Abbotsbury School

Inspection of Abbotsbury School Abbotsbury School, 90 Torquay Road, Newton Abbot, Devon TQ12 2JD

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Overall effectiveness Good

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

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The provision is good

Children thoroughly enjoy attending this welcoming and friendly school. Staff greet children individually by name. They ensure they receive any personal information from parents and carers during drop-off, to support a smooth transition for children. Children form strong attachments to their respective key persons, who are all warm and nurturing. Children settle exceptionally well and feel safe and secure in their environment.

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The provision is good

All children make strong progress from their starting points, including those in receipt of additional funding. Children have an exceptional understanding of health and hygiene. They know to flush the toilet and wash their hands, even though they cannot see the germs. Children recognise the importance of healthy foods and act out role play scenarios with dolls to demonstrate their understanding. For instance, children inform staff that the dolls are poorly because they have eaten too many unhealthy foods. They confidently sort through plastic play food, selecting fruit and vegetables to help the dolls feel better.

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The provision is good

Children behave meticulously. They are kind and respectful to one another and are keen to work collaboratively. Children support each other during activities and work as a team when tidying up. They share and take turns exceptionally well and enjoy responsibilities, such as being the 'leader for the day'. Children help prepare snack for their peers and enjoy carrying out small tasks with a highly positive attitude.

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need to do better?

n Children have a strong understanding of mathematics. Older children create their own repeating patterns. First, they decide upon a design and draw it on paper. Next, they use plastic cubes to represent it. Children confidently show how they can make more complex patterns using up to four colours. Younger children enjoy choosing hidden farm animals from inside a bag. They count how many legs the toy animal has and can understand mathematical language such as 'upside down', 'on top of' and 'next to'. n Staff support children's language skills well, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). They ensure they use a set of core words that relate to the curriculum topic. Staff extend these where appropriate to ensure all children hear and learn new vocabulary. Children demonstrate good understanding. Younger children use simple sentences, and older children confidently elaborate on their ideas.

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need to do better?

n Children enjoy growing a variety of herbs, fruits and vegetables in the outside area, such as rosemary, strawberries, potatoes and lavender. Inside, they grow sunflowers and make observational paintings of these. Older children skilfully name and label parts of the sunflower, including petal, stem and root. Children

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need to do better?

12 July 2022 enjoy making marks using water and brushes, which encourages early writing development. However, the outside curriculum is not as rich, meaning children do not have consistent opportunities to access all areas of learning when outdoors, to enhance their development even further. n Partnerships with parents are effective. Staff provide parents with relevant information about children's development, including the required progress check for children between the ages of two and three. Parents comment how children have progressed in their learning since starting and how they have settled well. Children also voice their opinions about the setting, stating 'I am happy when I come to school.' n Staff morale is high. They feel well supported by class leaders and the provider. Regular training, staff supervision and team meetings enable everyone to contribute their skills and knowledge to benefit children. Additionally, staff work

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need to do better?

closely with other professionals to ensure a consistent approach to children's learning. n Children enjoy a range of literacy activities. Older children find letters of their name written on wooden pegs. They peg them onto their paper dinosaurs, saying the sound for each letter. Younger children enjoy listening to a good range of stories. Staff use actions to accompany the stories, to encourage children to join in and sustain their concentration. n Staff ensure they plan activities based on children's interests and individual needs. They bury 'dinosaur eggs' in the soil and sand tray to encourage children to use their finger muscles to dig and find them. Children show delight when they find the eggs, counting them as they go.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Children have a good understanding of how to keep themselves safe when walking up and down the stairs. They know to hold on to the banister to prevent them from falling. When outside, children know not to touch they bees as they can sting. Children understand the importance of staying hydrated in hot weather and know to wear sun hats to protect their heads from burning. The provider and staff have a strong understanding of their roles and responsibilities in keeping children safe from harm. They know to contact relevant local safeguarding partners if they have a concern about a child's welfare.

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should:

n extend the range of opportunities outside to help children explore and investigate a rich and broad variety of experiences, to enhance their development even further.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY337315 Local authority Devon Inspection number 10073710 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 65 Number of children on roll 95 Name of registered person Manley, Richard John

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reference number

Telephone number 01626 352 164 Date of previous inspection 24 February 2016

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Information about this early years setting

Abbotsbury School is an independent school which opened in 1960. The school is located in a Victorian villa in Newton Abbot, Devon. There are 14 members of staff, most of whom hold appropriate childcare qualifications at level 3 and level 2. The school is open every weekday during term time, from 8am to 5pm. It receives free early education funding for children aged two, three and four years.

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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 children during the inspection. n Parents and grandparents communicated their opinions about the provision to the inspector and these were taken into account. n A joint observation was carried out with the provider, where the quality of teaching was discussed. n The inspector and the provider completed a learning walk together and discussed the early years curriculum and what they want children to learn. n The provider gave the inspector a sample of key documentation on request.

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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

12 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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