Lordsmead Pre-School Playgroup

Inspection of Lordsmead Pre-School Playgroup ST PETERS CHURCH HALL LORDSMEAD, CHIPPENHAM, WILTSHIRE SN14 0LL

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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 are happy and clearly enjoy their time spent at the pre-school. Staff have a caring nature that supports children to settle quickly. Children form strong attachments to their key person. This helps children to feel safe and secure and supports their emotional well-being.

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The provision is good

Staff provide exciting learning experiences for children. All children participate in weekly outdoor forest-school sessions. This includes sensory experiences, such as lying on the ground and listening to the leaves rustling overhead. Children enjoy learning about the world around them as they explore the natural materials. Staff have high expectations of even the youngest children and they respect and understand the rules of these sessions. This means they benefit from activities such as climbing trees and using tools which help them manage risks and solve problems.

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The provision is good

Children demonstrate high levels of confidence. Children of all ages independently follow their own interests and access resources they are curious about. They play happily with their peers and form good friendships. The pre-school is inclusive and welcomes all children to learn and play in the supportive environment. All children, including those in receipt of additional funding and with special educational needs and/or disabilities, make good progress from their starting points.

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need to do better?

n The manager has clear aims for the curriculum. She ensures staff carefully plan a breadth of activities across all areas of learning. She knows what she wants children to learn during their time at pre-school. Children are well prepared for starting school. n Staff know children well and they establish positive partnerships with the whole family. Key workers carefully observe their key children to see what they already know and can do. Staff adapt learning to meet children's individual needs. They plan next steps that build on and extend children's learning and development further. n Overall, most staff support children's communication and language development well. For example, children have opportunities to listen to stories and join in with familiar songs. However, some staff ask too many closed questions and use incorrect grammar when talking to children, such as saying 'doggy' instead of 'dog'. Consequently, not all children make the best possible progress in learning

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need to do better?

new vocabulary and developing their early language. n Children benefit from familiar routines as they know what to expect. However, during snack and mealtimes some children wait for long periods and become restless. Care practices could be more effective in supporting children to develop

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need to do better?

7 October 2022 their independence skills. For example, staff complete simple tasks for children that they could do for themselves. n Staff work in effective partnership with parents and other childcare providers. Parents confirm that they are pleased with the regular communication and updates they receive from pre-school. They confirm that they feel their children are well cared for by the whole staff team. Parents are happy with the progress that their children are making. They explain how they are encouraged to support their children's learning at home. n Leaders are competent and well respected by staff and parents. Staff feel well supported and listened to by the manager and her deputy. All staff have regular supervisions with the manager and feel they could openly raise any concerns with her. n The manager is ambitious. She continually reviews practice to provide the best care to children and their families. The manager skilfully identifies staff training

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need to do better?

needs to address any gaps in practice. She provides good professional development opportunities for staff. This helps staff to feel valued and this is reflected in the low staff turnover.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

All staff attend safeguarding training and have a good knowledge of how to keep children safe. They know the signs that may indicate a child is at risk of harm and the procedures to follow if they have concerns about a child's welfare. They know what to do if they have concerns about staff conduct or if allegations are made against them. The manager completes regular safer recruitment training and ensures safer recruitment practices are in place. The committee are aware of their roles and responsibilities to safeguard children. Leaders know what changes they need to notify Ofsted of.

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should:

n develop further the focus on children's early language development so that all children are supported to make the best possible progress n review and improve the organisation of daily routines, to maximise children's learning and promote their independence.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 199368 Local authority Wiltshire Inspection number 10234282 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 32 Number of children on roll 51 Name of registered person Lordsmead Pre-School Playgroup Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 01249 464 222 Date of previous inspection 30 January 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Lordsmead Pre-School Playgroup opened in 1976. It operates from St Peter's Church Hall in Chippenham, Wiltshire. The playgroup employs twelve members of staff. Of those, ten hold appropriate early years qualifications at levels 2, 3 and 4. The playgroup is open Monday to Friday, during term time only. Sessions are from 9am to 11.55am and from midday to 3pm. Children can attend from 9am to 3pm. The playgroup receives funding to provide free early education 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 her evaluation of the provider. n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the pre-school and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of an adult-led activity with the manager. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector spoke with a member of the committee. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, 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 their opinions into account. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the

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Inspection activities

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

7 October 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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