Grange Park Pre-School

Inspection of Grange Park Pre-School Grange Park Community Centre, School Lane, Grange Park, Northampton, Northamptonshire NN4 5FZ

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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 Good

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The provision is good

Staff greet children warmly as they arrive at pre-school. When new children need help to settle, staff support them well, and they soon calm after cuddles with staff. Children learn to behave well and react positively to staff when they are asked to do things, for example, to tidy up ready for group time. Staff teach children how to use scissors safely and remind them to sit down with scissors, because they are sharp. Staff use a sand timer to support children as they learn to share. Children understand that they swap toys once the timer has ended. Children react well to this and show their understanding of the rules.

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The provision is good

Staff provide activities that cover the seven areas of learning. Children develop their physical skills as they aim and throw balls into tyres in the garden. They thrust their arms into the air, shouting, 'Yay!' when they succeed, showing pride in their achievements. Staff encourage children to use their fingers as they make marks in paint. They talk to children about shapes as they draw and ask them questions about the marks they make. Staff support children's communication and language development as they read books with them. They encourage children to join in with familiar phases and discuss the illustrations they see. Staff lead music sessions where they teach children how to play instruments quietly and loudly, singing songs as they do so.

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need to do better?

n Staff provide a curriculum that follows children's interests. They plan a variety of activities, both inside and outside, following children's leads and enhancing their learning as they interact with them. Staff observe children and complete the progress check at age two to enable them to assess children's development and identify any gaps in their learning. n Many children who attend the pre-school speak English as an additional language. Staff gather information from parents about key words they can use in children's home language to support them in understanding what is being asked of them. Staff have visual aids to help children to learn the pre-school routines. However, visual aids are used inconsistently, and staff do not always use the information they gain from parents, such as words they have learned in home languages, to help engage children in activities. This means, at times, children go from one activity to another, resulting in them not having the same

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need to do better?

amount of good-quality learning interactions as others. n Staff extend children's learning well. For example, children learn about planets as they take part in an activity regarding space. Staff introduce the planet Neptune and encourage children to match pictures to the planets they are looking at. n Staff are confident in what they want children to learn from activities. However,

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need to do better?

15 September 2023 at times, less-confident and quieter children do not get the same interactions as their more confident peers. Staff do not always notice when these children need more support to engage them fully in learning. n Children learn about healthy eating and develop independence as they are encouraged to serve their own snacks. Staff remind them to wash their hands before they start so they are clean. They support children to butter their own crackers, praising them as they do so. Staff help children understand which foods are healthy as they ask questions, and children reply, 'Strawberries are.' Children enthusiastically talk to staff about their vegetable patch at home. n Children are starting to learn about their different emotions and what makes them unique. Staff encourage children to look at themselves in a mirror and draw what they see. Children discuss their features as staff point out they have

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need to do better?

different coloured eyes. Staff encourage children to talk about how they are feeling. Children say that when they smile it means they feel happy. n Parents report that their children love attending the pre-school. Staff provide daily, verbal feedback about their child's day and use an online app to share photos. Parents state that their children's independence has improved. However, not all parents are aware of their children's next steps in learning or how they can continue to support learning at home. n The manager is passionate and reflective and works closely with the pre-school committee. She is proactive in working with other professionals, such as the local authority early years advisor. Staff report that they feel supported by the manager and receive feedback via observations and during supervision meetings.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff have a good understanding of the different types of abuse children can be subjected to, including female genital mutilation. The manager provides safeguarding training for staff and regularly refreshes their knowledge during staff meetings. This training and support enables staff to help keep children safe from potential harm. Staff are confident in the procedures to follow should they have concerns about a child or adult. They are aware of who to go to and how to escalate concerns outside of the pre-school. The manager follows safer recruitment procedures to ensure that all staff working with children are safe to do so.

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should:

n support staff to develop a deeper understanding of the importance of using words in children's home languages and to use these and visual aids to engage children who speak English as an additional language

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should:

15 September 2023 n help staff gain more awareness of when quieter children need support to join in activities n strengthen the information shared with parents so they are made aware of their children's next steps in learning and how they can continue learning at home.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY285845 Local authority West Northamptonshire Inspection number 10295350 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 42 Number of children on roll 20 Name of registered person Grange Park Pre-School Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 0772 9151944 Date of previous inspection 13 December 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Grange Park Pre-School registered in 2004 and is managed by a committee. It is located in Northampton. The pre-school employs five members of childcare staff, who all hold early years qualifications between level 2 and 6. The pre-school opens Monday to Friday, during term time. Sessions are from 9am until 3pm. The pre- school provides funded early education for three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the provider has 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 her evaluation of the provider. n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about the curriculum and what they want children to learn. n Children spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The manager provided the inspector with a sample of key documentation on request. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of an activity with the manager. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and

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Inspection activities

outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning.

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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

15 September 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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