Abbeytown Pre-School Playgroup

Inspection of Abbeytown Pre-School Playgroup Main Street, Abbeytown, Wigton, Cumbria CA7 4RU

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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 safe and flourish in the care of the motivated staff team. They settle quickly as they arrive and are eager to talk to the staff before engaging with a variety of activities. Children play imaginatively in the role-play car, as they pretend to go on a trip to the shops. Staff support children's play by providing a commentary and offering ideas. For example, they say 'we will need to buy a ticket for the car once it is parked'. This extends children's vocabulary.

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The provision is good

Children are developing a love for stories and access a wide range of books. Staff read stories with great enthusiasm. This helps children to develop a passion for reading. Outside, children act out events from their favourite stories, which helps to develop their imagination and language skills.

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The provision is good

Staff have high expectations of children's behaviour and attitudes towards each other. Children are taught to share and take turns during play. For example, when two children want the same toy, they are encouraged to use the sand timer to wait for their turn. This works very well in practice. Throughout the day, children recite the setting's motto, 'sharing is caring', as they play together with their friends. Children who need extra support are identified early. This helps children to make good progress from when they started at the setting.

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need to do better?

n Staff show a good understanding of how children develop their language and communication skills. Their interactions with children help them to learn new words and develop their vocabulary. For example, children use new words, such as 'siren', as they learn about the police. n Leaders and staff have created a curriculum that considers children's interests and builds upon what they know and can already do. For example, children's interest in superheroes is used to help develop their creativity by making superhero masks. They use different tools and materials. This helps develop their hand muscles in readiness for early writing. n Children develop an understanding of mathematical concepts. Staff have a good knowledge of how to bring the teaching of mathematics into everyday routines. For example, during snacktime children count the bowls and cups. This supports their understanding of mathematics well.

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need to do better?

n Leaders and staff have a strong partnership with local schools and other settings. When children attend another setting, staff share information with them. This helps to ensure consistency in children's learning and development. Staff and children are invited to the local school to attend events, such as play mornings. This means children can meet their future teachers, which contributes towards a smooth transition to school when the time comes.

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need to do better?

9 November 2022 n Children are confident as they explore the indoor and outdoor environments. For example, they demonstrate their physical ability as they manoeuvre the sit-on tractor and navigate around obstacles. Children approach staff freely. For example, they ask for the colour of paint they want. This shows children are confident and have developed positive relationships with the staff. n Children learn about cultural differences and diversity. They have opportunities to share their differences during group time using stories and mirrors. For example, staff and children take it in turns to look in the mirror and talk about the colour of their eyes compared to the person sat next to them. This helps to extend their knowledge of diversity and the wider community. This also helps children understand what makes them unique. n Partnerships with parents are good. Parents make positive comments about the

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need to do better?

care their children receive. They are pleased with the service provided and praise staff for their commitment to make sure every child feels valued. Parents receive information about what their children are doing, which keeps them up to date. However, the arrangements for supporting parents to extend children's learning at home are not yet embedded. This does not promote consistency in children's learning. n Staff comment on the approachable nature of the management team and say they feel supported in their role. Managers carry out regular meetings with staff to support them and identify any areas of development. However, training to develop these areas is not always provided. This means staff do not further develop their teaching skills to raise the quality of education for all children in the nursery.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The setting has a strong safeguarding culture which helps to keep children safe. The leaders and staff attend regular training which keeps their knowledge up to date. As a result, they understand the signs of abuse and the procedure to follow to ensure the well-being of children. The leaders and staff are aware of any issues in a child's life at home. This enables them to be alert to any issues of concern. All areas within the setting are safe and secure. This means unauthorised visitors cannot enter the setting.

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should:

n focus professional development opportunities more precisely on supporting staff to raise the quality of their teaching to the highest level n share ideas with parents to help extend children's learning at home.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 317461 Local authority Cumbria Inspection number 10231280 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 15 Number of children on roll 7 Name of registered person Abbeytown Playgroup Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 016973 61511 Date of previous inspection 29 March 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Abbeytown Pre-School Playgroup registered in 2001. It is situated in the village of Abbeytown near Wigton, Cumbria. The setting is open Monday to Thursday, during term time only. Sessions are from 8.45am until 12.30pm. The setting employs five members of childcare staff. Of these, one holds a childcare qualification at level 5, three hold level 3 and one holds level 2. The setting provides funded early years education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed any continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the setting. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector spoke with the deputy manager about the leadership and management of the setting. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, both indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The deputy manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation indoors to view consistency of practice. 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

9 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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