Willow Tree Preschool

Inspection of Willow Tree Preschool Barn Cottage Pavillion, Barn Cottage Lane, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH16 3QN

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Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

The quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement Personal development Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Inadequate

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The provision requires improvement

Children arrive happily. They are greeted at the front door by staff and welcomed into the pre-school. Babies have a dedicated area within the main pre-school room. However, they join the older children at times during the day. Babies are not always closely supervised when they are in the main room. They are often left while staff carry out other tasks, such as preparing snack or helping children to use the toilet. This has an impact on how well all children's needs are met.

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The provision requires improvement

Outside, children enjoy playing with bats and balls. They are encouraged to play with each other and take turns. For example, children pass different spices to each other to smell before they add them to play dough. They are beginning to form friendships and an understanding of the rules and boundaries. For example, children know that they need coats on outside and are learning how to do this independently.

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The provision requires improvement

Children freely access the resources and activities that staff have prepared. For example, children use spoons to scoop out the seeds from pumpkins. They explore dressed-up dolls on a display for Diwali. Children use scoops to collect and pour coloured lentils. The environment is set up well to provoke children's interests. However, staff are not always available to encourage children's learning further.

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need to do better?

n The manager has improved the recruitment arrangements since the last inspection. She ensures all references are received before staff are allowed to start working at the pre-school. The manager is in the process of recruiting some new staff. However, the current staffing arrangements do not meet the needs of all children. For example, young children are not supervised closely enough during mealtimes. At times, children run around with food before being encouraged to sit down. Staff are not able to effectively meet all children's needs all of the time. n Staff feel well supported. They have regular meetings with the manager to discuss any concerns. Staff have access to an online training portal and have recently completed a number of training courses. They share what they have learned at regular staff meetings. n Children and babies sit together to eat their packed lunches. They enjoy healthy snacks that are provided. However, staff do not consistently inform parents of

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need to do better?

healthy eating or the dangers of tooth decay. For example, younger children have juice in bottles. This does not promote children's oral health. n The manager is clear about what they are teaching children. She has identified that there is a gap in children's language development. The manager works with outside agencies to seek advice and strategies about how to encourage

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need to do better?

1 November 2022 children's language. However, some children are not always supported effectively. At times, staff use too much language with younger children and do not always extend older children's language. As a result, opportunities to develop children's communication are not being fully utilised. n The manager has implemented a new system to track the progress children are making and to support how they deliver the curriculum. Staff regularly monitor how well children are achieving. They plan activities based on children's individual interests. The manager plans to share children's development with parents at the next parents' meeting. n Parents are happy with the care their children receive. They feel they are kept informed about the activities their children take part in. However, they are not aware of the areas of development staff are focusing on. Parents are not given ideas to support their children's leaning at home. Despite this, parents feel able

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need to do better?

to discuss their children's development with staff. n Children are learning to be independent. For example, they freely access water from the new water stations. Children are encouraged to wash their hands before and after eating and are beginning to remember to do this without being reminded. n Children are taken on outings when staffing allows. They wear high-visibility vests when they visit the local forest area. Staff sometimes take children on the bus to the local library.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The designated lead for safeguarding understands her role and how to refer any concerns to the local safeguarding partners. She understands what to do if an allegation is made against a member of staff. Staff know how to identify if a child is at risk of harm. They know the procedure to follow to report any concerns they may have. Staff have recently updated their safeguarding training. The manager has attended training to update her knowledge on how to recruit staff safely. As a result, recruitment is robust. Risk assessments are carried out daily.

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Due date

ensure staffing arrangements meet the needs of all children and that children are adequately supervised, including while eating 30/11/2022

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Due date

1 November 2022 ensure children's oral health is promoted and information is shared with parents about healthy foods and drinks 30/11/2022

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Due date

ensure staff understand the importance of providing a language-rich environment to enable and promote children's communication development. 30/11/2022

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should:

n develop how the curriculum is implemented to ensure all children's individual developmental needs are met n improve partnership working with parents to enable parents to support their children's learning at home.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2532038 Local authority West Sussex Inspection number 10243807 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 24 Number of children on roll 18 Name of registered person Pile, Louise

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reference number

Telephone number 07861612492 Date of previous inspection 6 May 2022

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Information about this early years setting

Willow Tree Preschool opened in 2019 and operates in Haywards Heath, West Sussex. The setting is open term time only, from Monday to Friday, 9am to 3.30pm. The setting employs four members of staff. Of these, two staff members hold appropriate level 3 qualifications and two staff members hold level 2 qualifications. The pre-school is in receipt of funding for the provision of free early education for children aged three and four years.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed any continued impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want their children to learn. n Staff spoke to the inspector during the inspection. 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 account of their views. n The inspector sampled documentation, including staff recruitment files.

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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

1 November 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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