Scalliwags Pre-School

Inspection of Scalliwags Pre-School The Village Hall, Bush Road, East Peckham, Kent TN12 5LL

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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 Not applicable

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The provision is good

Staff encourage and support children at this welcoming setting. They place a strong emphasis on ensuring children develop positive relationships with each other. For example, children play well together, helping their friends and sharing their toys. They enjoy feeding the 'Greedy Gorilla' when playing the game as a group. Staff are good role models. They praise and encourage children and celebrate their achievements. Children delight in thinking about how to make a hoop game harder when playing outside. Staff 'high five' children and clap when children persevere to do it. Staff support children well to keep themselves safe. They focus on supporting children's independence. For example, children went immediately to drink water, get their hats and put on their own sunglasses when getting ready to go outside.

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The provision is good

Children benefit from a well-planned curriculum and environment. Staff use children's needs and next steps to provide a range of motivating activities. For example, children enjoyed dressing up and playing hairdressers based on their current interests. Staff promote children's positive attitudes to learning. They have high expectations for all children. Children demonstrate confidence when choosing their own snacks, getting their own cups and bowls and putting them away when they are finished. This supports children's developing independence.

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need to do better?

n Leaders and managers have placed a strong focus on ensuring children are safe at the setting. They have implemented further safety measures, such as new locks on gates and doors. They make sure staff are deployed effectively outside to ensure all children are safe. n Staff help all children to make good progress. They are good role models, encouraging children to communicate in a range of ways. For example, children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) use picture cards to make their own choices about what they want. Staff promote children's speech and language well. They encourage children to use vocabulary, such as 'acceleration' when playing with cars. n Parents talk highly of the support they receive themselves to help their children. They appreciate the regular opportunities they have to talk about the progress their children have made. They say they like the regular updates via the app.

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need to do better?

They appreciate the opportunities they have to come into the setting. n Staff have successfully prioritised children's communication, mathematical knowledge and behaviour following the COVID-19 pandemic. Staff focus well on ensuring children have a wide variety of opportunities to develop their counting skills. For example, children thoroughly enjoy joining in with a wellington boot game, counting together to find out which one went the furthest.

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need to do better?

23 June 2023 n Staff promote a love of reading through their well-planned curriculum. They share books with children and encourage them to join in with action rhymes. Children remain engaged counting ducks when joining in with the '5 little ducks' song and talking about how many they had left. Staff patiently show children how to count using their fingers. n Leaders and managers have good oversight of the setting and staff. They prioritise a range of opportunities for staff to develop their skills and knowledge. For example, they utilise staff from their neighbouring setting down the road to provide regular updates. Leaders and managers have effective links with the trustees. Staff report that they feel well supported by leaders and managers and enjoy their jobs. n Staff form strong partnerships with external agencies. They have successfully accessed the local authority to support children with SEND. For example, staff

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need to do better?

now use picture cards to help children make choices. They have developed positive relationships with local schools. For example, children join in with a weekly forest school group at a nearby school. This supports children's wider experiences and transition to school. n Staff have developed an attractive outside space. They focus on developing children's physical skills. Children delight in exploring a range of climbing equipment. Children remain engrossed as they explore the sand and water provision. However, staff do not always maximise the opportunities that children have to learn outside during the whole day. This impacts on those who prefer to learn outdoors.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The provision for children's safety and security has been a focus for leaders and managers. Staff have had additional training and have all completed safeguarding training. They confidently explain the signs and symptoms of abuse. Staff have a confident understanding of the procedures to follow if they have concerns about children or the behaviour of a colleague. They know what steps to take if an allegation is made against them. Leaders and managers ensure trustees have up- to-date information. They fully understand their roles and responsibilities for the recruitment, vetting and rigorous checking of the ongoing suitability of staff.

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should:

n improve the timetable to ensure opportunities are maximised for those children who learn best outdoors.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2686577 Local authority Kent Inspection number 10300383 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 26 Number of children on roll 41 Name of registered person Scalliwags Pre-School CIO

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reference number

Telephone number 01892 835980 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Scalliwags Pre-School registered in 2022 and is located in East Peckham, Tonbridge, Kent. It is linked to another setting in Paddock Wood. The pre-school employs eight members of staff, seven of whom hold relevant early years qualifications at level 2 or above, including five who hold qualifications at level 3 and one who holds qualified teacher status. The pre-school is open from Monday to Friday, during term time only. Sessions are from 9am to 3.30pm. The pre-school provides funded early education places for two-, 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 We carried out this inspection as a result of a risk assessment, following information we received from the provider. n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The deputy manager, manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. 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.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector carried out a joint observation of a group activity with the manager. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. 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

23 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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