Cherry Blossom Pre School

Inspection of Family Space Playgroup St Barnabas Church, Orchard Way, Cheltenham GL51 7JY

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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, parents and visitors are greeted warmly at the door by friendly staff at this setting. Children enter happily and greet their friends eagerly. They develop strong relationships with staff. Children receive extensive praise and encouragement. Staff celebrate children's progress and successfully meet children's individual learning needs. They plan experiences and activities that allow children to learn new skills and that link to children's interests. For example, staff observed that children often choose to go into the role-play area. They have enhanced this area to better represent children's real-life experiences and home life. Children happily engage in pretend play, making cups of tea and putting the baby to bed.

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The provision is good

Children have plenty of opportunities to develop their physical skills. For example, a large obstacle course, set up in the hall, enables children to practise moving in different ways. They weave in and out of poles, balance on beams and hop from block to block. This helps children develop their coordination and core muscles. Children are highly engaged during this activity. They use their imagination and say, 'The floor is water with sharks in. I need to balance. We are coming to save you.' Children work together as a team to save each other, laughing and giggling as they do so. Children are kind to each other and behave very well.

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need to do better?

n The manager has developed an ambitious curriculum. She ensures this is well sequenced and builds on what children already know. She has worked well with her local authority adviser to enhance and develop this further. Staff have a clear focus on what they want children to learn. They ensure children's progress is ongoing and that children's interests are reflected in their planning. n Children have plenty of opportunities to develop their self-help skills and be independent. Staff are good role models and gently reinforce good manners and good behaviour. For example, children clean the table and put away the plates after snack. Staff thank children for their help, and children beam with pride, eager to help further. n Staff speak highly of the support they receive from the manager. The manager prioritises staff well-being, and morale is high. The manager monitors and supports her team well. She provides staff with regular feedback about their

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need to do better?

practice. However, staff do not always model language to children as well as they could to fully promote their communication and language development. The manager recognises that ongoing coaching would support staff to develop children's speaking skills further. n Staff know what children enjoy and celebrate their achievements. However, staff do not fully ensure that the curriculum consistently supports children to learn about their diverse cultural backgrounds. Children would benefit from further

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need to do better?

27 January 2023 opportunities to understand about similarities and differences. n The manager self-evaluates her provision well. She has reflected on the environment to better support the learning needs of children. However, the outside area does not offer the same quality of experience as inside. Children are not consistently provided with the same wide range of learning opportunities. This means that those children who prefer to learn outside are not always fully challenged. n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) make good progress in their learning. The staff and manager work well with external professionals. They tailor support for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children. Additional funding is used appropriately for their needs. n Partnerships with parents are strong. Staff work closely with parents and keep them fully informed about their children's learning and development. Parents are

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need to do better?

highly complimentary about the setting. The manager plans family activities to involve parents further in the setting, for example holding soup and song sessions at the nearby church. n Staff use a range of effective teaching techniques to extend children's mathematical development. For example, staff introduce positional language with younger children during play. Children learn when animals are 'next to' or 'behind' each other. Older children learn to match numerals and quantities during group circle time.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager and staff can identify the signs and symptoms of abuse. They know what to do should they have a concern about a child. The manager, who is the designated safeguarding lead, can answer questions on a variety of scenarios. She can demonstrate her understanding of how she keeps children safe. All staff know what to do should an allegation occur about any member of the team. During the inspection, a local police community officer visited. Staff supported children to learn about her role and how they can keep themselves safe.

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should:

n enhance opportunities for children to celebrate their cultural heritage further and enable all children to learn more about similarities and differences n build on staff's skills and knowledge of how to model language consistently, to support children's communication and language and develop their vocabulary even further n enhance the curriculum outside to increase learning opportunities and provide children with richer learning experiences.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2704174 Local authority Gloucestershire Inspection number 10266409 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 26 Number of children on roll 21 Name of registered person Cheltenham YMCA

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reference number

Telephone number 07587217715 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Family Space Playgroup reregistered in 2022. It operates from premises linked to St Barnabas Church in Cheltenham. The nursery is open each weekday from 9am to 1pm, term time only. The setting receives funding to provide early education for children aged two, three and four years old. The manager holds early years teacher status. There are four members of staff who work directly with children. Of these, one holds an early years qualification at level 4, and two hold a level 3 qualification.

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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 manager and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provision. n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together. The manager explained to the inspector what they want children to learn and how they will do this. n The inspector and the manager carried out a joint observation of a group activity in the pre-school room. n The inspector spoke to staff and children at appropriate times throughout the inspection. n The inspector observed the quality of education during activities, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector spoke to parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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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

27 January 2023 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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