Low Fell Community Pre-School

Inspection of Low Fell Community Pre-School Low Fell Community Pre School, Gateshead Fell Cricket Club, Eastwood Gardens, Low Fell, Gateshead NE9 5UB

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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 and parents receive a warm welcome when they arrive at this lovely pre- school. They settle quickly, including those children who are new to the pre-school. Staff are kind, nurturing and reassuring. Children develop independence when they learn where to hang their coats and bags before joining their friends. Children enjoy developing their physical skills by playing in the garden. They use balance bikes and ride-on toys as well as having space to run and jump. Children happily splash in puddles, walk along a tyre-assault course, and roll hoops to their friends. This helps to develop their balance, spatial awareness and coordination.

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The provision is good

Staff have a good understanding of each child's learning needs and adapt activities to support them to make good progress. For example, toddlers enjoy splashing in water and older children manipulate dough. Staff talk to children and ask them questions to extend their vocabulary. They use words such as 'squash, roll' and 'splash'. This helps children to develop their vocabulary and learn through their different senses. All children in the pre-school demonstrate positive behaviour. Staff have high expectations and are clear about what behaviour is expected. Children feel comfortable, safe and secure with staff and have good bonds with them.

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need to do better?

n Children develop a love of books. They look forward to taking home new library books each week. Children listen intently to stories, such as 'The Three Little Pigs'. Staff make the stories exciting and interesting by introducing puppets and changing their voices for each character. This helps to develop children's early literacy skills. n Staff take opportunities as they arise in daily activities to enhance children's development. For example, as children stack pegs, staff encourage them to count how many they have added. With staff support, children count to 40. Children then attempt to write numbers. This helps to develop children's understanding of numbers and counting. n Support for children's communication is good. Staff narrate as children play and introduce new words to extend children's vocabulary. Children delight in singing songs and joining in with actions. Staff ask age-appropriate questions during

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need to do better?

play and allow children time to think before they respond. Children who speak English as an additional language have opportunities to hear and use their home language. This helps to develop children's speaking and listening skills. n Children access a wide range of resources that match their interests and stages of development. They engage well in their play and show a positive attitude towards learning. For example, toddlers enjoy investigating paint and glitter. Older children explore the home corner, dressing up and becoming different

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need to do better?

3 November 2022 characters. This helps to develop children's creativity and imagination. n Staff are positive role models. They encourage children to take turns and share toys. Children are polite and they use please and thank you when interacting with others. This helps to reinforce positive, respectful behaviour throughout the nursery. n Overall, partnerships with parents are strong. Staff communicate daily about the types of activities that children do, while at the pre-school. However, staff miss opportunities to share their curriculum and children's individual next steps with parents, to help them continue their children's learning at home. n The well-being of staff is a priority for the manager. Staff say that they are very well supported. Staff attend regular team meetings and receive essential training in safeguarding and first aid. However, individual supervision meetings and professional development opportunities offered to staff are not always sharply

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need to do better?

focused to raise the quality of education to an even higher level. n Staff provide a healthy snack and encourage children to eat a nutritious lunch. Children learn to be independent as staff encourage them to wash their hands and use the toilet independently. n Children learn about those who help them in the community. For example, staff organise visits from the local police and fire brigade. Children have opportunities to learn about other cultures and celebrations, such as Diwali and Chinese New Year. This helps to develop children's understanding of the world around them. n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are supported well. Staff are nurturing and very responsive to children's individual needs. Staff work closely with other professionals and the local authority to support children with SEND to make the best possible progress.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff are fully aware of their duty to keep children safe. They attend training, so that they can recognise children who may be at risk of harm. Staff understand safeguarding issues such as the risks to children of being exposed to extremist views or county lines. They know who to contact if they have concerns about a child's welfare. They also know what action to take if there is an allegation against a member of staff. The manager regularly discusses safeguarding at team meetings and ensures that staff keep their knowledge updated. Staff regularly risk assess the environment to ensure that it is safe and secure.

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should:

n extend the information provided to parents and carers regarding children's next steps in learning, to help enhance their children's learning even further at home

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should:

3 November 2022 n develop further the programme for staff's individual supervision meetings and professional development, in order to increase their skills and develop the quality of education to an even higher level.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2570198 Local authority Gateshead Inspection number 10250854 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 30 Number of children on roll 35 Name of registered person Low Fell Community Pre-School C.I.C.

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reference number

Telephone number 07848743227 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Low Fell Community Pre-School registered in 2020. The pre-school employs seven members of childcare staff. Of these, five hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday, term time only. Sessions are from 8am until 4pm. 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 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 pre-school and discussed the early years curriculum. n Children spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector spoke with the manager about the leadership and management of the setting. 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 carried out a joint observation of an 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

3 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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