Treasure Chest Pre School

Inspection of Treasure Chest Pre School Lower Halstow Memorial Hall, School Lane, Lower Halstow, Sittingbourne, kent ME9 7ES

p.1

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

p.1

The provision is good

Children enjoy attending this small and friendly pre-school. They engage in a variety of activities that support their learning and development. Management and staff have high expectations of the children in their care. They take the time to get to know the children and their interests. This helps them to assess and plan activities that engage children and extend their learning. Children gain useful skills and make good progress in readiness for school.

p.2

The provision is good

Staff support children to behave well. Children demonstrate that they feel safe and secure. They develop respectful and trusting bonds with staff, who are kind, caring and patient. Children feel confident to approach staff for support and comfort. They listen and follow simple instructions, such as tidying up before circle time. Children learn to recognise their own and their friend's emotions. They are polite and considerate towards each other. For instance, children learn to share and take turns while they play a racing game with the toy cars.

p.2

The provision is good

Children independence and self-confidence are well supported. They learn to manage their own self-care. Older children dress themselves, while staff support the younger children. Children learn about the importance of cleanliness and hygiene, as they wash their hands, especially before snack.

p.2

need to do better?

n Children gain a good understanding of healthy eating and develop their independence. Staff provide children with healthy snacks. They encourage all children, including the youngest children, to cut their own fruits and vegetables. Children pour their own drinks, choosing between milk and water. Staff use these opportunities to discuss healthy eating with the children. n Staff are aware of children's interests. For example, they observe that some children show interest in bugs. Staff use this to provide children with extra resources, such as digging tools, magnifying glasses and books, to extend and embed their learning further. n Staff foster children's interest in books and stories, reading books to children throughout the day. They use various techniques when reading to children, such as facial expressions and voice intonation. Staff encourage children to anticipate and recall what will happen next. For instance, children build a 'stick house' after

p.2

need to do better?

listening to 'The Gruffalo' and use puppets to act out the story. Children develop a love of books. n Children develop early mathematical skills. Mathematical language is an integral part of the day-to-day conversation in the pre-school. Staff introduce positional language regularly to children. For example, staff introduce the phrase 'on top' as children add branches to the den roof. Children count spontaneously as they

p.2

need to do better?

20 March 2023 play. They learn to make connections between numbers and quantities as they match numbered keys to the number of dots on the corresponding locks. n Overall, staff support children's communication and language skills well. They get down to children's level when speaking to them. Children benefit from rich back-and-forth conversations with staff. However, occasionally, some staff ask too many questions in quick succession and do not give children enough time to process and respond to questions asked of them. n Parents comment that their children are happy in the pre-school. They say that they make good progress in their language and communication and develop their social skills. Parents feel confident to approach management and staff with any issues they might have. However, staff do not always exchange information with parents about their children's daily activities and achievements at home and

p.2

need to do better?

in the pre-school. This does not support the parents and the staff to provide a consistent approach to children's learning and development. n Staff well-being is important to the management team. Management takes steps to support team morale. This helps to ensure good teamwork and a positive learning environment for all children. Staff comment that they feel well supported. They are confident in approaching the management team with any issues they might have, both personal and professional. n Staff support children's physical development well. Children have opportunities to run and ride scooters and bikes. Staff support children to take age- appropriate risks, such as carrying big branches around. Children develop their fine motor skills as they manipulate and manoeuvre keys successfully into the correct locks.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

Management and staff understand their roles and responsibilities in keeping children safe from harm. They can recognise and identify the signs and indicators of abuse. Management and staff have good knowledge of all safeguarding aspects, including radicalisation and female genital mutilation. They know what to do and who to contact when they have a concern about a child or an adult, including allegations against a member of staff. Staff receive ongoing safeguarding training through regular staff meetings and supervisions. The management team undertakes the necessary checks to ensure that staff are suitable to work with children.

p.3

should:

n support staff to recognise the importance of giving children the time they need to process and express their thoughts

p.3

should:

20 March 2023 n develop further the partnership working with parents so that parents and staff benefit from consistent opportunities for two-way discussions about the children.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY378021 Local authority Kent Inspection number 10265148 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Sessional day care

p.5

inspection

Total number of places 26 Number of children on roll 29

p.5

Name of registered person

Heather Salisbury and Vivienne Newbury Partnership

p.5

reference number

Telephone number 07527 023 524 Date of previous inspection 25 May 2017

p.5

Information about this early years setting

Treasure Chest Pre School registered in 2008. It is located in the village hall in Lower Halstow, near Sittingbourne, Kent. The pre-school is open Monday to Thursday, from 9am until midday, and on Tuesday, from midday until 3pm, during school term time only. There are four staff working with the children. Of these, two hold an early years qualification at level 3, one holds an early years qualification at level 2 and one is unqualified. The pre-school is in receipt of funding for the provision of free early years education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

p.5

Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the childminder received since the COVID- 19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the childminder and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the childminder. n The inspector spoke to parents and took their views into consideration. n The manager led the inspector on a learning walk of the setting and discussed how they organise the curriculum. n The inspector and a manager carried out a joint observation of teaching and evaluated it together. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. 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 Discussions were held between managers and the inspector to evaluate the leadership and management of the setting, The inspector also looked at relevant

p.6

Inspection activities

documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.

p.6

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.

p.6

Inspection activities

20 March 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.

p.6

Inspection activities

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspection activities

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk

p.7

Inspection activities

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Inspection activities

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.7