group activities help children to learn. For example, children enjoy talking about emotions. Staff encourage children to talk about how they feel. Children laugh as they practise making grumpy faces. However, some children lose focus and become distracted. This means that children's learning is disrupted as they are unable to fully engage well in the activity. n Leaders and managers have developed positive relationships with parents. This helps them to learn about children's different life experiences and allows them to expand on this. Parents feel that their children are making good progress.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff have a strong knowledge of the possible signs that may indicate a child is at risk of harm. They know the procedure to follow should they need to report a concern about a child, and how to report concerns about another member of staff. The manager ensures safer recruitment checks are undertaken to confirm the ongoing suitability of staff working with children. Children are well supervised indoors and outdoors. Children are learning how to be safe. For example, when outdoors, staff remind children to be careful when looking at flowers as there may be bees on them, which could sting.

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should:

n review the organisation of group times to ensure that children remain focused, concentrate and learn as much as they can

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should:

5 July 2022 n help staff to improve interactions with children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, to ensure that all children make good progress.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 253347 Local authority Nottinghamshire County Council Inspection number 10233265 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 52 Number of children on roll 52 Name of registered person Lowdham Pre-School Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 07432 775 965 Date of previous inspection 10 March 2022

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Information about this early years setting

Lowdham Preschool is located in Lowdham, Nottingham. It registered in 1974. The pre-school employs 11 members of childcare staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications between levels 3 to 6. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday during term time only. Sessions are from 9am until 3pm. A lunch club is provided every day from 12pm until 1pm. A breakfast club is run from 7.30am until 9am. 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 COVID-19 pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want the children to learn. n The inspector spoke to children to find out about their time at the setting. n The inspector spoke to the staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector viewed the quality of education being provided indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The inspector observed the interactions between staff and children. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector.

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Inspection activities

n The manager showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate 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

5 July 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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