Craven Arms Childcare and Preschool

Inspection of Craven Arms Childcare and Preschool Craven Arms Community Centre, Newington Way, Craven Arms, Shropshire SY7 9PS

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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 are happy and show that they feel safe and secure. They arrive ready and eager to start their day. Children form secure relationships with staff, giving a sense of joy and happiness for everyone at this nursery. Children behave well and are kind and caring towards one another. Staff are close by to model good behaviour and give gentle reminders. The manager and staff have high expectations for all children. They foster children's independence by helping them to develop important life skills, build confidence and nurture a sense of autonomy. Children develop the important social skills to be ready for their move on to school.

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The provision is good

Children enjoy their time in the sensory room where they benefit from a calm atmosphere. They explore light boxes, torches and patterns that are projected onto the walls and ceiling. Children access a wide range of resources and become engrossed in their play. They use their imaginations to extend their learning. For instance, they use pots, spoons, stones and sticks and work together to create their pretend chocolate sand birthday cake. Outdoors, children huddle with staff in the tent and consider what they would need to pack for their imaginary picnic. Babies have their own safe area to play and explore outdoors. Toddlers further develop their physical skills as they climb, run and kick the balls.

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need to do better?

n The manager has set an ambitious curriculum. However, at times, it is not implemented as well as possible. On occasion, staff do not plan experiences for the youngest children to promote their individual learning needs. n Children enjoy making their own play dough. They roll and stretch the play dough and develop their gross and fine motor skills that will support pre-writing activities. Staff skilfully embed mathematics by encouraging the children to consider how many pieces of play dough will be needed for each child at the table. Children count their friends and say 'we need two more pieces'. Staff demonstrate the concepts of 'whole', 'half' and 'quarter' as they cut the play dough. n At times, the learning environment becomes distracting for children. This is particularly noticeable when staff are preparing for lunch. Children who are listening to a story become distracted, which makes them lose focus on their

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need to do better?

learning. n Children learn about the world and their local community. They go on trips to local shops and engage in community events, such as fundraising. Visits from the local fire and police enhances children's understanding of people who help us. Local elderly neighbours delight in speaking to the children through the fence. Children learn about a variety of festivals, which helps them to develop an understanding of the lives of their friends and life in modern Britain.

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need to do better?

6 June 2023 n Overall, reading stories is embedded as part of the daily routine for children. Staff introduce children to new words during discussions, stories and play, ensuring that children hear a wide range of new words. Children engage well as they talk about new learning concepts during these times, such as what noise a snail makes. n Partnerships with parents are good. Parents speak highly of staff and are happy with the standard of care and education that children receive. They regularly use the parent online platform to share and receive important information. Staff work well with parents and other agencies to put steps in place to help every child to develop further according to their learning abilities. This ensures that all children, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, make good progress in the setting. n Staff provide open-ended resources to help children to be creative. For example,

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need to do better?

children enjoy making obstacle courses out of crates and wooden planks. They work together to lift and manoeuvre the crates into position. Children discuss ways that they can make the obstacle course harder. Staff skilfully position themselves to support children's learning through modelling and suggesting new ideas to extend their obstacle course. n The manager has a strong team of staff who are confident in their roles and enjoy coming to work. Both the manager and her team are reflective of their practice and, together, have an ambitious vision to continuously improve the pre-school. Staff are coached sufficiently, and access regular training so that they can further develop their skills.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff demonstrate a good understanding of how to keep children safe and promote their welfare. They know how to recognise the signs and symptoms of abuse and they understand the procedures to follow to ensure that safeguarding concerns are reported correctly. Staff's ongoing suitability is checked regularly. The designated lead for safeguarding understands the procedure if an allegation is made against a member of staff. Staff know the whistle-blowing procedure to follow if they have a concern about an adult working at the nursery. All staff receive safeguarding training and regular opportunities to discuss any concerns.

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should:

n support staff to consider the learning environment, particularly when staff are preparing for lunch, to help to ensure that children do not become distracted from their learning n implement the curriculum even more successfully to help to promote the

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should:

6 June 2023 individual learning needs of the youngest children.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 224082 Local authority Shropshire Inspection number 10264888 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 25 Number of children on roll 50

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Name of registered person

Craven Arms Pre-School Playgroup Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 07891 106339 Date of previous inspection 29 June 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Craven Arms Childcare and Preschool registered in 2001. The pre-school employs six members of childcare staff, five of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2, 3 or 6. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 8am until 4.15pm. 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 nursery received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the manager, and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provision. n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk and talked about the curriculum and what they want the children to learn. 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 observed the interactions between the staff and children. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector.

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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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