Coniston Early Years Centre incorporating St Chad's Pre School

Inspection of Coniston Early Years Centre incorporating St Chad's Pre School Epney Close, Patchway, Bristol, South Gloucestershire BS34 5LN

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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

Staff welcome children warmly as they arrive at the pre-school. They show kindness and offer patient reassurance to help new children settle. Children form close relationships with their key person and the other staff. Staff share lots of information with parents. Parents say that they are so grateful for the time and effort that staff put in to supporting their children.

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The provision is good

The manager leads staff in the implementation of their plans for children's learning. They set out the areas well and evaluate the children's use of the rooms to make changes, enhancing children's enjoyment and the smooth running of the pre- school. Children relish the many sensory opportunities available, such as painting, exploring sand and making play dough. Children benefit from the freedom to move between the indoor and outdoor spaces. Staff are particularly mindful of children who prefer to learn and explore outside. Children enjoy suitably risky play in the wonderful gardens. They delight in exploring outside on a rainy day, sliding down grassy banks and splashing in puddles. They hunt for bugs, collecting these in tubs and discussing their different characteristics with staff. Children develop positive attitudes to learning and develop their skills well, including children who speak English as an additional language and two-year-olds in receipt of funding.

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need to do better?

n Key persons use accurate observations and assessments to identify the next steps in children's learning. They act promptly if children are behind their expected development. They liaise with the special educational needs coordinator (SENDCo) and parents, putting in place additional support. Children make good progress; this includes children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those in receipt of additional funding. n Staff quickly give reassurance and support when children are upset or struggling to understand expectations. Children show respect for staff, listening to them, and begin to share toys and play cooperatively. Staff offer timely and effective help for children who require particularly perceptive intervention and additional support to help them manage their emotions and behaviour. n The manager and SENDCo have useful links within the local community. They liaise with the neighbouring school and children's centre, working with them to

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need to do better?

support families effectively. The trained forest school staff lead sessions for children in a local woodland, offering children very beneficial opportunities to learn about and experience nature. Staff also visit the pre-school's off-site allotment garden regularly with the children, where they plant and grow a range of items. n Each child's key person links with parents when children start, to gain knowledge of the children's needs and interests. However, sometimes staff do not always

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need to do better?

20 September 2023 gain as much information as possible, such as useful key words in children's home languages, to help staff support children's understanding as they settle in. Additionally, they do not liaise with providers of other settings children attend. This affects their ability to provide a consistent approach for children and ensure that they make the best possible progress. n Children develop their sense of responsibility well. They help tidy away toys. They change their shoes and work hard to get their wet-weather clothes on to go out in the garden, listening carefully to the staff's well-placed tips. They take an active part in mealtimes. They select items independently and pour their own drinks, then conscientiously put their snack bowl and cup in the washing-up bowl when they have finished. They are keen to do things for themselves and are proud of their achievements. n Staff lead beneficial small-group sessions to develop children's social and

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need to do better?

communication skills. Staff ask probing questions as children explore to encourage them to think and discuss their ideas. Children practise their skills as they talk about insects they find in the garden. Staff model new words, such as camouflage, extending children's skills appropriately. However, occasionally, staff do not adapt their teaching or support for children during activities and routines of the day to fully extend children's engagement and learning. n Staff's well-being is thoughtfully considered, and staff say they feel well supported. The manager has individual supervision meetings with staff to discuss their performance and development. She supports apprentices and other staff to undertake early years qualifications. The manager undertakes some informal observation of staff practice. She recognises that these processes need further extension to help develop staff teaching skills to higher levels.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff carry out thorough risk assessments of all areas. They understand what to do if they are worried about a child in their care. They also show confident knowledge of the procedures to follow for concerns about the conduct of other staff. The manager follows safe recruitment and careful induction processes. She checks and supports the staff's understanding of safeguarding during regular meetings and ensures that they renew their knowledge through a range of training. The manager gets regular child protection updates from the local authority. She ensures that safeguarding information or guidance is quickly passed on to staff and the procedures updated.

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should:

n extend the information gained from parents and other settings children attend,

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should:

20 September 2023 and provide a more consistent approach to the support children receive n support all staff to flexibly adapt activities and the routines of the day, ensuring children's continued attention and engagement n extend the support for the observation and development of staff teaching, helping all staff interact and support children's learning to consistently high levels.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2654428 Local authority South Gloucestershire Inspection number 10305417 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 Sessional day care

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inspection

Total number of places 50 Number of children on roll 90

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Name of registered person

Coniston Early Years Centre incorporating St Chads Pre School

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reference number

Telephone number 07812895114 or 01179334992 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Coniston Early Years Centre incorporating St Chad's Pre School registered in 2021 and is located in Patchway, South Gloucestershire. It operates from 8am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday. The pre-school provides funded places for children aged two, three and four years. There are 14 members of staff. The manager holds early years professional status, and eight other staff hold appropriate qualifications ranging from level 1 to 3. The pre-school also employs a housekeeper.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection of the setting 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 provision. n The inspector viewed all areas and discussed with the manager how these areas are used. n The manager and the inspector evaluated the effectiveness of an activity together. n The inspector observed the children and staff and spoke with them at appropriate times during the inspection. n Parents shared their views of the provision with the inspector. n Relevant documentation was reviewed by the inspector, including suitability checks and paediatric first-aid qualifications. n The manager discussed their safety and child protection procedures, and safeguarding discussions were undertaken with members of the staff team.

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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

20 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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