Sunflowers Pre-school at Amy Johnson Children's Centre

Inspection of Sunflowers Pre-school at Amy Johnson Children's Centre Brabazon Avenue, Roundshaw, Wallington SM6 9ET

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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 Outstanding

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The provision is good

Staff welcome children from many different cultures and backgrounds. They set high expectations for children's learning and behaviour. Staff use basic sign language to support children with communication difficulties. They invite children's parents to borrow books from the pre-school to further develop their children's vocabulary. During group time, staff use props effectively to sustain children's attention. Children join in and squeak with delight as they listen to the noise of the 'rain' and 'thunder'. Staff build strong relationships with the children. They praise children and give them spontaneous cuddles. This helps children to feel safe and emotionally secure.

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The provision is good

Staff make good use of the outdoor space to promote children's physical development. This benefits children very well, particularly those who do not have access to outdoor space. For instance, staff encourage children to run up and down the hill to strengthen their muscles, joints and bones. Children respond happily to these learning experiences. Staff place importance on providing children with first- hand experiences to learn new things. This includes organising outings, such as to the local fields. For some children, for instance, it is their first time to see real animals roaming around in nature.

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need to do better?

n Leaders manage the pre-school well. They have a clear vision and sense of purpose. Their commitment to supporting local children and families is particularly strong. This has a positive impact on the whole community. n Staff report that they receive good levels of supervision from their leaders. This includes support for their mental health and well-being. There are opportunities for staff to develop their knowledge and skills. For instance, they have completed training to deepen their understanding of how to implement the curriculum for mathematics. Following this, staff have given children the confidence to use numbers and mathematical language during play. n Staff work quickly to ensure that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities receive the support they need. This helps children to catch up with their peers and make good progress from their starting points. For instance, staff collaborate with speech and language therapists to improve children's

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need to do better?

ability to talk and use other language skills. As a result, children who had limited speech are now able to express themselves using words. n Staff talk about children and their individual progress with genuine fondness. They plan a wide range of activities for children. However, at times, staff do not make effective use of observations and assessments when planning what to teach children next. Consequently, during some adult-led activities, children lose their motivation and focus to complete the tasks.

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need to do better?

10 October 2023 n Staff teach children about right and wrong to help manage their behaviour. However, they do not always ensure that children understand the impact of their actions on themselves and others. This makes it difficult for children to self- regulate their feelings and emotions. n Since the COVID-19 pandemic, staff spend time teaching children practical skills, such as self-care and independence skills. They also use snack time to teach children good table manners. Children are learning to sit and eat at the table, which also promotes their social skills. n Staff are particularly good at engaging parents in their children's learning. They build strong relationships with parents, which helps parents to feel secure in asking for help when needed. Some examples include staff helping parents to complete referral forms or providing interpreters to secure clear communication with them. Parents agree that staff are 'very helpful' and 'extremely sensitive' in

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need to do better?

their interactions with them. They are delighted with the work of the pre-school staff, which has a positive impact on children's progress. n Leaders continue to evaluate the quality of the provision to make positive improvements. Since the last inspection, for example, they have supported staff to introduce planting and growing activities with the children. This gives children the confidence to explore nature and care for fresh produce in the garden.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Leaders follow rigorous procedures to assure staff's suitability to work with children. They carry out ongoing checks to monitor if there are changes in staff's personal circumstances to help keep children safe. Leaders are very aware of local issues facing children and their families. This puts them in a strong position to identify individual children who might be suffering or are likely to suffer significant harm. Leaders ensure that staff are deployed well to protect children's welfare. Staff can identify signs of abuse, including indicators of extremist behaviour. They know what to do if they have concerns about children.

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should:

n review curriculum planning so that all adult-led activities focus specifically on developing children's individual next steps in learning n explain to children more clearly about their actions and the impact these have on themselves and others.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY333253 Local authority Sutton Inspection number 10307870 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 16 Number of children on roll 14 Name of registered person London Borough of Sutton

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reference number

Telephone number 0208 770 5910 Date of previous inspection 8 March 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Sunflowers Pre-school at Amy Johnson Children's Centre registered in 2006. The pre-school employs six staff members. Of these, five hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or level 6. The pre-school operates during term time only, from 9am until 12.45pm, Monday to Thursday. The pre-school 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 pre-school received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the leaders and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the setting. n The inspector went on a learning walk with one of the leaders to establish the priorities for the curriculum. She observed the quality of education during activities, inside and outside, to assess the impact these have on children's learning. n The inspector spoke with staff and interacted with the children at suitable times during the inspection. n Two joint observations were completed by the manager and the inspector. They discussed the impact of the activities on children's learning. n Parents spoke with the inspector to share their views on the quality of the provision. They also left written messages, which were taken into account. n The inspector held discussions with leaders to discuss leadership and

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Inspection activities

management issues. She looked at relevant documentation, such as evidence of suitability and vetting checks, first-aid certificates and staff personnel files.

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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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