Old Court Community Pre-school

Inspection of Old Court Community Pre-school Station Road, Wootton Bassett, Swindon, Wiltshire SN4 8QY

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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

The manager and staff cheerfully greet each family at the gates as the day begins. Older children eagerly enter to explore the garden. They enjoy using the many resources or trampling in the frosty ground. The manager supports the youngest children to develop secure attachments by welcoming parents to stay until children are familiar in their new environment. This ensures children get the best start possible to their time at the setting.

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The provision is good

Children enjoy a busy day and demonstrate security within many of the familiar routines. They play with dinosaurs in the sand tray, fill containers with pasta, use play dough and explore ways to create hearts through paint, stickers and shaving foam. Adults use books and model new knowledge as they seamlessly tie learning together.

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The provision is good

Staff support children to understand emotions through adult-led activities. They interweave new knowledge into the children's own play, such as encouraging a large group of boys to mark make on clipboards when playing with cars. Children are calm as they play and benefit from the interactions of adults around them. Over lunch, children talk enthusiastically about the activities they have carried out in the morning and explain how they made hearts for Valentine's Day.

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need to do better?

n Committee members with governance roles do not complete the necessary paperwork within the required timeframe to allow Ofsted to undertake suitability checks. However, there is no impact on children, as these adults do not work within the setting and do not have access to staff's or children's personal documentation. The setting manager has clear oversight for staff and works to support the committee in notifying Ofsted of changes. n The manager is passionate in her drive for high-quality care and education for children. She is well respected by her staff team and supports them to balance their own well-being while carefully planning for ongoing training and development. n The manager supports staff to build a clear, and progressive curriculum. For example, staff support the youngest children to wait and take turns to go on the bicycles in the outdoor area. Older children invite friends to sit next to them and

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need to do better?

point out who should have the next turn in a game. Together, staff focus on promoting children's personal and social, communication and language and physical skills over time. This is evident throughout the setting. n The special educational needs coordinator (SENCo) has a strong grasp of the needs of children within the setting. She supports families and children by making connections with external agencies and swiftly making appropriate

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need to do better?

8 February 2023 referrals. Children benefit from her knowledge and skilful interactions. Some enjoy a regular 'bucket time' activity that enables them to sustain a high level of engagement and focus their attention for an extended period. n Overall, children behave well. Staff support them effectively with good interactions and a range of visual timetables to make clear the structure of the day. This supports children in feeling secure and to regulate their behaviour appropriately. However, there are a few short periods within the day where transitions between activities are not as smooth as they might be, such as when larger groups of children return from washing hands in the bathroom or putting away their coats. On these occasions, children charge back to their respective rooms with heightened energy levels and lack clear direction from staff. n Children learn to develop independence and resilience in their everyday

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need to do better?

activities. For example, staff provide younger children with support to persevere when they fit pieces into a puzzle or learn to get their coat on. Older children independently comment that the pasta needs tidying on the floor and set about doing this. They also collect tissues to clean their nose without adult reminders. Children thrive from the positive expectations and encouraging sense of challenge from staff. n Parents are positive about the care and education their children receive each day. They comment on the regular updates that staff provide through online applications, discussions and messages.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager and her deputy have both completed safer recruitment training and ensure that the suitability of all staff working in the setting is regularly checked. Staff are alert to different ways they might safeguard children within their care. They discuss potential risks with children in the outdoor area and draw their attention to the slide becoming more slippery in the ice. Staff describe the procedures for sharing child protection concerns. They are confident in speaking to the safeguarding leads and know where to find and check flow charts of information for who to contact beyond the pre-school, should the need arise.

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Due date

8 February 2023 ensure all trustees and committee members provide Ofsted with the appropriate paperwork for suitability checks to be carried out within the correct timeframe. 31/03/2023

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should:

n improve transitions for groups of children returning to rooms following everyday care routines and tasks so that children are quickly re-engaged in purposeful play and learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 199392 Local authority Wiltshire Inspection number 10265414 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Sessional day care

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inspection

Total number of places 40 Number of children on roll 66 Name of registered person Old Court Community Pre-School Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 01793 849783 Date of previous inspection 6 June 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Old Court Community Pre-school registered in 1974 in Royal Wooten Bassett. The pre-school opens Monday to Friday, from 8.45am to 3.45pm, during term time only. The pre-school receives funding to provide free early years education for children aged two, three and four years. The setting employs 13 staff who work directly with the children. Of these, one holds early years professional status and a further eight staff hold childcare 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 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 with the inspector during the inspection. n Staff spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The SENCo spoke to the inspector about how they support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. 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. n The inspector carried out joint observations of group activities with the manager. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of

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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

8 February 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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