Headcorn Preschool

Inspection of Headcorn Preschool Long Meadow Hall, Church Walk, Ashford TN27 9NR

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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

All children are happy and settle confidently at the inviting pre-school. Staff demonstrate a clear understanding of the curriculum. They provide challenging activities that help to keep children interested to learn. Children are keen to engage in interesting activities. For example, as they talk about treasure maps, they go on to learn about pirates. Staff teach children fine motor skills to support their future learning. For instance, children learn to use scissors with confidence as they cut tape to 'free the captured animals'.

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The provision is good

Staff teach children about the importance of healthy lifestyles. For instance, they discuss healthy foods during snack time. Children learn about healthy choices. Staff demonstrate this when children choose to squeeze oranges to drink. Children choose if they wish to rest and engage in quieter activities or exercise and participate in more-active play. Children gain good physical skills. For example, they practise their balancing skills as they negotiate beams and crates. They develop their core strength as they confidently and safely climb on apparatus. The manager and staff support children to have a good understanding of different cultures. For example, children learn about festivals of other countries, such as Chinese New Year.

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need to do better?

n All staff establish positive relationships with children. This helps children to feel safe in a secure and trusting environment. Children are confident and enjoy the company of staff and each other, such as when they play games of hide and seek together. n The manager and staff fully understand children's individual needs. This helps them to support all children to make good progress. This includes children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Staff implement what they learn from training and outside agencies, such as speech and language therapists. This includes using visual timelines to help children to understand and manage changes in the pre-school routine. n Overall, children behave well. Staff support them to gain good social skills, for example by encouraging them to say 'please' and 'thank you'. Staff recognise and praise good behaviour. However, they do not consistently help children to

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need to do better?

understand the consequences of some of their actions and why they are being asked to stop. For example, when children playfully throw an object, they are simply asked to 'stop' instead of being provided with further explanation. Therefore, children do not consistently understand what is expected of them. n The manager and staff establish positive partnerships with parents, who speak highly of them. Staff keep them informed about the activities their children enjoy doing at the pre-school. Staff share helpful information with parents, including

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need to do better?

19 July 2023 healthy eating ideas and links to useful training, such as safeguarding. n The manager and staff use some effective ways to communicate with staff at other settings children also attend. For example, they discuss that they pass on and receive any key information through parents. However, some staff do not have a clear understanding of where their key children also attend and how to communicate directly with staff from these settings more effectively. This does not support staff to provide the highest consistency of care and learning for children who attend another setting. n The manager monitors the quality of education and care that staff provide. She regularly observes them teaching children and shares helpful feedback. Staff evaluate their practice together daily and discuss how well they have engaged children. They use their findings to support their future practice. n Staff attend regular and beneficial training. They have recently learned about

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need to do better?

the different ways to develop children's speech and language skills even further. This has helped staff to understand how to plan activities and experiences that support children to communicate their ideas with confidence. This includes introducing interactive story times, where they use puppets to widen their vocabulary. n Staff use additional funding well to support children's individual needs. For example, they have purchased outdoor play equipment to build on children's enjoyment of learning outdoors and strengthen their physical skills.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager and staff demonstrate a secure and confident knowledge of all safeguarding and child protection policies and procedures. They fully understand the signs and symptoms of abuse to be vigilant for. All staff know who to contact to seek advice and how to manage any potential safeguarding concerns. This includes knowing how to manage any allegations against staff. The manager and staff carry out thorough risk assessments of the premises. This includes ensuring that all doors have safety guards fitted to minimise the potential risk of any serious accidents happening if they unexpectedly close. Staff ensure that all hazards are minimised to help keep children safe and secure at the pre-school.

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should:

n provide guidance to help staff to consistently ensure that children understand why they are being asked to stop certain actions n support staff to establish more-effective partnerships and information-sharing with staff at other settings that children also attend.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2644699 Local authority Kent Inspection number 10301533 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 30 Number of children on roll 41 Name of registered person 2wise Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01622 891477 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Headcorn Preschool registered in 2021 and is based in Headcorn, Ashford, Kent. The pre-school is open from Monday to Friday, term time only. On Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, sessions are from 9am to 3pm. On Wednesday and Friday, sessions are from 9am to midday. The pre-school employs eight members of staff. Of these, six hold early years qualifications at level 3 or above. This includes one member of staff who has an early years qualification at level 5. 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 manager and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the pre-school. n The inspector had a learning walk with the manager and nominated individual. The inspector assessed the impact of the quality of staff interactions and the learning opportunities they provide children. n The inspector viewed the indoor and outdoor learning environments. n The inspector reviewed written documentation, including safeguarding and child protection policies and procedures. n The inspector spoke to the manager, children, parents and staff at convenient times and considered their views.

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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

19 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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