Churchill Preschool

Inspection of Churchill Preschool Memorial Hall, Ladymead Lane, Churchill, Winscombe, Avon BS25 5NH

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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 greeted warmly by staff and eagerly enter the pre-school. They are excited to explore the interesting areas that the staff thoughtfully set out in the hall. Children enjoy trying different experiences. Staff are very reassuring and join in readily, inspiring children to have a go. For instance, children develop their motor skills effectively as they use utensils to explore play dough and cut up real fruit. Staff act as effective role models and offer children useful explanations of new concepts and terms. Younger children develop their speech and understanding, learning new words such as lemon, pancake and yellow. Older children share their knowledge and experience as they discuss what they like on their pancakes, taking turns in conversation with the staff and the other children very well. Children relish the opportunity to have extended periods of uninterrupted play, and the ongoing flexible snack times promote this well. They develop positive

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The provision is good

attitudes to learning and develop their skills well.

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The provision is good

Staff are very kind and patient. Children build strong bonds with them and flourish on the individual attention they receive. Staff use distraction, discussion and negotiation to help children to manage their emotions, channel their energy and share toys and resources. Children who need particularly perceptive intervention and additional assistance are closely supported to follow safety boundaries and learn to respect the space and needs of others.

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need to do better?

n The staff team works well together. The manager and staff have daily discussions and regular meetings to share ideas and plans. Staff morale is high. The manager joined the setting last year, and staff and parents are very positive about the work she does to lead the pre-school. Staff are closely supported in their role. They attend training, which is targeted at the changing needs of the children who attend. They all show dedication to facilitating good outcomes for the children, which supports their individual needs effectively. n Children make good progress. Those with special educational needs and/or disabilities and children who require additional help are closely supported. The manager and key staff, such as the special educational needs coordinator, give high priority to working with other professionals to get children the support they need. They lead staff in the identification and implementation of interventions to

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need to do better?

enable children to achieve their potential and be well prepared for their move on to school. n Staff offer beneficial group activities to promote children's listening and attention and to build their confidence and expressive language. Sometimes, staff are very successful in their approach, and children's growing confidence and speech is a pleasure to see. However, during some adult-led activities, staff are not as

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need to do better?

21 February 2023 successful. Staff also do not fully think through the location of small-group activities, and children are distracted by noise from the other group. Consequently, children's involvement and learning are not as high as they could be. n Managers are particularly mindful of children who prefer to learn and explore outside. Good use is made of all the areas. Children enjoy using the challenging bike obstacle course on the pre-school patio. They relish making sand and water mixes in the extended sandpit. They play imaginatively with the doll's house and accessories in the covered area. Staff regularly take children out to the adjacent fields and play park to build their physical skills further. n Older children are well prepared for their move on to school, with designated focus days each week for their age group. Staff offer them more challenging activities on 'school prep Mondays'. 'Outdoor Fridays' provide the older children

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need to do better?

with rich opportunities to learn about nature, and they build their resilience during a session at an orchard on a nearby farm. n Children confidently select resources and are keen to do things for themselves. At times, staff use skilful teaching to build children's independence skills, but this is not consistent. Children enjoy serving their own snack. Some children wash up their bowls, but others do not. Sometimes, staff encourage children to tidy up outside before lunch. However, on occasion, they do not offer such encouragement, and children leave many toys on the floor after playing and move on to other areas.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager and deputy manager undertake higher-level child protection training to lead the safeguarding practice at the pre-school. Staff also refresh their knowledge through training. Staff follow clear risk assessment procedures for all areas. This includes the additional off-site trips to the park and orchard. They also beneficially support children to learn to recognise and manage the risks they encounter, building their understanding and confidence very well. Staff know what to do if they are worried about the children or if they have concerns about another member of staff. They are vigilant in their supervision of the children, to ensure children are well cared for and are kept safe.

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should:

n review and enhance group activities to develop children's attention and involvement as much as possible n make the most of opportunities to encourage children to do things for themselves and develop their independence skills and sense of responsibility to

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Setting details

Unique reference number 115245 Local authority North Somerset Inspection number 10264763 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 30 Number of children on roll 27 Name of registered person Churchill Pre-School Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 07977 878512 and 01934 852154 Date of previous inspection 26 June 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Churchill Preschool registered in 1992 and is in Churchill, Somerset. It operates from 9am to 3pm, Monday to Friday, with an additional breakfast club from 8am each day. There are six members of staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications ranging from level 3 to level 5. The nursery provides funded places for children aged two, three and four years.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the setting 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 inspector viewed all areas and discussed with the manager how these areas are used. n The manager and the inspector evaluated the effectiveness of an activity together. n The inspector observed the children and staff and spoke with them at appropriate times during the inspection. n Parents shared their views of the provision with the inspector. n Relevant documentation was reviewed by the inspector, including suitability checks and paediatric first-aid qualifications. n The manager discussed their safety and child protection procedures, and safeguarding discussions were undertaken with members of the staff team.

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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

21 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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