Hartwell Nursery & Preschool

Inspection of Hartwell Pre-School Playgroup Hartwell Community Centre, School Lane, NORTHAMPTON NN7 2HL

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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 Inadequate

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The provision is good

Staff greet children and parents/carers warmly as they arrive. They recognise some children need more support to separate from their parents, and invite into the pre- school for a short time. Staff help children to settle by reading them a story. Children's emotional well-being is well supported.

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The provision is good

Staff provide vast opportunities for children to be outside in the fresh air and develop their physical skills. Children excitedly tell visitors to the pre-school that they are going on a minibus to visit the local forest with friends from a neighbouring pre-school. They share that they will spend the whole day outdoors and have their lunch sitting under the trees. At pre-school, children learn to negotiate space and race on tracks on pedal bicycles and cross the wobbly bridge on the climbing frame. Staff supervise children very well as they take managed risks, stepping in if children need guidance or support.

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The provision is good

Staff support children to share and take turns with each other. Children confidently tell their friends, 'It is your turn now' when they are going on the slide. They wait at the bottom for their friend and hold out their hand to help them up when they reach the bottom of the slide. Staff praise the children as they find their friend's water bottle and take it to them.

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need to do better?

n The manager has worked tirelessly since the last inspection to make significant improvements. She has actively sought support from the local authority, and has ensured all committee members, including the nominated individual, are known to Ofsted. Suitability checks have been completed and all members of the committee now understand their role fully. As well as this, the experienced manager has developed an exciting and ambitious curriculum. Training has been provided to all staff, and ongoing coaching and support takes place to develop staff's practice. n Overall, staff interactions with children are of a high quality. They ask children well-considered questions to gain information about their prior knowledge and understanding. Many children at the pre-school are confident communicators, keen to share their home experiences with staff. Occasionally, staff do not support children to use the correct pronunciation of words when speaking. For

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need to do better?

example, staff say 'ta' to children instead of 'thank you', or 'nana' for 'banana'. n Staff sensitively support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). They find out all about children's individual needs and support them in the best possible way. Staff maintain regular communication with parents and external agencies to ensure consistent support is provided for children. Children with SEND make good progress from their starting points.

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need to do better?

11 July 2023 n Parents speak positively about the staff caring for their children. They comment on how much the pre-school celebrates every child as an individual and find out all about the different cultures and beliefs children and families may have. Parents say the staff are kind and nurturing, and their children love attending. They say their children have such a good time at pre-school they ask to stay for longer when they come and collect them. n The manager has worked with staff to improve the opportunities for children to develop their mathematical skills. Staff now understand the importance of early mathematics and incorporate this into many activities taking place. However, staff do not help children to identify more complex shapes. n Staff encourage children to be independent throughout the day. Children learn to unzip their coats and hang them up. At snack time, staff teach children to spread their toast with butter, and persevere as they attempt to cut their toast

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need to do better?

into quarters. Children pour milk or water into their cups confidently. They tell visitors to the pre-school how they wash up their plates when they have finished. Children explain how they have bins for recycling, and that paper goes into one bin as it can be made into more paper to use.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff understand their responsibilities to keep the children in their care safe. They have a secure understanding of the signs and symptoms of potential abuse. Staff demonstrate through discussion that they are confident to report any concerns about children or staff to the relevant local authority safeguarding partnerships. Staff are vigilant in their supervision of children, both at the pre-school and when going on outings. At mealtimes, staff deploy themselves so children are always supervised closely when eating. They regularly talk to parents about how some foods should be prepared to minimise the risk of choking.

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should:

n provide consistent support for children to develop their communication and language by always using the correct pronunciation of words n improve staff understanding of how to support children's mathematical knowledge of more complex shapes.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 220223 Local authority West Northamptonshire Inspection number 10281238 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 24 Number of children on roll 29 Name of registered person Hartwell Playgroup Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 07522924733 Date of previous inspection 2 February 2023

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Information about this early years setting

Hartwell Pre-School Playgroup registered in 2001. It is based in Hartwell, Northamptonshire. The pre-school employs five members of childcare staff. Of these, four hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday, during term time. Sessions are from 8.30am until 3.15pm. The pre-school provides funded early education for three- and four-year- old children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed any continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want their children to learn and why. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of a group activities with the manager. 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 talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n Parents and grandparents shared their views of the pre-school with the inspector. n The manager showed the inspector evidence of 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

11 July 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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