Thornborough And Nash Preschool (registration until: 20 Jul 2023)

Inspection of Thornborough And Nash Preschool The Pavillion, Sir Harry Moore Playing Field, Back Street, Buckingham, Buckinghamshire MK18 2DH

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Overall effectiveness Inadequate

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

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The provision is inadequate

Children's health and safety are compromised due to inconsistencies in staff practice when children are around food. However, staff supervise children closely at other times. Children remain in sight or sound of staff at all times, and staff deploy themselves where most needed. For example, staff move around the provision, inside and outside, taking account of where children choose to be. Children arrive calmly to the nursery and are greeted with warm smiles and kind words from staff. Children show initial enthusiasm for the activities and resources on offer. However, weaknesses in staff's teaching skills hinder their ability to develop children's interests and deliver meaningful learning. Much of what children show they know and can do cannot be attributed to their time at nursery. The weaknesses in the quality of teaching, as well as gaps in some staff's understanding of their role, impacts on all children's progress. This includes

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The provision is inadequate

children who may require additional support to make the progress of which they are capable.

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The provision is inadequate

Children are polite and welcoming to visitors. However, the weaknesses in the quality of teaching have a direct impact on children's behaviour, which at times becomes disruptive. For example, children repeatedly try to enter rooms that are closed off and sometimes throw toys. Overall, staff swiftly stop these unwanted actions, but they do not help children to understand why rules are in place. Children therefore continue to struggle to regulate their own behaviour, which means that staff repeatedly need to intervene. This takes up a lot of staff's time and limits opportunities for staff to join in with children's play and extend children's learning.

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need to do better?

n Staff do not consistently follow practices that keep children safe and promote their good health. For example, on the day of the inspection, staff allowed children to eat fruit and vegetables that had been on the ground outside. Staff also allowed children to eat whole fruit and vegetables, which presents a choking hazard to young children. Furthermore, children were not closely supervised at the beginning of lunchtime. n The recently appointed manager has swiftly identified the need to make improvements. However, she has so far not had the time or support she needs to make all necessary changes effectively. So far she has focused on developing some curriculum intent. She recognises the need to further support staff to understand and implement these learning aims effectively. n Staff do not act promptly when children clearly demonstrate they may need additional or specialist help. They monitor children's progress for too long before

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need to do better?

reaching out to other professionals. Any additional support they put in place at

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need to do better?

27 April 2023 the pre-school has a limited impact on improving outcomes for these children. As a result, some children approach the start of school with social or communication skills that are poorer than they need be. n Staff have to devote a lot of time to supervising children and stopping low-level disruptive play. As a result, staff repeatedly need to cut short conversations and interactions with children to support other children's behaviour. This significantly reduces the opportunities for children to engage in meaningful conversations with adults, to build on their vocabulary and practise their emerging conversation skills. When staff do have time to talk to children, they often ask lots of direct questions or simply repeat back what children say rather than building further on the words and knowledge children show they already have. This all demonstrates that staff are not effective in supporting children's

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need to do better?

speaking and listening skills. n The manager has been thoughtful about how she uses additional funding. She has bought resources to use to help close gaps in children's learning. For example, she has used some funding to resource a room specifically to help some children learn to regulate their emotions. However, in order for staff to supervise children, this room is not available to children for much of the day. Children also have limited opportunities to explore an area set up specifically to encourage their curiosity and investigative skills. This limits the learning opportunities available to children. n Children are developing a positive attitude to following an active lifestyle. Staff ensure that children can choose to be outside for much of the day and provide a suitable range of resources to encourage physically active play. n Staff are caring and kind. They treat children with dignity and respect when

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need to do better?

helping with personal care needs. They are unfailingly polite and encouraging to children. They know children and their families well and show interest in their home lives. This all helps children to feel valued and welcome. Parents report that their children are happy at pre-school. n The pre-school has been through a lot of changes, which has contributed to the weaknesses in the quality of care and education. Staff have not received effective feedback on their performance or support to improve their teaching skills. Staff say they are keen to learn and develop and that, since taking up her role, the manager has begun to make much needed improvements.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

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Safeguarding

Children are exposed to unnecessary hazards because staff have not identified the risks to children's safety that result from poor supervision around food. However, staff have a secure understanding of the signs of potential abuse or neglect. They understand the importance of raising any such concerns quickly, to help to protect children from harm. They know how to respond to any concerns they may have about the conduct of a colleague. Suitable checks are completed to ensure staff employed to work with children are suitable to do so.

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Due date

ensure all staff have a secure understanding of how to identify and minimise all risks to children, including in relation to potential choking hazards 19/05/2023

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Due date

ensure children are adequately supervised at all times, including when eating 19/05/2023

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Due date

ensure all staff take consistently effective steps to promote children's good health 19/05/2023

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Due date

implement a consistent programme of behaviour management strategies, so children understand what is expected of them and learn to self-regulate their own behaviour 19/05/2023

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Due date

support the manager to monitor staff practice effectively and implement a targeted programme of coaching and supervisions, to significantly improve the quality of teaching and the implementation of the curriculum 30/06/2023

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Due date

ensure relevant staff have the skills and knowledge they need to promptly identify children who may need additional support, so these children can be supported to reach their full potential effectively 30/06/2023

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Due date

ensure children receive the quality interactions they need from staff in order to support their existing communication skills effectively 30/06/2023

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Due date

improve the organisation of the provision so children have regular access to the resources and activities they need to progress well in their learning. 30/06/2023

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY493043 Local authority Buckinghamshire Inspection number 10285333 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 15 Number of children on roll 18

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Name of registered person

Nash and Thornborough Playgroup Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 07814 137265 Date of previous inspection 2 October 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Thornborough and Nash Preschool re-registered in 2015. The pre-school is situated in the village of Thornborough, Buckinghamshire. It is open from 8.30am to 3pm, Monday to Friday, term time only. The provider is in receipt of funding to provide free early education to children aged two, three and four years. The provider employs four members of staff. The manager holds a relevant qualification at level 4. Of the three other staff, one holds a level 6 qualification and one holds a level 3 qualification.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the provider 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 her evaluation of the provider. n The inspector and the manager completed a learning walk together and discussed the early years curriculum. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation. n Parents shared their views, and the inspector took these into account. n The inspector held meetings with the manager and representatives of the provider to find out about the leadership and management of the setting.

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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

27 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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