Happy Hours Pre School

Inspection of Happy Hours Pre School Medway Building, Polehampton Infant School, Hermitage Drive, Twyford, READING RG10 9HS

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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 demonstrate they feel safe, secure and happy in this nurturing pre-school. They have formed close bonds with staff, who greet them warmly and are continuously attentive to their needs. Children are motivated to learn. They freely explore the inviting play environment and independently access the wide range of learning experiences that staff provide. For example, children delight in mark- making activities and describe their drawings in detail. This helps to support their early literacy skills.

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The provision is good

Staff help children to develop good levels of independence and implement this well. For instance, children learn to manage their personal care routines at a young age. They confidently wipe their own nose and naturally put tissues in the bin. Children wash their hands without being prompted and actively discuss why they need to remove germs.

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The provision is good

Children learn how to manage their emotions and engage in discussions with staff and their peers about how they are feeling. They show consideration for each other and comfort their friends who have had a small accident and are feeling a little sad.

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The provision is good

Staff monitor children's learning closely and work with other professionals and parents to ensure that children receive the targeted support they need. All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, make good progress.

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need to do better?

n The dedicated manager and management committee show a positive commitment to the ongoing improvements of the provision. They seek the views of parents and children, which plays an integral part in the continuous development of the pre-school. Staff work well as a team and comment that they feel valued and very well supported. They say that they thoroughly enjoy working at the pre-school. n The manager and staff are knowledgeable about the individual learning needs of the children in their care. They have clear intentions for children's development and for the learning experiences they provide. However, on occasion, in their enthusiasm to engage and interact with children as they play, staff do not support and challenge the developing vocabulary of younger children to the highest level. n Children benefit from fresh air and exercise throughout the day. They tip and pour and experiment with different ingredients in the mud kitchen. Children

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need to do better?

build on their core muscles as they move backwards and forwards on the swing. They delight in riding on tandem bicycles with their peers, and they demonstrate

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need to do better?

20 April 2023 good coordination skills as they make their way over climbing apparatus. n Parents speak highly of the kind and caring staff team. They say their children are happy and are making good progress. They appreciate the regular updates about their child's ongoing development and the support staff provide to help them continue their children's learning at home. n Staff promote diversity and inclusion well in the pre-school. They embed children's traditions, backgrounds and festivals into daily activities. This helps children to value themselves and their peers as unique individuals. n Staff support children's mathematical skills well. For example, children use rulers and enthusiastically measure a variety of objects during craft activities. They excitedly use numbers in their play and count down from 10 as they 'blast off' their rockets. Staff encourage children to think critically and teach them about

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need to do better?

the concept of density as they learn about sinking and floating during water play. n Staff have high expectations for children's behaviour. For example, children choose what they want to play with and tidy away toys when they have finished playing with them. Children understand the pre-school rules and actively use sand timers when taking turns on apparatus. They learn to think about their personal safety and are mindful of the space around them when their friends are using the swing. n Children develop a love of books. They enjoy listening to stories throughout the day and make predictions about what could happen next. This helps to build on children's early reading skills. The manager and staff have recently introduced a lending library to give further encouragement to parents to read with their children at home.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager ensures that staff keep their safeguarding training up to date. Staff recognise signs and symptoms that would cause them to be concerned about a child's welfare. They know how to identify children who may be exposed to extreme views. Staff know how to report any concerns they may have about any children or the adults they encounter. Robust recruitment procedures are in place to ensure that all staff are suitable to work with children. Staff use risk assessments to help minimise potential hazards and maintain a safe environment. They are vigilant about safety and maintain correct ratios to keep children safe.

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should:

n support staff to build more consistently on the vocabulary of younger children, to help them make the best progress in their language development.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 148659 Local authority Wokingham Inspection number 10263700 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 23 Number of children on roll 45 Name of registered person Happy Hours Preschool Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 01189 349 088 Date of previous inspection 10 May 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Happy Hours Pre-School was established in 1968 and has been at its present location since 1983. It is open from Monday to Friday during term time only. Sessions are from 8.45am to 3.15pm. The pre-school employs eight members of staff. One staff member holds early years teacher status and all others hold relevant childcare qualifications at level 3. The pre-school provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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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 the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the pre-school. n The inspector held discussions with staff, the manager and a member of the management committee at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector and the manager had a learning walk together across all areas of the pre-school to understand how the curriculum is organised. n The inspector spoke to children and observed children's activities and staff teaching, inside and outdoors. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation, including evidence of staff's suitability to work with children. n The inspector took account of parents' views through discussions and written testimonials.

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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

20 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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