Caterpillars Pre-School Walton

Inspection of Caterpillars Pre-School Walton Cromwell Community Centre, St. Johns Drive, WALTON-ON-THAMES, Surrey KT12 3NH

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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

Children arrive happy and confidently leave their parents and carers at the door. The manager has good procedures in place to support new starters at the pre- school. Parents complete forms and share care information during settling-in visits. Children who are settling into the pre-school are effectively supported. Staff are sensitive and attentive to children's individual needs. For example, children are offered comforters from home to help them settle. This supports their emotional well-being.

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The provision is good

Staff introduce children to termly themes and associated stories. Children are currently learning about 'Harvest' and reading 'The Little Red Hen'. Staff encourage children to point out the characters in the book and recite parts of the story. This helps develop children's early literacy and broadens their vocabulary. As staff read the story, children recognise the different ingredients, such as 'flour'. They link this to their own experiences of making play dough. This helps children consolidate their learning even further.

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The provision is good

Children behave well. Staff support children's behaviour with a consistent approach. They are good role models, with high expectations for children's behaviour. Staff praise children when they make good choices. This supports their positive attitude to learning, supporting their self-esteem and well-being.

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need to do better?

n The manager has designed a clear curriculum, focused on supporting children to develop their listening, attention, communication, and social skills. The staff have a good understanding of what they want children to learn and why. Staff carefully plan the environment based around children's interests and next steps in learning. All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), make good progress in their learning. n Staff plan a range of activities to help children develop their fine motor skills, for instance, using tools, such as scissors and glue sticks. Children show an interest in the wide range of art and craft activities on offer. However, at times during some adult-led activities, staff overly direct children and do not allow them to fully explore their own creative ideas and interests. n Children's good health is promoted well. Staff encourage children to be

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need to do better?

physically active and to eat a healthy diet. Children enjoy using their strength to climb and swing outside on the apparatus. Staff teach children how to keep themselves healthy by washing their hands thoroughly before eating. Children are developing their knowledge of healthy practices. n Staff provide opportunities for children to develop their imaginations. For example, children enjoy the role-play area and dress up in their favourite pirate

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need to do better?

2 October 2023 and police hats. Furthermore, children pretend to serve each other tea and ice lollies. These experiences help children make sense of their world. n Staff have high expectations for children's behaviour. They teach and remind children of the 'golden rules' at circle time. This helps children to understand what is expected of them. Children show that they are familiar with these as they use their 'looking eyes' and 'listening ears' in preparation to sing the morning song. They behave very well and start to form early friendships with their peers. n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are extremely well supported. The SEND coordinator works closely alongside staff, other professionals and parents to develop strategies to promote children's development. The manager uses additional funding effectively. She provides children with one-to-one adult support and special resources to support children

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need to do better?

with complex needs. Children have positive outcomes. n Parents speak highly of the pre-school. They appreciate the variety of activities on offer and that their children feel happy and safe in the pre-school. Parents say they are kept very well informed about their children's learning through daily discussions with staff, newsletters and an app. They comment that their children have 'blossomed' in their development. n The manager implements a programme of supervision and training to help develop the practice and knowledge of staff. However, she recognises there is scope to extend and embed the current strategies to help staff develop their teaching skills and practice, to a consistently high level across the team.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager and staff have a clear understanding of their role in keeping children safe. The manager ensures that staff undertake regular safeguarding training and have up-to-date paediatric first-aid training. Staff are aware of the policy for whistle-blowing and know how to escalate any safeguarding concerns. The manager understands the procedure to follow if allegations are made against a member of staff. Staff carry out daily safety checks to make sure that the premises are safe for children to play and learn in. The manager has a robust recruitment process, ensuring that those working with children are suitable to do so.

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should:

n develop staff's teaching during adult-planned art and craft activities, to provide greater opportunities for children to develop their own creative ideas and interests n embed the current systems for monitoring and coaching staff, to further improve

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should:

2 October 2023 individual staff practice and to provide feedback to support staff in delivering the curriculum even more effectively.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY494974 Local authority Surrey Inspection number 10304854 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 27 Number of children on roll 15 Name of registered person Caterpillars Pre-School Walton Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 07749454552 Date of previous inspection 2 February 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Caterpillars Pre-School Walton registered in 2015. It is located in Walton-on- Thames, Surrey. The pre-school is open from 8.30am to 2pm on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, term time only. The pre-school employs five members of staff. Of these, the manager holds a level 6 childcare qualification, two staff hold level 3 childcare qualifications, and one staff member is qualified to level 2. The pre-school is in receipt of funding for early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the nursery 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 manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector talked to staff, parents and children at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of an activity with the manager. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the pre-school.

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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

2 October 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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