Buttons@abbeys

Inspection of Buttons@abbeys Abbeys Primary School, Melrose Avenue, Milton Keynes MK3 6PS

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

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

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The provision is outstanding

Children arrive at the setting ready to learn. They come in excited to meet the friendly staff. Staff are excellent role models, and children's behaviour is exemplary. Staff are clear and consistent with routines. Children feel settled and calm, as they know the expectations each day.

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The provision is outstanding

Clear intent and implementation of a high-quality and carefully thought out curriculum have a great impact on the children and their learning and development. Children are curious, inquisitive and highly motivated learners. They move freely between play, selecting things that interest them and joining activities with their peers and staff. They are highly engaged in what they are doing and are supported to guide their own play and learning. For example, children make soup in the home corner, with real onions and Brussels sprouts. They use knives competently, and staff support children by asking them questions associated with the activity. For instance, staff discuss the layers of the onions and the stalks of the sprouts. In a further activity, aimed at developing their hand-to-eye coordination and fine motor skills, children follow a recipe to make their own dough.

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The provision is outstanding

Staff skilfully support children's ideas and use a variety of teaching methods. For example, children are encouraged to 'squish and turn' the lemon in the juicer, and children conclude that, when you cut a whole lemon, you then have two halves. Staff use any additional funding that children receive successfully to support each child's individual needs. In addition, excellent arrangements are in place to support children who are learning to speak English as an additional language.

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The provision is outstanding

Community involvement is commendable. Children access the community library. They walk to supermarkets to buy resources and take trips on public buses to visit the city. Children visit residents at a care home, singing carols to the elderly at Christmas. Children collect and donate tins to the local food bank. These opportunities result in an appreciation for the community in which they live.

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need to do better?

n The provider is inspirational. The dedication she and her team give to providing high-quality care and education is admirable. The curriculum is ambitious and exciting for children. It successfully builds on and extends children's prior learning. Knowledgeable staff skilfully intervene at appropriate times to add value to children's learning and challenge their thinking skills even further. All children are incredibly well prepared for the next stage in their learning. n Partnerships with parents are incredible. Parents feel highly supported as they can access a range of resources, books, food and clothing from pre-school. Staff create activities for home learning. Parents therefore feel listened to and valued.

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need to do better?

14 December 2023 They appreciate the regular communication and updates on their children's development and activities. n Managers monitor staff rigorously and tailor a variety of supervision sessions and coaching opportunities to their needs. They check that staff are confident and happy in their role, and staff comment that they feel very well supported. The provider arranges a range of resources and activities to ensure the well-being of their staff. Staff cannot speak highly enough of the provider, with many saying, 'It is the best place to work.' n Staff have an excellent relationship with the school on site. Teachers visit pre- school weekly, and children are invited to attend a range of school activities. This ensures a seamless move to school. n Partnership working is superb. All staff work with partners across the network and in the local community to ensure children and their families have the very

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need to do better?

best possible start in life. n Staff's interactions with children are exceptional. They respond sensitively to the children and communicate with them in a variety of ways. Children's speech and language development is prioritised in the pre-school. Staff use a variety of communication methods to support all children to make superb progress in their speech and language development. n Training is prioritised to meet the needs of staff and the children. For example, following the COVID-19 pandemic, staff have all undertaken challenging behaviour training, in recognition of the personal and emotional needs of the children in their care. This has had a positive impact on the consistent behaviour of the children at pre-school. Behaviour is excellent. n Children are supported to be independent and persevere in tasks. For example, they learn to chop and peel fruit at snack, wash their hands and pour drinks. They invite visitors to join them at snack and explain the routine, which includes

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need to do better?

tidying away their plates and cups themselves. Children develop a desire to be independent and responsible. n Staff go over and above to secure timely interventions and target support for individual children at the earliest opportunity, including for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. This contributes to the rapid and substantial progress that all children make over short periods of time.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The culture of safeguarding is evident in the work of all staff. The provider, managers and staff have an exceptionally good understanding of safeguarding. They have in-depth knowledge of local safeguarding issues and develop close, professional relationships with families. Staff are alert to any changes that might indicate that children are at risk of harm. They know how to respond to safeguarding concerns such as county lines, safer internet use and extreme and radicalised behaviours. Staff receive rigorous safeguarding training, including ongoing discussions and staff meetings, on child protection. They monitor the welfare of the children vigilantly. Managers maintain meticulous recruitment

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Safeguarding

14 December 2023 procedures. They ensure staff's suitability through ongoing checks.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY498050 Local authority Milton Keynes Inspection number 10307928 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 36 Number of children on roll 54 Name of registered person Buttons Preschools Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 07973158368 Date of previous inspection 19 March 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Buttons@Abbey's registered in 2016 and is situated in Bletchley, Milton Keynes. It is open from 9am to 3pm, on Monday to Friday, during term time only. In addition, the pre-school offers care before and after school, from 8am to 9am and from 3.15am to 4pm, for children attending the attached school. There are eight members of staff working with the children. One holds a relevant qualification at level 5, one at level 4 and five hold appropriate early years qualifications to level 3. The setting receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two-, three- and four-years-old, as well as early years pupil premium funding.

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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 the provider 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 written and verbal feedback. The inspector took these views into account. n The inspector talked to staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager. n The inspector looked at a sample of the 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

14 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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