Much Hadham Pre-School

Inspection of Much Hadham Pre- School Oudle Lane, MUCH HADHAM, Hertfordshire SG10 6DQ

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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, secure and enjoy their time at the setting. They form close attachments to staff, and this helps them to feel safe. Children develop a sense of belonging and make friends easily. All children make good progress in their learning, including those who speak English as an additional language.

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The provision is good

Children have a wide range of resources to choose from, both inside and outside. For example, children are learning about different fruits from around the world. Children play with different coloured play dough that they carefully and skilfully mould into the different types of fruit.

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The provision is good

Children have daily access to a well-equipped environment. They play in the garden freely, choosing the activities they want to take part in. They explore and use their imagination as they create a campfire out of mud and sand. They discuss what they can cook on the fire and how to stay safe. Children follow good hygiene procedures. They know to wash their hands before snack time and after they have been to the toilet. Children are developing the skills they need for future learning.

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need to do better?

n Staff plan their curriculum around the children's interests and learning needs. They know the children well and know what they need to learn next. For example, leaders have an effective key-person system in place. Staff work hard to get to know children before they start. They ensure that they provide the resources that are of most interest to the children present. This helps them settle in quickly and start to build relationships. n Partnerships with parents are strong. The manager ensures that parents receive regular updates on their children's development and progress. Parents state that their children have grown in confidence and progressed well since joining the setting. n Children are active learners and are eager to get involved in activities. Staff sit closely with children to guide them, while allowing them to make their own choices. Children listen to the story of 'Handa's Surprise'. They learn about the

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need to do better?

different fruits that Handa collects in her basket on her journey. Staff encourage children to explore the fruit they provide and ask them to smell and taste it. Children try to cut up the fruit, so they can see the difference between the outside and inside. However, staff do not always provide children with the appropriate resources required to carry out the activities. For example, the knives provided were not of good enough quality to cut the fruit easily. This limits children's learning outcomes. n Staff promote children's health and well-being. They encourage children to follow good hygiene procedures and talk to them about oral health. For

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need to do better?

28 February 2023 example, children play with giant teeth and toothbrushes. They use shaving foam as toothpaste and staff demonstrate and discuss how to clean their teeth effectively. n Staff support children's communication and language well. They sing familiar songs and rhymes and read stories. For example, they talk about the animals in the book. Staff ask children to describe what they can see. They learn why giraffes have a long neck and tongue and what they like to eat. n Children are learning to become independent. They put on their own coats and choose what they want to play with. They take themselves to the toilet and have choices at snack time. However, staff do not consistently promote independence at every opportunity, which results in some children not learning the skills they need for future learning. n Leaders and staff support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. They work closely with other professionals and introduce

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need to do better?

interventions and support in a timely manner. Children who speak English as an additional language are well supported. Staff help children to develop their mouth muscles by blowing bubbles. They work closely with parents to implement strategies. This results in the most vulnerable children making good progress. n Staff promote children's physical development. Children play outside on the bicycles and scooters. They use large paint brushes and water to paint the playhouse. They use big arm movements to spread the water. Children take part in bark rubbing. They use chalks and skilfully rub them over the paper attached to the tree. Staff discuss the different patterns that they have created.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager and staff have a good understanding of safeguarding and how to keep children safe. They are aware of the signs and symptoms of abuse and the local risks in their community. The manager has a good recruitment procedure and ensures all new staff have an induction. Staff are aware of how to report a concern about a colleague's behaviour. Staff attend regular meetings, which help to ensure their knowledge is up to date. The manager carries out regular risk assessments of the environment to minimise risks and maintain the children's safety.

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should:

n provide children with suitable resources to enable them to complete their tasks and benefit fully from their activities n promote children's independence fully at every opportunity to enable them to acquire all the skills they need for future learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 127813 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10230789 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 26 Number of children on roll 79 Name of registered person Much Hadham Pre-School Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 01279 842614 Date of previous inspection 29 June 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Much Hadham Pre-School registered in 1992. It is situated in Much Hadham, Hertfordshire. There are 11 members of childcare staff. All staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at levels 2, 3, 5 or 6, including one with qualified teacher status. The pre-school operates from Monday to Friday, from 9am until 3pm, during term time. The pre-school also operates a breakfast club, which operates from 7.30am until 9am and an after-school club, which operates from 3pm until 6pm. 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 setting 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 the children to learn. 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 Staff and children spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector and the manager carried out a joint observation of an activity.

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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

28 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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