Leek Westwood Preschool

Inspection of Leek Westwood Preschool Westwood Road, Leek, Staffordshire ST13 8DL

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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 develop warm and trusting relationships with their key person and staff. As a result, children are happy and settled in this welcoming and friendly pre- school. All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), make good progress from their starting points. Staff are caring and attentive to the individual needs of the children, and they give cuddles and gentle words of reassurance if children become upset.

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The provision is good

Children are confident and develop good social skills. They form friendships and happily play together for long periods of time. Children have lots of fun using their imagination as they play in the beach-themed role play. They enthusiastically dress up in a variety of outfits and inflatable arm bands, pretending to swim in the sea. Children use their fine motor skills, as they eagerly scoop flour into containers and tell the inspector they have made her a strawberry-flavoured ice cream.

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The provision is good

Children have enjoyable opportunities to learn about the natural world. They help to plant and harvest vegetables and enjoy the responsibility of carrying out tasks. For example, children carefully fill watering cans to water the plants. Older children learn about the life cycle of insects. After many weeks of caring for caterpillars, they display their excitement when they see that the caterpillars have turned into butterflies. Children learn new words to support their growing vocabulary, such as 'antennae' and 'symmetry'.

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need to do better?

n The manager is enthusiastic and ambitious. She plans a broad and well- sequenced educational programme, centred around children's individual interests and what it is they need to learn next. The manager ensures good relationships are made with other professionals involved in the care of children with SEND to ensure they receive tailored support for their individual needs. n The members of the committee are actively involved in the running of the pre- school. The committee chair has a good understanding of her role and responsibilities, and effectively supports the manager in her role. n The manager strives for continuous improvement. She regularly reflects with the staff team about the setting and the learning experiences they provide for children. Staff benefit from professional development opportunities and regular supervisions. Staff morale is high. They say they enjoy their role and feel supported by the manager.

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need to do better?

n Children benefit from daily opportunities to play in the well-resourced outdoor area. They develop good physical skills as they run with confidence and balance on tyres. The manager has recently improved the outdoor area to provide more learning opportunities, such as an outdoor classroom for those children who

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need to do better?

6 June 2023 prefer to learn outdoors. However, there is scope to provide more opportunities during outdoor play for older and more able children to develop their good physical skills even further. n Staff use effective interactions to help children in their communication and language development. They ask open questions giving children time to think and respond and extend the flow of conversation. n Children of all ages take part in group singing and story times. Staff who work with the youngest children provide visual prompts, such as a song bag with toys to represent the different rhymes, which helps to encourage children's participation. However, staff have not fully considered how they can successfully capture children's interest and enthusiasm during story times, to further develop a love of books and support their early literacy skills. n Staff provide opportunities for children to develop an awareness of the diverse

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need to do better?

world in which they live in. They learn about different festivals and celebrations from other cultures through activities and conversations. Children take part in outings in the community, such as visits to the local residential care home where they join in activities that mark special events, such as Harvest and Christmas. n Relationships with parents are strong. Staff keep parents informed on the progress their children make and the care they receive. Feedback from parents is highly complementary. They say their children thoroughly enjoy their time at the pre-school. n The manager has established strong links with teaching staff from the adjoining primary school. They work in close partnership to ensure a seamless approach in supporting smooth transitions to the next stage of children's education.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager and staff demonstrate a good understanding of their duty to keep children safe. They can discuss the signs and symptoms that could indicate a child is at risk of harm. They have a clear knowledge of the procedures to follow if they have concerns about the welfare of a child or the conduct of a colleague. Staff carry out daily checks both indoors and outdoors to ensure that children play in a safe and secure environment. Children learn how to keep themselves safe when crossing the road when they are visited by a crossing patrol person.

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should:

n strengthen staff's skills in supporting younger children to listen to and engage in group story times, to further promote their early literacy skills n enhance the outdoor physical play opportunities available, so that the older and most able children are provided with an even higher level of physical challenge.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 218180 Local authority Staffordshire Inspection number 10289177 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 40 Number of children on roll 69 Name of registered person Leek Westwood Pre-School Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 01538 714994 Date of previous inspection 15 November 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Leek Westwood Preschool opened in 1964 and is located in the Staffordshire Moorlands. The pre-school employs nine members of childcare staff. Of these, seven hold early years qualifications at level 3 and above, including one member of staff who holds early years teacher status. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday, during school term time. Sessions are from 9am to 3.30pm. There is also an out-of-school club. It runs from 7.30am to 9am and from 3.30pm to 6pm, term time only. 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 setting. n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and discussed how the curriculum is organised. n The inspector spoke to the manager, committee members, staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the pre-school.

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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

6 June 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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