Lydlynch Preschool

Inspection of Lydlynch Preschool Lydlynch Infant School, Lydlynch Road, Totton, Southampton SO40 3DW

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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 Good

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The provision is good

Children arrive eager to play and happily leave their parents at the gate outside. Nurturing staff support those children who are a little unsure and offer cuddles for reassurance. This helps to promote their emotional security. Children clearly enjoy their time at the setting. They concentrate well and busy themselves in a variety of activities. For example, they enjoy making marks in the cornflour with their fingers and in the toy dinosaur's feet. Children are independent learners and are motivated to achieve what they set out to do. For instance, they are excited to create potions with herbs, flowers and bath bombs in the mud kitchen.

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The provision is good

Children enjoy planting and harvesting the home-grown fruit and vegetables in the garden. This encourages them to adopt a healthy lifestyle and understand where food comes from. Children spend plenty of time outside developing their physical skills, which improves their strength and coordination. For example, they enjoy climbing on the climbing frame and balancing on the balance beam.

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The provision is good

Children behave well; they use good manners and share the toys with their friends. Staff encourage them to take an active part in their own self-care. For instance, children know how to brush their teeth and show excitement in this part of their routine.

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need to do better?

n The manager is very reflective and strives to make the setting the best it can be for the children and families who attend. The setting organises trips for the children to places such as the zoo and the farm. This supports children to gain a greater understanding of the world around them. n The manager recognises the impact of the pandemic on children's communication and language skills. She has embedded a strong emphasis on supporting children's speech and language development. Staff use songs, story time and small-group time to help children hear new words and extend their vocabulary. Children enjoy listening to stories outside in the reading shed. n Staff complete regular training for their ongoing professional development. Some funding is spent on staff training, which the manager targets to benefit the children. For example, some staff have completed training on communication and language to support children's speech development.

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need to do better?

n Children enjoy being creative, using magnetic shapes, dough and craft materials, for example. However, at times, during planned activities, staff do not always allow children to follow their own creative ideas. They tell them where to put the glue and what to stick where, and often staff do these tasks for children. This means that some children are not developing their own creativity, which does not give enough value to their achievements.

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need to do better?

22 September 2022 n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) have tailored support to help them make progress. The manager and staff identify children with SEND through observations and assessments. Staff establish close working relationships with parents. They work with them, and other professionals, to ensure a suitable curriculum is put in place. Where formal plans are needed, these are completed in time for children to move on to the next stage in their learning with the correct level of support. n Staff support children's mathematics with lots of opportunities to count. However, at times, staff do not recognise good opportunities that arise to extend children's mathematical knowledge, such as when they are filling different-sized pots in the mud kitchen. n Staff work well together as a team. They have regular meetings where they discuss children's progress, any gaps in their learning and how best to support

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need to do better?

them. Staff speak highly of the manager. They comment how they feel valued and well supported by her. The manager has a good oversight of her staff team, and their well-being is important. She has regular supervision meetings with all staff. n Parents are very supportive of the setting and speak highly of the staff team. They say that they are happy about the care their children receive. Parents are pleased with their children's progress and feel supported when their children need additional support.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff have a good knowledge and understanding of how to safeguard children. They can identify the signs and symptoms that may indicate a child is at risk of harm. Staff are aware of how to report any concerns, including allegations made against staff. The manager ensures that staff's knowledge is secure, with training and regular quizzes and updates shared in team meetings. Staff maintain a safe environment for children. They complete thorough risk assessments to ensure the environment and premises are safe. The manager has robust recruitment processes, to ensure that those who are employed have the necessary suitability checks.

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should:

n extend further the support for children to develop their mathematical understanding n provide more opportunities for children to follow their own creative ideas, particularly in planned activities.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY309670 Local authority Hampshire Inspection number 10228049 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 28 Number of children on roll 38 Name of registered person Lydlynch Pre-School Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 02380 863176 Date of previous inspection 4 November 2016

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Information about this early years setting

Lydlynch Preschool registered in 2005. It operates from Lydlynch Infant School in Totton, Southampton. The setting is open Monday to Friday, from 8am until 3.15pm, term time only. The provider receives funding to provide free early years education for children aged two, three and four. There are nine staff employed to work with the children. Of these, four have early years qualifications at level 3, one staff member holds a level 4 qualification, and the manager holds a level 5 qualification. The setting also offers a breakfast club to children attending Lydlynch Infant School from 8am each morning.

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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 manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the setting and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector observed the interactions between staff and children. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The special educational needs coordinator spoke to the inspector about how they support children with SEND. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of a group activity with the manager. n Parents shared their views of the setting 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

22 September 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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