Cottam Before and After School Club

Inspection of Cottam Before and After School Club Cottam CP School, Haydocks Lane, Cottam, Preston, Lancashire PR4 0NY

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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

The motto of 'enjoyment, achievement and fun' is what makes this setting so special. Staff give high priority to the settling-in process. This helps children to feel happy and safe. Staff provide children with an ambitious curriculum. They use information from parents to find out what children's interests are. Staff support children's mathematical skills incredibly well. They introduce numbers, weight and size while looking at pumpkins. Children enjoy counting and singing number rhymes.

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The provision is good

The caring and dedicated staff team goes above and beyond for children and their families. Staff have created a home-from-home environment, where children settle and flourish through high-quality learning experiences. Staff are excellent role models and support children to be independent and self-assured. Children know what staff expect of them and behave well. Staff encourage children to develop a can-do attitude. This helps children to gain positive attitudes towards their learning. For example, staff help children to think about the different ways a train track can be built. Staff encourage children to take on new challenges, such as learning how to use play apparatus outdoors. Children take pride in their achievements. They showcase their balancing skills and cheer each other on while playing football. Children develop the necessary skills in readiness for school.

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need to do better?

n The manager exhibits exceptional leadership skills. She leads the setting with an absolute conviction that children and families get the best service. She aspires for the setting to be a beacon of exceptional practice. Improvement plans are accurate and are monitored with rigour. Her capacity to continually improve and bring about change is good. n Leaders have developed a curriculum that is built on what they know about child development. They are passionate about ensuring that children get off to a good start to their early education. Leaders provide children with broad learning experiences. This means that children are engaged and enthused to learn for most of the time. However, some staff do not make best use of information from assessments to help children make even better progress. n Staff support children's communication and language skills incredibly well. They introduce new words to children and teach them how to blend letter sounds

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need to do better?

together. Children use this knowledge to decode words while looking at books. They are skilful communicators, who use a wide range of vocabulary. n Staff teach children well about the world that they live in. Children relish learning about festivals and celebrations from around the world. They learn about cultural music, food and dance. However, leaders have not thought of other ways to broaden children's understanding of people and communities beyond

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need to do better?

10 October 2023 their own experiences. n Partnership working is a strength. Staff ensure that parents are included in their children's learning. Parents commend staff for their loving and caring nature. They receive information about their children's time at the setting and attend parents' evenings. Links with external professionals and the host primary school are excellent. n The support in place for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is exemplary. Leaders excel at ensuring that children who need additional help get it early on. Gaps in learning are targeted with precision. This means that children with SEND make good progress. n Staff foster children's love of reading very well. They sit with children and read stories to them. Children cannot contain their excitement and help to turn the pages of the books. They anticipate what might happen next and discuss their favourite characters. Children enjoy taking books home to share with their

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need to do better?

families. n Leaders have created the outdoor area into an oasis of physical adventure. Children show excellent physical dexterity as they climb and jump outdoors. They enact roles of builders while playing with wheelbarrows. They complete an assault course and become enthralled while playing ring games with staff.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Robust recruitment procedures are in place. Staff undergo stringent checks to ensure that they are suitable to work with children. Risk assessments are effective, and the premises are safe. Ratios are complied with, and staff supervise children with vigilance. Staff attend child protection training and keep abreast of local safeguarding issues. They are aware of the referral procedure and understand the steps to take if there is an allegation against a colleague. Staff teach children about keeping themselves safe. They talk to children about road and e-safety. Children gain a good understanding of how to manage risks during their play. For example, they discuss how to safely use the slide outdoors.

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should:

n refine assessment strategies to help children to make even better progress across all areas of learning n strengthen children's understanding of people and communities beyond their own experiences.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY290000 Local authority Lancashire Inspection number 10295226 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 67 Number of children on roll 120 Name of registered person Discovery Vine Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 07340118655 Date of previous inspection 20 December 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Cottam Before and After School Club registered in 2001 and is located in Preston. The setting employs 11 members of childcare staff. Of these, six hold an early years qualification at level 2 and above. The setting opens from Monday to Friday all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am to 5.45pm. The setting provides funded 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 his evaluation of the setting. n The inspector observed the quality of education and the impact this has on children's learning. n Discussions were held with the leadership and management team. n The inspector viewed a sample of documentation, including staff suitability checks. n The inspector conducted a joint observation of an activity with the manager. n The inspector spoke to staff and children at appropriate times throughout the inspection. n The inspector spoke to parents and carers during the inspection.

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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

10 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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