Lincoln Hall Preschool

Inspection of Lincoln Hall Preschool The Linc Centre, 70 Fern Street, Bow, LONDON E3 3PR

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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 have a variety of learning opportunities to choose from at the pre-school. The manager and staff have developed a curriculum that is designed to meet the needs of all children who attend the setting. They have a good knowledge of the children in the pre-school, including children who speak English as an additional language and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). This helps them to ensure that learning opportunities are inclusive for all children.

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The provision is good

Staff are warm and welcoming. They sit with the children and engage them in conversation. This contributes to children exploring their learning environments with confidence. Children become curious and independent learners.

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The provision is good

The manager recognises the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on children's personal, social and emotional development. Consequently, supporting children in this area is the focus of the pre-school. Staff prioritise key skills, such as settling into new environments, becoming independent, and playing cooperatively. They are sensitive to any changes in children's behaviour and attitudes, and support their emotional well-being. Staff give children plenty of praise and encouragement, to boost their self-esteem. This motivates children to learn and play together well.

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need to do better?

n The manager has a thorough understanding of the local community and this helps her to support the needs of the children in the setting. The team's effective partnership with parents and other professionals supports children with SEND and who speak English as an additional language. For example, the manager has developed workshops for parents to help their children in their learning at home. This supports children's long-term education. n The manager values her staff and is supporting their self-esteem and practice. Staff access professional development opportunities to improve their knowledge and skills with individual targets. However, there are minor gaps in some aspects of staff practice, which slightly impact on children's learning experiences. n Overall, children experience a learning environment that encourages them to explore and play. However, at times, staff do not organise resources effectively

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need to do better?

to fully support children's learning and independence further. For instance, children need to wait for staff to offer additional resources, such as scoops. Children cannot independently access resources in order to further extend their learning. n Staff support children's communication and language skills well. They make good use of opportunities to interact alongside children and encourage children to communicate. For example, when children play with the ice and water activity,

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need to do better?

4 December 2023 staff introduce new words, such as 'melting'. Staff give children time to respond. Children are gaining skills to support their understanding. n Children enjoy the stories that are read to them. Staff bring stories alive with props and puppets, to help children to engage in story time. Children listen carefully to the stories and comment on the characters. Staff encourage children to predict what might happen at the end of stories. This helps children to develop a love of books, and early reading skills. n Staff promote children's development of healthy lifestyles well. Children learn about personal hygiene procedures, such as handwashing. They also have daily opportunities to spend time outside in the garden. Staff ensure that they plan experiences to benefit children's large- and small-muscle skills. n Staff plan group activities where children can build on their interests. For example, during a threading activity, children were confident to have a go and

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need to do better?

preserved when it was challenging for them. Some children were learning from their peers and others confidently approached staff for support. Children build positive relationships with each other. n Staff work in partnership with parents. They gather information from them during settling-in sessions. Staff use this information to plan activities to meet the needs of the children. The ongoing monitoring of children's abilities enables staff to identify quickly where there could be potential gaps in children's learning. n Parents are happy with the care that their children receive. Staff complete observations and assessments and share these with parents. Parents receive information to support their children's learning at home.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The manager and her deputy are aware of the range of families that may access the pre-school. They know how to work with other professionals to help to keep children safe. Staff receive thorough training to help them to identify any concerns regarding a child's well-being and the appropriate actions to take. Staff are deployed effectively and are vigilant in their supervision of the children. This helps to provide a safe and secure environment for children to thrive. The manager follows thorough recruitment and induction procedures to check that staff are suitable to work with children, and understand their roles and responsibilities.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 119584 Local authority Tower Hamlets Inspection number 10312675 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 40 Number of children on roll 56 Name of registered person Lincoln Hall Pre School Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 020 7987 8057 Date of previous inspection 12 November 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Lincoln Hall Preschool registered in 1982. It is situated in the Linc Centre in Bow, in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. The pre-school is managed by a voluntary management committee. The pre-school serves the local community and provides two sessions each weekday from 8.45am to 11.45am and 12.30pm to 3.30pm, for 38 weeks of the year. The pre-school receives funding to provide free early years education for children aged two, three and four years. There are 17 members of staff, who work across two settings. Of these, 15 hold appropriate early years qualifications. This includes two members of staff who hold qualifications at degree level.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the setting 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 her evaluation of the provider. n The manager, her deputy and the inspector completed a learning walk together to understand how the early years provision and curriculum are organised. n The inspector made observations throughout the inspection of children's experiences in the setting and assessed the impact that these were having on children's learning. n The manager and inspector carried out a joint observation to discuss staff's teaching and the impact this had on children's learning. n The inspector had discussions with staff and parents, and took their views into account. n A meeting was held with the manager. This included a review of relevant documentation, including staff suitability and training.

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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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