Hardwick Pre-School

Inspection of Hardwick Pre-School John Bridles Hall, Lower Road, Hardwick, Buckinghamshire HP22 4DZ

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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

Children enjoy spending time at this welcoming pre-school. Staff have high expectations of children's abilities. From the outset, children show increasing independence in their self-care skills. They leave their parents with confidence, place their belongings on their pegs and walk into the main room to find their names for self-registration. Staff place great importance in nurturing children's individual characteristics. As a result, children feel valued, develop high levels of self-esteem and behave well.

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The provision is good

Books are widely accessible in the pre-school. Children of all ages sit attentively as they listen to familiar stories read by staff with great enthusiasm. Overall, children are focused and engaged when they play. They demonstrate perseverance as they use wooden blocks to create roads and rearrange the blocks to create new shapes or ramps. Children understand early mathematical concepts. They compare shapes and count and match patterns when completing different puzzles.

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The provision is good

Children are developing into confident talkers. They initiate interesting conversations with staff about their home experiences. Children hear new words provided by staff and begin to apply these in context. For instance, children in the role-play area pretend to be at the hairdressers. They discuss their own experiences at the hairdressers and even discuss their aspirations, as one child wishes to have a fringe when they grow up. Overall, staff use opportunities to reinforce language and extend and model vocabulary to children.

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need to do better?

n The manager and staff work well together to identify any gaps in children's learning. Staff work confidently with other professionals to implement effective strategies to provide early intervention for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) where required. This supports all children, including children with SEND and those in receipt of additional funding, to make good progress in their learning. n Physical development is promoted well. Children enjoy being outdoors, where they have opportunities to be active and explore the environment. Furthermore, they benefit from regular yoga sessions, where they learn to stretch, practise their tree pose and balance on one leg. Staff provide resources and activities that encourage children to use their small muscles. For example, children manipulate and make marks in the pretend snow, and they have a range of opportunities to paint and make marks with pens and pencils.

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need to do better?

n Staff provide a broad and varied range of activities for children and actively play alongside them to support their learning. Staff observe children as they play and assess what they can do. However, staff are not always clear about their

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need to do better?

4 December 2023 curriculum intent and how to sequence some planned activities. This prevents staff from supporting children to make the best possible progress. n Children behave well. They are able to recall the pre-school's rules at circle time and respond to staff when they are informed that it is 'tidy-up time'. Staff are good role models, who make their expectations clear. n Partnerships with parents are strong. Parents comment that their children have made good progress since joining the pre-school. Parents feel supported with how to help their children at home and receive regular updates about their children's learning. n A strong key-person system is in place. Staff understand the importance of this role in helping children build attachments and feel safe and secure. n Overall, staff's teaching skills are of a good quality. The manager monitors staff practice and offers feedback to help improve their teaching skills. However, she

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need to do better?

does not always precisely identify where staff need further support and guidance to maintain consistency in teaching and to engage in high-level interactions with children. n Staff support children to follow good personal hygiene routines. Children recall why they need to wash their hands after outdoor play or before eating food. Staff discuss the benefits of leading a healthy lifestyle with children, discussing why some foods are better than others and the importance of good oral health. n Children go on outings in the local community that are linked to the curriculum. For instance, children baked biscuits on World Kindness Day and delivered them to the elderly residents in the village. These outings help children to develop an understanding of their community and the wider world.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Leaders ensure that staff have a good understanding of the setting's safeguarding policy and that their training is up to date. Staff recognise the signs and symptoms that would cause them to be concerned for a child's welfare. They know how to identify children who may be exposed to extreme views. Staff know how to report any concerns they may have about any children or adults. Robust recruitment procedures are in place to ensure that all staff are suitable to work with children. Staff use risk assessments to help minimise potential hazards and maintain a safe environment. They are deployed well to meet the needs of the children.

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should:

n support staff in how to plan and sequence the curriculum more effectively n build on arrangements for staff supervision and training, to further improve their practice.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY242519 Local authority Buckinghamshire Inspection number 10308127 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 26 Number of children on roll 14 Name of registered person Hardwick Playgroup Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 07754 091 400 Date of previous inspection 26 March 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Hardwick Pre-School registered in 2002. The pre-school is open from 9.15am to 2.45pm, every weekday, during term time. The setting receives funding to provide free early education and early years pupil premium funding for children aged three- and four-years-old. There are six members of staff working with the children, one of whom holds a relevant qualification at level 4, and four hold appropriate early years qualifications to level 3.

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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 manager and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The inspector had a learning walk with the manager through all areas of the premises used by the children. n Parents shared their views through verbal feedback. The inspector took these views into account. n The manager carried out a joint observation with the inspector. n The inspector looked at a sample of documentation. This included evidence about suitability and qualification records.

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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

4 December 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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