St. John's Pre-School

Inspection of St. John's Pre-School St. John's Pre-School, St Richard's Room, St. Johns Road, NEWBURY, Berkshire RG14 7PR

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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 happy and excited as they enter the pre-school. They proudly choose their 'person peg' to self-register and confidently ask visitors to do the same. Children feel secure and a real sense of belonging. They share caring and nurturing relationships with their key person. For example, children giggle and beam with pride as they share cuddles with their 'special someone'. Children's personal, social and emotional development is strong.

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The provision is good

Staff have high expectations for children's behaviour. They gently remind children to take turns with toys. Children are beginning to understand how their behaviour impacts others. For example, they kindly share their play dough with friends who ask for more. Children are beginning to learn right from wrong.

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The provision is good

Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) make good progress. Leaders and staff have the same high ambitions for all children. For example, staff focus on supporting children with their social skills. As a result, children can now join in with group activities, such as yoga. Children immensely enjoy these, and they squeal with delight as they follow the actions with others.

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need to do better?

n Leaders have a clear vision for the curriculum aim, to develop children's curiosity. They pride themselves on offering resources, such as real objects, to help children learn how to respect their belongings. For example, children happily pretend to make 'tea' in the home corner, using china cups and saucers with care. However, staff are not always fully effective at ensuring their teaching starts from what each child can do. This results in some children not engaging well with activities and flitting between them. n Overall, children's communication and language skills are good. For example, they excitedly gather water and glitter and tell adults they are making 'potions'. Children focus for long periods of time and talk about what ingredients they would like to add. At times, some children are very quiet and spend periods of time with little interaction. Staff identify how they can help these children.

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need to do better?

However, they do not swiftly implement support. This does not support those children's speech and language development effectively. n Staff present information clearly to children and support their critical thinking skills. For example, children tell staff that they need to take the rice outside. Staff expertly support children by asking them how they think they could move it themselves. Children eagerly hunt for what they would like to use and return with cups and bowls. They then use the cups and bowls to transport the rice outside. Children are learning problem-solving skills that they can use for later learning.

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need to do better?

30 November 2022 n Children have endearing positive attitudes to play and learning. They thoroughly enjoy the wide variety of activities the pre-school has to offer. For example, they jump with joy as they blow bubbles and excitedly tell others they are going 'higher and higher'. Children are beginning to understand the world around them. n Staff offer children plenty of opportunities to be physically active in their play. For example, children enjoy exploring outdoors. They develop their balance and climbing skills as they navigate equipment, such as climbing frames and ladders, to reach the top of the tree they are decorating. Children are learning how to challenge themselves in their physical play. n Leaders have effective systems in place for staff supervision. They use regular one-to-one and staff meetings to discuss staff development and training. This helps to improve teaching over time. n The pre-school has strong parent partnerships. Parents appreciate the updates

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need to do better?

they receive about their children's learning and development. For example, they explain that they get daily verbal feedback as well as updates on an online platform and via social media. Parents adore the wide range of activities on offer, such as painting, singing and yoga. They say that staff and leaders are extremely friendly and help to support them with top tips on subjects such as potty training.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Leaders and staff attend regular training to keep their knowledge up to date. They know how to spot the signs and symptoms of safeguarding issues. For example, if a child was missing sessions from pre-school for a period of time, they know how to refer this to the relevant professionals. Leaders know the report process if they receive an allegation about a member of staff. This minimises the risk to children's safety and well-being. Staff carry out effective risk assessments for all outings. For example, they ensure that children have high-visibility vests and that they know where to cross the road before leaving. This helps to keep children safe.

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should:

n support staff to swiftly implement more successful strategies to support children's speech and language development n strengthen the sequence of the curriculum to help staff deliver activities more effectively from children's starting points.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 511119 Local authority West Berkshire Inspection number 10263269 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 Sessional day care

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inspection

Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 24 Name of registered person St. Johns Pre-School Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 07814 155110 Date of previous inspection 26 April 2017

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Information about this early years setting

St. Johns Pre-School registered in 1998. The pre-school operates from St. John's Church, in Newbury, Berkshire. It is open from 8.30am to 2.30pm, Monday to Friday. The pre-school is in receipt of funding for the provision of free early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. There are six members of staff, five of whom hold relevant qualifications at level 3 or above.

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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 told the inspector about their friends and what they like to do when they are at pre-school. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The special educational needs coordinator spoke to the inspector about how they support children with SEND. 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.

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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

30 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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