Birstall Preschool

Inspection of Birstall Preschool Carr Street, Birstall, BATLEY, West Yorkshire WF17 9DX

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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

The manager has a clear vision for the setting with a detailed understanding for the curriculum intent. Staff plan a broad and sequenced curriculum, which reflects children's interests and builds on what they already know and can do. Children are happy to be at the setting. They feel safe in the care of the kind and nurturing staff. These warm relationships and children's sense of security are evident across the setting, and especially so in the baby room. Staff working with these very young children understand the importance of lots of smiles and cuddles. They know how the reassurance of familiar faces contributes to babies' sense of belonging. Throughout the nursery, there are lots of happy and confident children, who thoroughly enjoy their play and learning.

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The provision is good

Children use their imaginations in the well-resourced role-play areas. They play in the mud kitchen and talk about the pies which they have made. Children are delighted as they fill pans with soil and bark mixture, and stir the soil with real kitchen utensils. Later, with staff's support, they turn the large outdoor tyre into a pirate ship and become pirates. Children learn new words, such as 'freezing' and 'icy', as they pretend to jump in the sea.

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need to do better?

n Children benefit from a curriculum that is clearly defined and understood by staff. The staff team meet regularly to discuss children's progress and complete regular assessments. This informs their teaching and the planning of next steps for all children. Activities are designed well to give children a rounded and secure set of skills by the time they leave to start school. n Children immerse themselves in sensory experiences. For instance, babies explore cornflour and enjoying painting with their hands. Older children recall how they made play dough. They use their senses to explore different scents, such as cinnamon, orange and ginger, as they add ingredients to their dough. Staff skilfully incorporate mathematics into children's play, encouraging them to count and talk about weight and length. n Overall, children develop their communication and language skills well. They sing, share books and enjoy discussions with staff throughout the day. Staff

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need to do better?

value the other languages that children speak. They work with parents to help children to become fluent in speaking English. However, at times, staff let some children spend longer than they need with dummies in their mouths. This limits their opportunities to practise their developing speaking skills. n All children make good progress from when they first start. The special educational needs coordinator supports the staff team effectively to ensure that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities receive prompt and targeted early help and support. She works exceptionally well with parents and

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need to do better?

5 October 2022 other professionals to create individual learning plans to close any gaps in children's learning. n Children make independent choices about their learning, choosing from the wide range of resources and equipment on offer. Older children manage their own personal hygiene, such as washing their hands. Staff continually praise children to raise their self-esteem. However, staff could do more to promote children's independence with other personal care skills, particularly at mealtimes. At times, children are not always provided with correct cutlery and taught to use cutlery consistently. On occasions, children eat with their fingers. n Parent partnerships are strong. They comment that staff go beyond expectations to provide support and advice to families. Staff provide recipes for parents and children access a lending library to take their favourite books home. Parents give positive feedback. They appreciate the dedicated support and communication.

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need to do better?

n The manager supports most staff well. She develops and guides their practice to improve the quality of their teaching. Staff attend regular staff meetings, and contribute to action plans and policies. For example, staff have recently developed the outdoor area for children to grow vegetables and fruit, which they use during cooking activities.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

All staff are knowledgeable about child protection matters and understand how to keep children safe. They receive up-to-date training and can accurately identify the possible signs that a child may be at risk of harm. Staff know the procedures to follow if they have concerns about a child, including a range of safeguarding issues, such as the 'Prevent' duty. Staff complete regular risk assessments of the indoor and outdoor environments, to ensure children's well-being and safety. The manager uses robust recruitment procedures to ensure staff suitability to work with children.

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should:

n consider how children's use of dummies can be reduced even more to further enhance their developing communication and language skills n encourage children's independence during mealtimes, with regard to providing and using cutlery.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY420819 Local authority Kirklees Inspection number 10229573 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 44 Number of children on roll 88 Name of registered person Birstall Pre-School Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 01924 444 200 Date of previous inspection 19 January 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Birstall Preschool registered in 2010 and is located in Batley, West Yorkshire. The pre-school employs 22 members of childcare staff. Of these, 18 hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above, including one who holds early years professional status. The pre-school opens all year round from 7.30am until 6pm, Monday to Friday. It 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 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 inspector and manager completed a learning walk where they discussed how the provision was organised. n The inspector observed activities and the quality of staff's interactions with children. She spoke to managers, trustees, staff and children at appropriate times throughout the inspection. n The inspector spoke to parents on the telephone and took account of their views. The inspector also took account of written testimonials from parents. n The inspector sampled some of the provider's documentation, including the safeguarding policy and procedures. n The inspector completed a joint observation of an activity with the manager.

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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 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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