Wind In The Willows Preschool Ltd

Inspection of Wind In The Willows Preschool Ltd Plot E, Shears Drive, Amesbury, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP4 7XT

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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 of all ages enjoy attending. They arrive happily and have close relationships with staff, which helps them to feel settled and secure. For example, babies benefit from lots of cuddles and interactions with their carers. Children spend much of their time outside where they make choices about their play and explore independently. Pre-school children investigate plumbing fittings, putting them together and pouring water through them. Younger children explore different textures as they play with toy animals in sand, water, grass and other materials they have collected. Children have good opportunities to learn about living things. They help to care for the pre-school's chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs, and a new gardening area is currently under construction, which staff will use to extend children's knowledge of the world further. Children are well behaved. They learn to regulate their emotions, and older children confidently discuss the 'golden rules'.

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The provision is good

Staff know the children well and have high expectations for every child, whatever their individual starting points. They provide a varied range of activities that engage children and take account of their interests. They support children that need additional help with individual plans and focused activities effectively. Children make good progress.

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need to do better?

n Staff have a secure understanding of what they want children to learn and why. They get to know children well, liaising with parents to find out their starting points and then making regular observations of their progress. This enables them to identify what each child needs to do next and provide activities that support their learning. Staff use effective teaching methods to engage and motivate children. They build on what they already know, ask them questions to help them think for themselves and praise them for having good ideas. n Children focus well on a varied range of interesting learning opportunities. For example, they listen intently to a story, joining in with refrains and discussing how the characters are feeling. Overall, leaders and staff provide an enabling learning environment. For example, children aged two to three have a large, well-equipped classroom and outdoor space, which supports their learning well.

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need to do better?

However, the baby room has recently been moved and is still being developed. Babies now have free access to a small outdoor area that successfully supports their growing independence, and they enjoy spending time there. However, it is not fully equipped to support their learning, and staff do not always ensure that babies have sufficient learning opportunities when outside. n Children behave well. They learn to share and take turns and confidently tell staff if they feel that another child is not following the rules. They build good friendships and play together happily. For example, they enjoy playing in a den

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need to do better?

3 May 2023 with one another. Staff use happy and sad face cards to help children manage their behaviour and discuss their feelings. They are quick to offer praise for desired behaviour, recognising good sharing and the use of 'kind hands'. n Children generally communicate well. Many older children chatter confidently as they play and interact with others, talking about a wide range of subjects. Staff use effective strategies, such as sign language and visual cards, to support children who need extra help with their communication skills. Some babies have dummies in their mouths for long periods, which limits their speech development. Staff are not consistently proactive about working with parents to find strategies to reduce or stop the use of dummies. n There are strong partnerships with parents. Parents and staff share information about children's starting points and progress to ensure a joint approach to their

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need to do better?

learning. Leaders and staff provide support for the whole family, signposting them to services that may be helpful. n Leaders and staff have taken part in an accreditation scheme that helps them evaluate what they do and make ongoing improvements. Leaders monitor staff practice and ensure training is easily accessible to develop their knowledge and skills further.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff regularly remind children about playing safely and discuss safety with them, such as when using sharp skewers to make fruit kebabs. The police have visited to talk about internet safety to the pre-school children, and leaders share information with parents about how they can monitor their child's use of the internet. Staff have a secure understanding of a wide range of possible signs that a child may be at risk of harm. They know what to do if they have concerns and understand that it is their responsibility to follow these through if leaders do not take action. They also know what to do if they have concerns about the conduct of one of their colleagues.

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should:

n build on the existing developments in the provision for babies to ensure that they enjoy a varied and rich set of experiences to help them make further progress n develop effective strategies to limit the use of dummies to support babies' emerging speech.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2519751 Local authority Wiltshire Inspection number 10287441 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 61 Number of children on roll 99 Name of registered person Wind in the Willows Pre-School Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01980 258428 Date of previous inspection 12 May 2022

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Information about this early years setting

Wind In The Willows Preschool Ltd is situated in Amesbury, Wiltshire. It originally registered in 2010 and then re-registered in 2019 in new purpose-built premises. The pre-school operates from 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. It employs 16 members of staff, including managers. Of these, three hold a relevant childcare qualification at level 6, one holds level 4, seven hold level 3, two hold level 2 and three are working towards qualifications. The pre-school receives funding for children aged two, three and four years. The pre-school also provides a breakfast and after-school club for school-age children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed any continued impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The deputy manager and the room leaders joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to her about their curriculum and what they want the children to learn. n Children spoke to the inspector during the inspection. 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 with the manager. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. 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

3 May 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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