The Learning Tree Pre-School

Inspection of The Learning Tree Pre- School Muxton CP School, Marshbrook Way, Muxton, Telford, Shropshire TF2 8SA

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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 at this pre-school are happy and feel safe in the care of the attentive staff. They are greeted with smiles and encouragement as they arrive. They walk with excitement into the welcoming and stimulating learning environment. Children behave well and immediately engage in activities of their choice. Children form lovely friendships and immerse themselves in imaginative play. They explore porcelain cups and saucers as they pretend they are at a tea party. Children laugh and smile as they talk to each other about what they would like to eat and drink.

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The provision is good

The enthusiastic staff have high expectations for all children. Children at this pre- school make excellent progress in their speech and language development because staff make very good use of assessment. Staff quickly identify the individual needs of children and facilitate intervention groups that target specific areas for development. Children benefit from smaller group times, where they can practise their listening and attention skills and develop their confidence to speak in smaller groups. Children's physical development is well supported by the range of activities available to them. They confidently move around on a variety of ride-on toys that are appropriate to their level of development. Children learn to climb on climbing frames safely and plan how to get back down.

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need to do better?

n Managers and staff plan a curriculum that uses books as a foundation for learning. They use assessment well and follow children's interests to plan stories that cover the seven areas of learning. Children develop a love of books and read along with staff through repetition of familiar stories. They listen intently as staff read with them and become actively involved with the use of props and opportunities to act out the story. Children develop their vocabulary and comprehension through vibrant, interactive story times. n Children learn how to live healthy lifestyles. They grow a variety of vegetables that they use to explore and eat when fully grown. Children eat a variety of healthy well-balanced foods at mealtimes. Parents take part in the teaching of healthy living by sharing fresh fruit each week with the pre-school. Children eat breadsticks, pears and apples at snack time and engage in conversation with

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need to do better?

staff and their friends. n Staff provide activities that encourage a progression of skills. For instance, children enjoy mark making linked to their favourite stories. Some children choose to colour in pictures of characters from the story. Other children move on to drawing their own pictures and writing about what they have drawn. Outside, children explore growth by planting beans independently. However, at times, staff do not always maximise every interaction with children during activities to challenge their thinking even further.

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need to do better?

24 April 2023 n Children at this pre-school are confident and independent learners. They benefit from opportunities to build on their self-care skills. All children practise undressing and putting sports clothes on for weekly physical exercise sessions. At lunchtime, children walk to school together with staff. They enter the hall, collect their own trays and cutlery and make choices about what they would like to eat. Children carry their own food to the table and feed themselves using cutlery. These high expectations for children support their independence and provide them with the necessary skills required for their transition to school. n Staff encourage parents to be active partners in their children's learning. They ask parents to share their children's early experiences and development before they attend. Staff share appropriate strategies that parents can use at home to support their children's development. They also share stories that parents can

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need to do better?

use to enhance their children's speech and vocabulary at home. Parents speak very highly of the staff team and the progress that their children make. n Staff at the pre-school comment that they are very well supported by the manager. They feel that they are listened to and that their well-being is prioritised. Staff benefit from accessing a range of additional training. Through supervision, staff identify specific areas that they would like to develop further with the support of the manager.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The staff and manager have a very good understanding of their safeguarding responsibilities. They confidently describe the signs and symptoms of abuse and know what to do if they have concerns about a child's welfare. The designated safeguarding leads work closely with other agencies to share information and promote children's safety and welfare. There is a robust recruitment process in place. The manager regularly checks the ongoing suitability of those working with children. Staff carry out risk assessments of the learning environments to help keep children safe from harm. Staff teach children how to safely manage risks for themselves.

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should:

n continue to build on staff's already good teaching to challenge children's thinking during activities even further through the highest quality interactions.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY467465 Local authority Telford & Wrekin Inspection number 10279830 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 Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 32 Number of children on roll 51 Name of registered person Bailey, Leah

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reference number

Telephone number 01952 327721 Date of previous inspection 29 September 2017

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Information about this early years setting

The Learning Tree Pre-School registered in 2013. The pre-school employs five members of childcare staff. Of these, two hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 5, and two at level 3. The pre-school opens Monday to Friday, from 8.45am until 3.15pm, during term time only. The pre-school provides funded early education for three- and four-year-old children.

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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 their evaluation of the provider. n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. 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, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of a communication and language

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Inspection activities

activity with the manager. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The manager showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate the suitability of staff.

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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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