Horsted Keynes Pre-School

Inspection of Horsted Keynes Pre- School Horsted Keynes Pre-School, Village Hall, The Green, Horsted Keynes, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH17 7AP

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

The quality of education Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Outstanding

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The provision is outstanding

Children are extremely happy and very independent learners. They greet staff and their friends with great enthusiasm, and they show enormous excitement for their day. Children and staff have developed wonderful relationships that help children feel exceptionally safe and secure. Children demonstrate extremely high levels of confidence. For example, they are very proud to show that they have learned new skills, such as putting on their own coats, and they eagerly invite visitors into their play.

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The provision is outstanding

Children flourish in the setting. They are extremely confident and intensely engaged in the wide range of exciting activities, opportunities and experiences on offer. Children have ample opportunities to play and learn inside and outside. They develop an excellent understanding of mathematical language and concepts. For example, children become deeply involved in water play as they fill, tip and pour water through tubes and containers.

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The provision is outstanding

Children have excellent opportunities to discover the world around them. For example, children show great excitement when searching for snails. They show high levels of curiosity, concentration and develop a rich language when discussing snails' living conditions, their differences and the importance of using 'gentle hands'. Children learn to show great respect and care for living things and have built their own 'bug hotel'.

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need to do better?

n Staff plan exciting activities that very successfully capture children's imagination. Children use all their senses as they explore the highly stimulating and tactile resources that are set out for them. For example, children play imaginatively with real fruit and herbs in the garden. They skilfully cut lemons and limes, adding herbs to the pretend drinks. n Children become intensely involved in things that interest them. For example, they ask to make 'chocolate ice cream' for the role-play ice cream shop. They enthusiastically find all the correct ingredients, talk about how to make 'ice cream', giggle loudly when they notice it is too dry or too sticky and understand what ingredients to add to rectify this. Children find it highly amusing to use chocolate powder, constantly talking about the smell of 'yummy chocolate'. Staff engage children in conversation and superbly ask questions to encourage their

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need to do better?

thinking and extend their imagination. n Staff are excellent role models and provide sensitive and skilful support to children to be helpful, caring and kind to others. Children are very clear about the rules and boundaries of the setting. For example, children understand the importance of sharing resources during an art activity, taking turns on the

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need to do better?

24 April 2023 climbing frame and demonstrating excellent social skills. Staff involve children in everyday tasks that help them develop a sense of ownership and belonging. Staff clearly praise children's efforts and encourage their achievements. This helps to raise children's confidence and self-esteem. n Staff build on children's experiences and teach them about their community and the wider world. For example, they take children on local walks to explore village life, tend allotments and practise road safety. Staff at the pre-school have an excellent relationship with staff at a local care home. Children visit residents and take part in singing and story sessions. This teaches children to understand and respect different people in the community, preparing them for their future lives. n Partnerships with parents are superb. Staff share information very effectively, helping parents to gain an excellent understanding of their child's learning and

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need to do better?

development. Parents comment that they feel exceptionally lucky that their child attends. They also report that, at times, their child does not want to leave. Staff go to great lengths to support children's learning at home. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, they offered singing and story sessions, home learning ideas and a bunny hunt within the village. n The outstanding quality of teaching ensures that staff include every child in all experiences and opportunities, regardless of their stage of development. Staff talk extremely confidently about their key children. They continually observe children to build on what children already know and can do and fully support their next steps in learning. Every child's individuality is valued as a result of the staff's expert knowledge and understanding of all children's development and abilities. Pre-school staff have built excellent partnerships with staff at other

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need to do better?

settings and local schools children attend. This ensures all information is routinely shared to support children's transition to their next stage of learning.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

All staff have an outstanding understanding of safeguarding and their responsibilities to protect children. They are have an excellent knowledge and understanding of the procedures to follow in response to any concerns they may have about a child in their care. The highly effective policies and procedures help to ensure children's safety and welfare is paramount. Staff attend safeguarding training, which is further enhanced through regular safeguarding questions and quizzes by the manager. The staff team is deployed well and is extremely diligent in their supervision of children. All staff update their personnel records regularly and checks are undertaken to ensure their continued suitability to work with children.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 113536 Local authority West Sussex Inspection number 10263358 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Sessional day care

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inspection

Total number of places 26 Number of children on roll 16 Name of registered person Horsted Keynes Pre-school Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 01825 791899 Date of previous inspection 28 April 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Horsted Keynes Pre-School registered in 1994. It operates from the village hall in Horsted Keynes, West Sussex. The pre-school is open Monday and Thursday from 9.15am to 2.45pm and on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 9.15am to 12.15pm, during school term time only. The pre-school employs five members of staff. Of these, two hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 6, two hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and one at level 2. The pre-school receives funding for free early education 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 provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the setting. n The inspector spoke to and interacted with children to find out about their time at the setting. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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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

24 April 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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