Happy Hall Preschool

Inspection of Happy Hall Preschool Old Hall People's Partnership, Wing Close, Walsall WS2 0LS

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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 Not applicable

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The provision requires improvement

Children are generally happy during their time at the pre-school. Parents drop off and collect their children at the door, where they have time to speak to staff and share information. Parents report that they are happy with the care and education their children receive at the pre-school.

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The provision requires improvement

The environment is warm and welcoming. Children form close relationships with staff, who talk kindly to them and offer comfort and reassurance. This supports their emotional well-being. Older children are confident and able to ask for help when they need it, and they learn to manage their own personal care needs. They follow simple rules as they hold hands to make a line at the door, walking safely to the bathroom. Staff make sure that younger children are comfortable and support their personal care.

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The provision requires improvement

The provider sets her curriculum across the areas of learning. However, this does not fully transfer into practice, and planning for the children's individual needs is not effective. As a result, activities do not always focus on children's next steps precisely so that they can make rapid progress. At times, children become bored and frustrated, and their behaviour becomes unacceptable. This impacts on other children's learning.

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need to do better?

n The provider, who is also the manager, is ambitious and strives to provide children with the skills they will need to be successful learners in the future. However, weaknesses in the implementation of the curriculum and planning mean that children do not build on what they already know. They do not regularly practise the range of skills they will need to make the best possible progress. The current organisation of childcare means that all children are cared for in one area. Older children do not access to the wide range of resources that support their learning. Although there is a large outdoor area, children do not always access daily outdoor play to support their health, well-being and learning in the fresh air. n The quality of teaching is variable. It does not consistently respond to the emerging needs of all children across the breadth of the curriculum. At times, activities do not precisely focus on children's next steps or take account of

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need to do better?

individual children's learning styles. As a result, children become disengaged, and their behaviour becomes challenging. Strategies for managing this behaviour are not always effective, and the children do not learn to manage their own feelings or understand why their behaviour is unacceptable. This impacts on all children's learning. n Despite weaknesses in the quality of teaching, children make progress in their

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need to do better?

22 August 2023 development. Children are gaining good handling skills as they hold a pencil correctly and skilfully draw around an object. They cut out their shapes using scissors. Children's imaginations flourish as they create their own pictures and recall events in their lives. Staff skilfully direct questions to check children's knowledge. Children talk about making a birthday cake and recall the ingredients they used. At these times, children play well together. They listen, take turns and share. n Staff support children's language and introduce new words to expand their vocabulary. Children delight as they 'splatter' paint from a straw. Staff help children to understand how to 'blow' and not to 'suck' the paint. Children show good levels of self-esteem as they talk about their creations. They tell staff that their picture is 'the wheel of a monster truck'. Staff follow children's interests as they change the activity from painting on paper to making dinosaur footprints

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need to do better?

and then to washing the dinosaurs, turning the water 'green'. n Children learn about early mathematics as they explore different shapes, build towers and count the number of bricks. Some children independently count to seven. Staff congratulate children for their achievements. Older children enjoy stories and listen to the words. They ask staff to 'read again' as they listen to the repetition of stories they enjoy. In smaller groups, younger children watch intently as the pages turn, and they point to the pictures. Staff repeat words to encourage children's emerging language. n Children learn about wider communities as they take part in a range of various activities throughout the year. They sample different foods and explore different traditions, religions and family life through play. Children begin to understand the importance and value of people who are the same, and who are different.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff have completed training on child protection to support their knowledge and understanding. The manager is proactive. They make regular checks to ensure that staff are familiar with their roles and responsibilities. The manager ensures that staff know what to do if they have a concern about a child in their care, or a concern about another professional. Staff demonstrate a secure understanding of the wide range of indicators that a child may be at risk of abuse. Staff ensure that the premises are secure, and monitor any visitors to the pre-school, including the arrival and collection times of children, to keep children safe.

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Due date

22 August 2023 ensure that the implementation of the curriculum consistently delivers across all the areas of learning and that planning takes account of the varying needs of the children who attend 27/10/2023

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Due date

improve teaching to help children to begin to manage their own feelings and emotions in order to guide them to become competent, successful learners 27/10/2023

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Due date

provide children with daily access to outside space where they can play and learn in the fresh air. 15/09/2023

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2674052 Local authority Walsall Inspection number 10306995 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 24 Number of children on roll 35 Name of registered person Pressdee, Maria

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reference number

Telephone number 01922474684 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Happy Hall Preschool registered in 2022. It operates from a community centre in the Bentley area of Walsall. The pre-school employs five members if staff, including the manager. Three staff hold early years qualifications at level 3 and two staff are not qualified. Happy Hall operates Monday to Friday, from 8.30am until 5.30pm, all year round.

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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 The inspector viewed the premises and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the pre-school. They discussed the early years curriculum and its impact on children's learning. n The inspector spoke to staff, children and parents at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector observed the quality of the education being provided and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n A sample of relevant documentation to support the safe and effective management of the nursery, including suitability checks, was seen by the

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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

22 August 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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