Nellies Pre-School

Inspection of Nellies Pre-School Shepway Youth And Community Centre, Cumberland Avenue, Maidstone ME15 7JN

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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 Good

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The provision requires improvement

Most children make adequate progress in their learning. Children make their own choices in play and have the opportunity to access some adult-led activities. There are plenty of interesting resources based on the areas of learning. However, there are inconsistencies in the quality of teaching, and some interactions are not targeted well enough to offer children the challenge they need.

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The provision requires improvement

Staff provide a supportive and welcoming environment. On arrival, children are welcomed in and are happy to separate from their main carer. Those who may need a bit more encouragement to settle are quickly supported by staff. Children show that they feel safe and secure.

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The provision requires improvement

Children are praised for their achievements. For example, children who volunteer to find the numbers for the date on the calendar, smile as they are given a 'high five'. During interactions in play, children are encouraged to use good manners and be kind to their friends. However, staff are not consistent with the boundaries they put in place, which leads to children becoming confused about what is expected of them.

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need to do better?

n Staff do not have a good enough understanding of what they want children to learn. They know children's interests and next steps for development. However, they do not yet provide an ambitious curriculum that supports all children to acquire new skills and knowledge. For example, staff do not plan and prepare activities that capture children's curiosity or spark their creativity successfully. Some activities are pitched too low or too high for the age groups that attend. As a result, children become unmotivated and do not make as much progress as they could. n Children have good opportunities to learn and develop their independence skills. For example, even the youngest children are encouraged to share the fruit at snack time, as they count out two pieces of apple onto the plate. However, due to variable teaching and inconsistency in the level of interactions, children do not receive a good level of support to ensure the best possible progress in their

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need to do better?

learning. n Staff are aware of the importance of communication and language. For example, they discuss what strategies they will provide for children who speak English as an additional language. Children with additional needs use strategies implemented by specialist external support, such as from a speech and language therapist. This means that children are exposed to a range of methods to help them communicate effectively. n Children have good opportunities to share what makes them unique. For

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need to do better?

18 November 2022 example, they discuss the similarities and differences between one another. Children visit the local environment and explore how different children around the world might celebrate on Christmas day. This helps them develop their understanding of the world and experiences different to their own. n Staff encourage children to eat a healthy snack and understand what constitutes a nutritious packed lunch. However, staff do not share this with children and parents. They do not take opportunities to talk about what they are eating and the importance of what contributes to good health. n Parents praise the setting for their fast identification of special educational needs and/or disabilities. They are grateful for the early intervention and support and feel that the setting works well with other agencies to meet their children's needs. Parents comment that children enter happily, and staff welcome them

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need to do better?

with warmth and smiles. n The manager supports staff well and holds regular supervision meetings to ensure they can manage their workload effectively. Staff receive mandatory training, and some new learning is cascaded to others within team meetings. However, there are not yet effective monitoring systems in place to ensure that staff implement new ideas and resources, to ensure that the quality of education remains at least good.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Leaders and staff have an appropriate understanding of how to protect children. All staff complete relevant training and leaders discuss safeguarding with them at regular meetings. Staff show confidence when discussing possible risks that affect their local community. They understand the signs and symptoms that may arise and know how to action their concerns. Furthermore, staff help children to understand the importance of being safe as they play. For example, children are reminded to walk inside to ensure that they don't hurt themselves or others.

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Due date

raise the quality of interactions and teaching to ensure staff consistently guide all children's learning to make the best possible progress 22/03/2023

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Due date

18 November 2022 improve monitoring systems to ensure that the curriculum is securely implemented in practice and that staff provide activities that are engaging and pitched at the right level of challenge for all children. 22/11/2022

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should:

n support staff to ensure they manage children's behaviour consistently n engage with parents and children to promote the importance of healthy eating and drinking.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY496537 Local authority Kent Inspection number 10258095 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Sessional day care

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inspection

Total number of places 40 Number of children on roll 10 Name of registered person Nellies Pre School LTD

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reference number

Telephone number 07597488369 Date of previous inspection 1 December 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Nellies Pre-School registered in 2015. It is located in Maidstone, Kent. The pre- school is open Monday to Friday, from 9am to 2:15pm, during term time only. The pre-school receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years. It employs four members of staff, three of whom hold a relevant early years qualification at level 3.

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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 joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want their children to learn. n Children spoke to/communicated with the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector observed the interactions between staff and children. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.

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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

18 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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