St Andrew's Preschool Ashton

Inspection of St Andrew's Preschool Ashton Tulketh Road, Ashton-on-Ribble, Preston PR2 1EQ

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Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

The quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement Personal development Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Inadequate

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The provision requires improvement

Children develop secure attachments with staff. They behave well and are happy and emotionally secure. Indoors and outdoors, they choose what to play with from an interesting range of toys and activities set out. However, in some areas, leaders have not identified clearly what that they want children to learn or the order in which they need to learn it. Therefore, during children's freely chosen activities, staff are less able to promote and extend learning and to build up children's knowledge securely. On the other hand, some activities are planned and led very well by staff. During these activities, staff are clear what they want children to learn, and the quality of teaching and learning is good. For example, children engage well and are focused on learning during music time and when manipulating dough to music.

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The provision requires improvement

Outdoors, children demonstrate increasing balance and coordination as they walk along planks. They roll tyres to each other, which helps to develop their coordination. They grow vegetables including lettuce, tomatoes and celery, which supports their understanding of nature and provides opportunities for them to care for living things. Children develop good speaking, listening and literacy skills. They are learning new language to help them to express their feelings. They play games such as dominoes, which helps them learn how to take turns and also helps them to develop mathematical skills.

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need to do better?

n Since the last inspection, the staff team has become more stable. This has enabled leaders to step back from working directly with children and evaluate all aspects of the provision. They have implemented new procedures, which are beginning to have a positive impact on the quality of education. For example, managers have started to observe staff practice and meet with them to discuss their strengths and areas to develop. They are providing support to staff who are new to their roles, so practice continues to improve. Leaders have a clear vision and appropriate plans for development. They include the views of staff in their evaluations and have recently sent questionnaires to help to gather the views of parents. n Each child has a member of staff identified as a key person. This key-person role is developing steadily to build stronger partnerships with parents to help promote continuity of children's learning. Parents receive some information

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need to do better?

about what their child has been doing during the session. As required, they also receive a written summary of their child's progress when aged between two and three years. However, ongoing information exchanged with parents is not sufficiently detailed to keep everyone well informed about children's abilities. n Children engage enthusiastically in group music time and develop a range of

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need to do better?

14 July 2023 useful skills, which support their language development. They listen carefully to the patterns within the music and clap to the slow and fast beat. This helps to improve their attention and listening skills. They are introduced to different genres of music, such as opera, which enable them to hear and distinguish new sounds. n Children develop a keen interest in literacy. They listen attentively to stories read well by staff and enjoyed a recent visit from a local author. They know that books contain facts and stories and that an author writes them. Children enjoy a wide range of activities, which help to strengthen their hands and fingers ready for writing. For example, children skilfully use their finger and thumb and tweezers to pick up and move pom-poms. They squeeze, pinch, pull and roll dough while listening to disco music. They design and decorate book covers and bookmarks, which also helps to develop their creativity.

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need to do better?

n Children enjoy some stories and craft activities linked to calendar events. However, there are few opportunities for children to learn about other people, families and communities to help to prepare them for life in modern Britain. n Support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those in receipt of additional funding is steadily developing. The special educational needs coordinator works increasingly with parents, staff and external professionals to help identify and close any gaps in children's learning. The spending of additional funding is being monitored to check that it benefits the children that it is allocated to.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Since the last inspection, a new heating system has been installed and staff monitor that the rooms are maintained at an appropriate temperature. Staff follow risk assessment procedures to keep the premises and resources safe. They understand how to identify and report child protection concerns. The manager ensures staff receive regular training to keep their knowledge of safeguarding up to date.

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Due date

identify more clearly what children are to learn, so all staff can help children to gain the most from the self-chosen activities 08/09/2023

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Due date

14 July 2023 exchange more detailed information with parents, so all parties have a clear understanding of what children know and can do and are able to build on prior learning with success 08/09/2023

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Due date

embed the recently improved ways that are in place to monitor staff's practice and support their professional development. 08/09/2023

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should:

n make greater use of opportunities for children to learn about people, families and communities beyond their own.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2695895 Local authority Lancashire Inspection number 10297179 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 40 Name of registered person Buchanan, Charlotte

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reference number

Telephone number 07731511458 Date of previous inspection 14 March 2023

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Information about this early years setting

St Andrew's Preschool Ashton registered in 2022. The nursery employs nine members of childcare staff. Of these, two hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and two at level 6, of whom one has qualified teacher status. The nursery opens Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 4pm, term time. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed any continued impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The inspector and one of the management team conducted a learning walk together. n Two joint observations were carried out by the inspector and the nursery manager. n The inspector held discussions with staff, children and parents at appropriate times during the inspection. n A meeting was held between the inspector and the leadership team. n The inspector looked at a sample of the nursery's documents. This included evidence about staff suitability and training.

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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

14 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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