St John's Pre-School Nursery

Inspection of St John's Pre-School Nursery 81 Delamere Street, Winsford CW7 2LX

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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 Not applicable

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The provision is good

Children thrive in this calm and purposeful pre-school. They build positive relationships with staff, who are warm and caring. Staff have high expectations for children's progress and are highly effective at meeting their individual needs. The embedded key-worker system means the staff get to know the children really well and support them to understand their emotions. These bonds help children to feel safe and secure.

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The provision is good

Children play confidently and happily together. They form close friendships and show positive attitudes towards one another. For example, children take turns pouring coloured water from a jug and share tubes of glitter as they make 'friendship potions'. Staff model good speaking and listening skills. They introduce new vocabulary and skilfully adapt their teaching so that all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), progress well.

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The provision is good

Children relish their time in the outdoor area and benefit from lots of opportunities to engage with the natural world. For example, they enjoy growing a variety of plants and vegetables and are eager to pick the peas from pods when they are ready. This creates a wealth of learning opportunities about where our food comes from and life cycles, which the children recall with enthusiasm.

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need to do better?

n The manager has a clear and ambitious vision for the pre-school and a well- thought-out curriculum. This is planned and sequenced so that all children build up the knowledge they need gradually and securely. n The pre-school prides itself on being an inclusive setting which welcomes children of all abilities. All children, including those with SEND, are provided with well-tailored support and individual plans to ensure good progression is made. n The manager acts with integrity in using the additional funding received. She provides one-to-one support for the children who need it, regardless of financial assistance. This supports the staff, reduces their workload and promotes their well-being. n Self-evaluation is accurate and identifies areas for managers to develop further. A good programme of supervision and training develops the practice and knowledge of staff. However, staff are not made aware of any weakness in their

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need to do better?

practice. This means they do not always know how to make improvements to their teaching. For example, interactions with children are not always of consistently high quality. This minor weakness has not been addressed. n Opportunities for outdoor play are plentiful. The children demonstrate their gross-motor skills as they climb and balance on wooden blocks and chase after their friends. Staff teach children to take appropriate risks and challenges as

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need to do better?

14 July 2022 they play. This builds their confidence and resilience and gives them a sense of achievement when they succeed. n Children demonstrate a secure knowledge of the daily routines. For instance, during a well-organised snack time, children remember to wash their hands, self-serve their choice of fruits and cheese with metal tongs and tidy up afterwards. However, healthy choices are not promoted consistently, as some of the children bring bottles of juice and unhealthy snacks in to the setting. This does not positively promote children's good oral health. n Hygiene practices are effective across the setting because staff teach children to become increasingly independent in managing their personal needs. n Mathematical concepts are incorporated throughout the setting in an age- appropriate way. This helps children to build a deep understanding of number and counting. n Staff prepare children for their next stage well and provide lots of opportunities

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need to do better?

for developing their confidence and character. Children benefit from strong links with the local primary schools and are well supported through visits and regular discussions, for their move on to school. n Children become active members of the local community. For example, they walk to a nearby post office to post a letter and take a trip by bus to the local supermarket to buy ingredients. This helps children to develop confidence and a growing understanding of the world around them. n Parents are provided with daily updates about their children's learning. Innovative ideas such as 'Borrow me bags' and 'Bertie bear' allow parents to further support children's learning and development at home. Parents speak highly about the pre-school and comment on the significant progress that their children have made.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager has instilled a positive safeguarding culture throughout the setting. All staff have completed safeguarding training and fully understand their responsibilities to record and report any safeguarding concerns swiftly. Staff teach children about keeping safe and potential hazards, such as reminding them that the floor is slippery when wet. They also give children gentle prompts to tidy up so they do not trip and fall. This allows the children to begin to manage their own risks and learn to keep themselves safe. Robust recruitment arrangements ensure that all staff are suitable to work with children and the premises are safe and secure.

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should:

14 July 2022 n strengthen the current arrangements for staff supervision and peer observations, to ensure that staff are more consistent in their teaching and interactions with children n maximise opportunities to help children to develop positive attitudes to healthy eating.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2551175 Local authority Cheshire West and Chester Inspection number 10215739 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 Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 44 Number of children on roll 70 Name of registered person St John's Pre-School Nursery Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 07391586831 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

St John's Pre-School Nursery registered in 2019. It is situated in Winsford, Cheshire. The pre-school employs 13 members of childcare staff. Of these, nine hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and two have achieved early years professional status. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, term time only. Sessions are from 8am until 3pm. The pre-school 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 setting 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 setting. n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the setting and discussed the early years curriculum and what they want the children to learn. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager and discussed the impact of teaching on children's learning. n The inspector talked to children and staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, both indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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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

14 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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