The Garden Pre-School

Inspection of The Garden Pre-School Green Lanes School, Green Lanes, HATFIELD, Hertfordshire AL10 9JY

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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 Requires improvement

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The provision is good

Children arrive happily and leave their parents and carers with ease. They demonstrate that they feel safe in the setting's welcoming environment. Children have strong attachments to staff, and for children who have just started, it is clear to see how secure they are. Children approach staff with spontaneous cuddles and go to them for reassurance if needed. Staff focus on the individual needs of the children and their family. This has a positive impact on children's personal, social and emotional development.

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The provision is good

Children behave well. They use their 'listening ears' and 'kind hands'. Children have a good knowledge of expected behaviours. For example, when staff read a story, children remind their peers to be quiet. Staff are consistent in their approach to behaviour management. Children understand the importance of walking inside and not running. They demonstrate a positive attitude to learning.

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The provision is good

The manager and her team are very clear about their curriculum intent. They listen to children and pay attention to what they are interested in. Staff demonstrate a good knowledge of their key children. They plan ambitiously for what children need to learn next. This helps children to make good progress.

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need to do better?

n Recruitment and induction procedures are robust. Appropriate changes have been implemented to ensure that all new committee personnel are suitability checked before taking up new roles within the committee. This helps to keep children safe. n The well-established staff team understands that children have different starting points when they first attend. They focus on what children can do and adapt their curriculum to ensure that it is effective in building on children's starting points. Staff sequence learning alongside effective planning and assessment to ensure that children have exposure to a range of learning opportunities. This helps to develop children's knowledge and skills for their future learning. n Parents speak positively about the staff team. They comment that staff are approachable and that they appreciate the ongoing communication and support, which they have received. Staff encourage parents to be involved in their

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need to do better?

children's learning. For example, using the online system, parents can see what their children are learning and how they can support and extend this at home. In addition to this, parents are strongly encouraged to take books from the setting to enjoy at home with their children. This helps to support children's interest in reading. n Staff provide good opportunities for children to develop strong communication and language skills. They give children time to speak, listening carefully to what

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need to do better?

3 October 2023 children say and respond appropriately. Sufficient value is placed on the importance of singing and story time. Staff respond positively to children's spontaneous requests for both, and they use effective questioning techniques to extend children's language. This helps to promote children's speech. n Children learn to count during activities and experiences. For example, they count the number of children present during registration. They thoroughly enjoy outdoor games, such as 'Mr Wolf', and laugh happily as staff join in. However, there are fewer opportunities for children to develop a secure knowledge and use of vocabulary across all areas of mathematics. n Staff supervision meetings, training and a focus on staff well-being are promoted positively. The manager ensures that all staff have regular opportunities to discuss their role and responsibilities. Staff share that they feel supported and

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need to do better?

enjoy working as a team. The positive relationships staff have with each other and with the children reflect the warm and friendly atmosphere felt throughout the setting. n Children have good opportunities for building on their physical skills. Recognising that children learn in different ways, staff ensure that children have the same opportunities outdoors as they do indoors. Children are independent. They make choices about their play and are confident to share their ideas with staff. n Staff consider mealtimes as social times where children and staff sit together to eat. Children wash their hands beforehand and organise their food independently. However, staff do not consistently help children to develop a thorough understanding of how appropriate handwashing and oral care supports their good health and hygiene.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

Staff are aware of their role and responsibility for safeguarding children. They undertake appropriate training to ensure that their knowledge is up to date. Staff are clear about what might indicate that a child may be at risk of harm, and they know the procedures to follow if they have concerns or if their concerns are not appropriately addressed. Staff know to respond in a timely manner. They understand what to do and which professional to report to if they are concerned about the behaviour of other adults. This helps to keep children safe.

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should:

n develop ways to support staff to help children build a secure knowledge and use of vocabulary across all areas of mathematics n identify ways to support staff to help children improve their understanding of good health and hygiene.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY458059 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10265808 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 Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 32 Number of children on roll 31 Name of registered person The Garden Pre-School Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 01707272893 Date of previous inspection 4 November 2022

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Information about this early years setting

The Garden Pre-School registered in 2012 and is managed by a committee. The pre-school employs seven members of childcare staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday, during term-time only. Sessions are from 9am to 3pm. The pre-school provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed any continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The manager and the inspector held a learning discussion together to understand how the curriculum is organised. Staff interactions were observed during adult-led activities. The inspector reviewed these interactions with the manager. n The inspector spoke with children throughout the inspection. Children were happy to share their experiences with the inspector as they took part in activities. n The inspector spoke with the nominated individual about the leadership and management of the setting. n The inspector spoke to a number of parents during the inspections and took account of their views and feedback. n A sample of the provider's documentation, including staff suitability records and first-aid arrangements, were reviewed by the inspector.

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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

3 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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