Fountains Playgroup and Pre-School

Inspection of Fountains Playgroup and Pre-School Fountains Playgroup & Pre School, Grantley, RIPON, North Yorkshire HG4 3PJ

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 are happy, confident and independent learners. They smile and laugh throughout the day. Children's well-being is at the heart of this nurturing pre- school. They recieve an excellent level of care and attention from staff. Children have strong attachments to staff. They approach staff and sit on their knee to listen to a story, or seek them out and tell them about an activity they have completed. Children feel safe within the pre-school. They talk about what they need to do if there is an emergency, in a calm way. Children develop excellent independence skills. In preparation for outdoor play, they find their outdoor shoes and coat, trying to put them on themselves.

p.2

The provision is good

Children's behaviour is exemplary. They work together to build, act out role-play scenarios and engage in joint tasks, such as building a tower. Children's language and communication skills develop very well. Staff and children share conversations at every opportunity. Children with additional needs are supported well. Staff use their knowledge of child development to help children and families put strategies in place to help them to make good progress.

p.2

need to do better?

n Children make excellent progress in their learning. Staff work together to observe, assess and plan for children's learning. This provides a secure approach to monitoring children's individual needs and helps them to develop well. n Staff are skilled in identifying children's current stages of development. They plan fun, relevant and interesting activities to help children to move forward in their learning. n Children share stories and sing action songs as a key part of their day. They develop their listening and attention skills, and choose which song they would like to sing. Children are encouraged to share stories about their home lives in a warm, welcoming and nurturing environment. n Staff provide resources in the indoor and outdoor environments to follow children's interests, provide challenge and fun. For example, outside, children use the large wooden blocks to make bridges and see the flow of water on a

p.2

need to do better?

wall-mounted drainpipes. However, at times, staff plan activities which are too focused and do not allow children to express themselves in a creative way. n Children have good social skills and play collaboratively. For instance, they excitedly pretend to mend a broken roof with tools. Any minor disagreements between children are resolved in a sensitive and timely way by skilled staff. n Parents say how pleased they are that their child can experience their early education sessions within the pre-school. They comment on how well the staff team know their child and how they go above and beyond to help them develop and learn. They feel that their children are safe and happy within the pre-school

p.2

need to do better?

29 March 2023 and are delighted that their children have had a positive early years experience. n Staff see continuous professional development as important. They attend regular training events, sharing new learning with the team and also use them as a refresher for things they already knew. n The manager is enthusiastic, committed and well supported by her knowledgeable team. Staff work well together, sharing best practice ideas and sharing points from recent training. They reflect on their pre-school and make positive changes. For example, staff have moved different resources to make them more accessible and enticing for children. n Children engage in conversations with each other and staff. They use language as a powerful way of communicating their thoughts, needs and wants, such as excitedly talking about an upcoming holiday. Children's vocabulary is broad and continually extended by staff who introduce words, such as 'squidgy', during a

p.2

need to do better?

craft activity. n The environment is warm, welcoming, clean and purposeful. Staff clearly label resources to help children to see what they can access. However, staff do not consistently develop children's understanding of diversity to provide them with a view of modern Britain. n Staff help children to learn about different types of feelings and children are confident to explain if they are happy or sad. For instance, children recall receiving a get 'well card' in the post from the pre-school when they had chickenpox, and explained how it made them feel very happy.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

Staff have an excellent understanding of how to keep children safe in the pre- school. They regularly practise procedures so that children know how to act and where to go should an emergency occur. Staff have an excellent understanding about the signs and symptoms which may indicate that a child is being abused. They understand the correct procedures to follow should they need to report safeguarding concerns to the relevant authorities. Staff are knowledgeable and explain about many different types of abuse. They are clear how they would challenge any discriminatory behaviour from parents, children and staff.

p.3

should:

n provide activities that provide more choice for children so that they can express themselves creatively n support children to learn more about diversity and provide them with a more accurate view of modern Britain.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number 400414 Local authority North Yorkshire Inspection number 10279757 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

p.4

Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

p.4

inspection

Total number of places 20 Number of children on roll 17 Name of registered person Fountains Playgroup

p.4

reference number

Telephone number 01765 620 019 Date of previous inspection 27 September 2017

p.4

Information about this early years setting

Fountains Playgroup and Pre-School registered in 1995. It operates within a purpose-built building in the grounds of Fountains Primary School, in the village of Grantley near Ripon. The pre-school operates during term time, from 8.45am to 3.25pm, Monday to Friday. The pre-school manager holds an appropriate early years qualification at level 6 and all other staff hold appropriate level 3 qualifications. The pre-school receives funding to provide early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

p.4

Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the pre-school received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with staff and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the setting. 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 told the inspector about their friends and what they like to do when they are at pre-school. 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 and assessed the impact on children's learning. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

p.5

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.5

Inspection activities

29 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.5

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.6

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.6

Inspection activities

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

p.6

Inspection activities

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

p.6