Parkhall Pre-School Ltd

Inspection of Parkhall Pre-School Ltd Parkhall Playgroup, Parkhall Road, Somersham, Huntingdon PE28 3EU

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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 Not applicable

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The provision is good

When children arrive at the setting, they hang up their coats and bags and confidently wave goodbye to their parents. Friendly and welcoming staff are close by to provide encouragement and support for children as needed. Children who speak English as an additional language are welcomed in their home language, using pre-recorded messages. Staff provide dual-language books and a talking pen to share stories together. Staff plan activities to celebrate children's religions. All children learn about a range of cultures and the similarities and differences between them.

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The provision is good

Children are excited to join in activities. They fully immerse themselves in their learning. Staff extend children's knowledge by asking open-ended questions, such as 'What could we use?' and 'How do you think we could join it up?' This encourages children to think for themselves and they learn the 'how' and 'why' to questions. Children listen carefully to the staff and follow simple instructions. When staff open the garden door, they sing a short rhyme to gain children's attention. Children stop what they are doing and listen carefully to the staff member, demonstrating how they can follow the rules and expectations at the setting.

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need to do better?

n There is a robust key-person system, which supports the curriculum from the beginning of a child's journey at the setting. Families are allocated a key person, who conducts a home visit before children start. This gives families the opportunity to develop relationships, and the key person gains a useful insight into children's home lives. They gather important information about children and arrange settling-in visits. Families are given the flexibility of gradual starts, which promotes children's emotional well-being. n Staff provide activities that encourage children's fine motor skills. They have a good knowledge of child development and understand the importance of strengthening fine motor movements. Children enjoy participating in a creative activity. Staff encourage children to concentrate on the process of cutting, threading and using a range of tools. However, they do not always adapt activities to make them more accessible to younger or less-able children.

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need to do better?

Therefore, at times, some children are unable to access important learning opportunities. n Staff provide clear boundaries and expectations. When children sometimes forget, staff gently remind them, supporting each child individually and explaining the reason why the setting has that rule. For example, when children run indoors, staff talk to them about walking and explain how this keeps them safe at pre-school. n Mealtimes are used as an excellent learning opportunity for all children. They

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need to do better?

30 November 2023 learn to be independent, cutting fruit, opening packets and clearing away. Staff also use the opportunity to talk to children about healthy eating. All children contribute to the conversation, sharing the healthy foods they have in their lunch boxes. At snack time, children recall past learning experiences. They remind their peers that the reason they must cut their grapes in half is to keep them safe. n Staff provide specific learning opportunities for developing children's language. They often work in small groups to give children more support. However, when implementing these activities, staff do not always provide a quiet area where children can fully concentrate. Children can become distracted and struggle to hear each other. Therefore, they do not always get the most out of each learning opportunity. n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are well supported. Staff have high expectations, and children make excellent progress.

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need to do better?

For instance, children's social skills develop quickly and staff work closely with children towards small and achievable targets. There is exceptional support in place for children and families, and staff work closely with parents to ensure children are happy. n Leaders work together to recruit new staff safely when needed. They follow a robust induction programme and they continue to monitor staff development through ongoing supervisions. The manager provides training tailored to staff's needs and there are regular team meetings. Together these practices provide all staff with ongoing support and encourage reflective practice.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff understand their safeguarding role and responsibilities. Staff training, meetings and quizzes mean that all staff have a good knowledge of safeguarding and know how to recognise the signs of abuse. Staff know who to contact if they have concerns about a child, and contact details for the local authority are displayed around the setting. The manager ensures that all staff are aware of the procedure for reporting concerns about another member of staff, should they need to. Leaders follow robust procedures for recruiting new staff, and existing staff have regular checks to ensure they remain suitable to work with children.

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should:

n support staff to monitor and adapt activities for different ages and abilities to ensure all children can make the best possible progress n create a quiet space for children to have time away from the busy learning environment to allow them to focus with less distractions.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2645061 Local authority Cambridgeshire Inspection number 10304914 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Sessional day care

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inspection

Total number of places 40 Number of children on roll 34 Name of registered person Parkhall Pre-School LTD

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reference number

Telephone number 01487 740774 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Parkhall Pre-School registered in 2021. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday, term time only. Sessions are from 9am until 3pm, and the pre-school offers an additional early start session between 8.30am and 9am. 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 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 joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want their children to learn. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n Parents shared their views on the setting with the inspector. n The special educational needs coordinator spoke to the inspector about how they support children with SEND.

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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

30 November 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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