Willow Tree Preschool

Inspection of Willow Tree Preschool Barn Cottage Pavillion, Barn Cottage Lane, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH16 3QN

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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 of all ages are settled, confident and happy during their time in the welcoming nursery. For example, even the youngest giggle happily as they play hiding games with staff. Children are keen to join in with the interesting activities that staff carefully plan for them. For example, they engage in a cooking activity, where they prepare and make fruit salad and learn about healthy food. Staff have high expectations of children and plan challenging activities to help them make good progress. Children enjoy bringing their imagination to life. They are excited to act out how jungle animals sound and move. Children enjoy regular trips to the local nature reserve, where they learn about life cycles. For example, they are excited to watch frog spawn grow into frogs.

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The provision is good

All staff are positive role models. Children are polite and behave well. They develop good social skills and are kind to each other. For instance, children are excited to share their achievements with each other and are greeted with excited praise and celebratory 'high fives'. Children learn about the importance of healthy lifestyles. For instance, they talk about the importance of good oral hygiene. Children gain good physical skills and learn to move in different ways. For example, they confidently and safely negotiate climbing and balancing equipment.

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need to do better?

n The manager and staff have made significant improvements since their last inspection. They ensure that they have a clear understanding of the curriculum, which they implement well. Staff plan purposeful learning opportunities for children that they know will keep them interested and motivated to learn. n Staff know all children well and get to know their unique personality and abilities. This helps them to build secure and trusting relationships with them. Staff meet all children's individual needs well. This includes children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). For example, staff liaise closely with outside specialists and implement effective strategies to support children. This includes implementing visual timelines to support their understanding of changes in routine. n Overall, children learn in a language-rich environment. For example, staff provide running commentary and have meaningful conversations with all

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need to do better?

children. Children are confident to share their thoughts. However, on occasion, staff do not give children time to think and then respond to the thought- provoking questions to build on their developing communication skills even further. n All children demonstrate a positive attitude towards their learning and overall, they are engaged in their learning experiences and make good progress. However, staff do not always recognise when it would be beneficial to build on

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need to do better?

19 October 2023 children's interests and the learning they initiate. For example, at times, staff do not build on children's own interest and use of mathematical language as they play. n The manager and staff establish positive partnerships with parents, who speak highly of them. They comment on how staff really care about the children, who they nurture and help thrive. Staff keep them well involved and informed about what their children have enjoyed doing, their achievements and next steps in their learning. Staff share useful information with parents to support them at home. This includes tips and ideas about healthy eating and lunch boxes. n The manager closely monitors the good quality of education and care that staff provide. She regularly observes them teaching children and provides them with constructive and helpful feedback. Staff evaluate their practice together and observe each other, identifying strengths and areas to improve. They use their

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need to do better?

findings to support their future performance. n All staff attend regular and beneficial training. They have recently learned about the different ways to consistently manage children's behaviour. This has helped children to be confident to express their feelings and emotions in a safe and appropriate way. n The manager and staff provide children with opportunities to develop a good understanding of other languages and countries from around the world. For example, children learn about the festivals and traditions of Poland. n The manager and staff use additional funding effectively to support the individual needs of children. They have purchased sports equipment to help children to develop their physical skills and build on their enjoyment of being outdoors.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

All staff, including the manager, have a strong and confident knowledge and understanding of all safeguarding and child protection policies and procedures. This includes knowing and being vigilant for the signs and symptoms of abuse. All staff know how to raise and follow up any potential concerns regarding staff and children. Staff have a clear understanding of what is a notifiable event and how to record any incidents. The manager ensures that staff meet ratio requirements and deploy themselves effectively to keep children safe, including on trips and outings. All staff know how to minimise any risks and manage any accidents swiftly and appropriately.

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should:

n develop staff's understanding of how to ensure that children consistently have

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should:

19 October 2023 enough time to think and then answer questions n support staff to be confident in consistently recognising and building on children's interest in mathematics.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2532038 Local authority West Sussex Inspection number 10265545 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 20 Name of registered person Pile, Louise

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reference number

Telephone number 07861612492 Date of previous inspection 1 November 2022

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Information about this early years setting

Willow Tree Preschool registered in 2019. It is located in Haywards Heath, West Sussex. The setting is open Monday to Friday, from 8am to 5.30pm, all year round. The setting is in receipt of funding to provide early education for children aged three and four years. The setting employs five members of staff, of whom, three hold a relevant early years qualification at level 3.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed any continued impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The inspector carried out a learning walk with the manager. The inspector assessed the impact of the quality of staff interactions and the learning opportunities they provide to children. n The inspector viewed the indoor and outdoor learning environments. n The inspector reviewed written documentation. This included safeguarding and child protection policies and procedures. n The inspector spoke to the manager, children, parents and staff at convenient times and considered their views. n The manager and inspector carried out a joint observation on a planned cooking activity.

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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

19 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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