The Pre-School Play Station

Inspection of The Pre-School Play Station The Village Hall, Station Road, Broughton Astley Leicester, Leicestershire LE9 6PT

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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 and parents receive a warm and friendly welcome from all the staff. Children greet their friends and quickly settle into the well-established routines of the pre-school. A range of activities that captures their interests is set out for children to explore. Children are happy and show that they feel secure. They go to staff for cuddles and comfort when they are unsure or have tripped over.

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The provision is good

Children become deeply engaged in their play and remain at their chosen activity for long periods of time. Staff use children's interests to plan activities. For example, children enjoy collecting leaves, twigs and feathers to record what they have seen on their walk in the pre-school garden. They become engrossed in watching worms wriggle back into the soil. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) receive good support from staff. Staff work closely with other professionals to ensure that children with SEND have appropriate support for their needs.

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The provision is good

Children's behaviour is good. They understand what is expected from them and staff spend time explaining the rules of pre-school. For example, staff ask children not to throw small wooden bricks because these could hit their friends and hurt them.

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need to do better?

n The manager and staff provide a curriculum that follows children's interests, and they make accurate assessments of children's development. Staff use this information well to decide what children need to learn next and to close any gaps in their learning. This helps children to become ready to move on to school. For example, children practise using their pincer grip by using tweezers to pick up small, pretend butterflies. This helps them to develop skills they will need for early writing and mark making. n Staff interact well with children and act as excellent role models. They follow children's lead in their self-chosen play. Staff plan adult-led activities to build on children's learning. However, staff do not always consider the best ways to support children who are less confident and slightly reluctant to fully participate with adult-led activities. n Children share, take turns and use their manners while playing with their friends.

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need to do better?

They take turns to put bricks on top of each other to build towers. They learn to develop their independence skills, such as buttering their own toast for snack. Children are enthusiastic learners and eagerly work together to help to tidy away toys and resources at tidy-up time. n Staff place a strong focus on developing children's communication and literacy skills. Opportunities to introduce and share books are evident throughout the

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need to do better?

25 November 2022 day. For instance, staff sit quietly talking about characters in familiar stories. They skilfully use questions to give children an opportunity to express their own thoughts and knowledge. Children who speak English as an additional language sing rhymes to practise using familiar vocabulary. Older children practise their early writing skills. They learn how to hold their pencil correctly and independently draw pictures of their own choice and start writing their own name. n Parents are positive about the pre-school and the staff. They comment that the staff take good care of the children. and they particularly like the use of the outdoor environment. However, not all parents know what they can do to support their child's learning at home. n Children benefit from a range of nutritious snacks and enjoy daily fresh air and exercise. Children learn about good hygiene practice through everyday routines,

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need to do better?

such as washing hands prior to eating. n Staff feel valued and supported. They have regular supervision meetings to talk about the quality of their teaching, as well as their well-being. Staff training is positively encouraged, so that staff build on their skills to improve outcomes for children. For example, staff have investigated how they can extend the range of messy play opportunities they can provide for children. This has increased children's concentration and sustained thinking as they spend more time fully engaged in these activities.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager and staff have a clear understanding of their individual responsibility to keep children safe. They complete regular training to enable them to identify and report concerns about children's welfare. When appointing new staff, the manager follows thorough recruitment processes to assure themself that staff are suitable. Staff regularly risk assess the environment, checking for potential hazards. The premises are secure, with locks on all entrances. Children play and learn in a safe and secure space. Staff deploy themselves well and supervise children with vigilance. They are trained in paediatric first aid and know the correct procedures in response to accidents.

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should:

n review the delivery of adult-led activities to provide even more opportunities for all children to join in, particularly those who are less confident and slightly reluctant n extend the partnerships with parents further to help all parents understand how to support their child's individual learning at home.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 226492 Local authority Leicestershire Inspection number 10233585 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

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

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inspection

Total number of places 26 Number of children on roll 26 Name of registered person Rushforth, Sandra

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reference number

Telephone number 07962104553 Date of previous inspection 28 November 2016

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Information about this early years setting

The Pre-School Play Station registered in 2001. The pre-school employs seven members of childcare staff. Of these, two hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 6, three at level 5 and two at level 3. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday during term time only. Sessions are from 9am until 3pm. 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 her evaluation of the provider. n The manager took the inspector on a learning walk around the pre-school to share what the staff provide and how this assists children in their learning and development. n The quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors was observed, and the inspector assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector spoke with management, staff, parents and the children at appropriate times throughout the inspection. n The inspector carried out joint observations with the manager. n The inspector held a meeting with the manager. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff.

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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

25 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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