Sheering Village Preschool CIC

Inspection of Sheering Village Preschool CIC Sheering Village Hall, The Street, Bishop's Stortford, Essex CM22 7LX

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Overall effectiveness Inadequate

The quality of education Inadequate Behaviour and attitudes Inadequate Personal development Inadequate Leadership and management Inadequate Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Good

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The provision is inadequate

Children's welfare is not assured. The provider has not made sure the premises are safe. Children are not provided with the level of education that they deserve. Leaders and managers have not designed a challenging curriculum that extends children's learning beyond what they already know. Staff fail to engage children in meaningful learning and do not consistently provide children with good-quality interactions. Therefore, children do not benefit from rich language experiences and this has a negative impact on children's progress. For example, during a dance session, staff tell children that exercise is good for their heart, but fail to extend on this to explore why or how, to deepen children's understanding.

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The provision is inadequate

Staff are not always clear what each child should be learning and how to support their individual interests. They do not interact purposefully enough with children to promote their focus on learning. Staff do not effectively bridge the gap in their learning overall and, as a result, children do not develop the knowledge and skills they need to be ready for school. Nevertheless, children arrive happy and eager to play. They are content to play with the toys available. Children have formed close bonds with staff, who provide them with plenty of praise. Staff explain the rules to children to help them understand about sharing and taking turns. Children behave well and enjoy being in each other's company.

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need to do better?

n Leadership and management are weak. The provider has not done enough to ensure that children have a good early years experience that helps them be prepared for the future. The provider does not have the capacity to drive improvement or sustain it. n Staff do not benefit from effective supervision or have regular opportunities for discussion about their practice. They have not had the professional development opportunities to improve the quality of their teaching and their understanding of how children learn. n Staff lack the skills to extend children's learning further. Sometimes, they ask children questions, such as 'What colour is it?', however, they do not consider how to encourage children's thinking skills. Children find a crane fly in the garden and excitedly tell staff what they have found. Staff fail to follow children's interests or encourage them to explore the natural environment further.

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need to do better?

n Children benefit from a 'buddy' system, where older children help the new children learn the routines. For example, they show younger children how to wash their hands thoroughly. However, during group times, staff focus on the more confident children, and do not include less confident and quieter children. This has a negative impact on their personal, social and emotional development.

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need to do better?

29 September 2023 n Children have good physical skills. They learn to move their bodies in a range of ways, including hopping on one foot and touching their toes. Children also enjoy exploring the play dough, where they pinch and roll the play dough, developing their fine motor skills. n Parents speak highly of the staff. Parents comment they are like an 'extended family', where they nurture the children with their warm and approachable manner. They are impressed with the communication from staff using an online platform to share information about children's development and next steps in learning. n Staff work with teachers at the primary schools where children are due to attend. They take children on several visits to the school to become familiar with the space and so that they can join in with the school assembly.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

The provider has failed to ensure that risk assessments are robust and carried out effectively, therefore, several hazards have not been identified. For example, the kitchen and office have not been made inaccessible to children, where there are multiple hazards, such as trailing wires and button batteries, within children's reach. Staff have not identified and removed broken resources. They have failed to consider the risks involved with a new climbing frame. For example, staff do not adequately supervise children or consider necessary safety measures to prevent children from harming themselves. This compromises children's safety and welfare.

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Due date

improve risk assessments to identify any hazards and ensure that these hazards are removed or minimised 06/11/2023

p.3

Due date

provide effective support, coaching and training, so that all staff have the knowledge and skills to fulfil their roles successfully and the interests of children are promoted 06/11/2023

p.3

Due date

plan and implement an ambitious curriculum that meets all children's learning needs, building on what children already know and can do. 06/11/2023

p.3

should:

n engage with quieter and less confident children more frequently to enable them to get the most out of learning experiences.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY423302 Local authority Essex Inspection number 10289154 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 44 Number of children on roll 29 Name of registered person Sheering Village Pre-School CIC

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reference number

Telephone number 01279 734306 Date of previous inspection 14 November 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Sheering Village Preschool CIC registered in 2016. The pre-school employs six members of childcare staff. Of these, four hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and two at level 2. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday during school term time. Sessions are from 8.30am to 2.30pm. The pre- school receives funding to provide free early education for two-, three- and four- year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the provider received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together to discuss the areas of learning, their curriculum and what they want children to learn, both inside and outdoors. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of a group activity with the manager. n Children spoke about what they are doing at the pre-school. n Parents spoke to the inspector who took account of their views of the pre- school. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation, including staff's suitability records and first-aid certificates and risk assessments.

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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

29 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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