St Anne's Pre School

Inspection of St Anne's Pre School St. Annes Catholic Primary School, Pinkerton Road, Basingstoke RG22 6RE

p.1

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

p.1

The provision is good

Children enjoy attending this warm, friendly and caring pre-school. They build strong relationships with nurturing staff who place children's emotional security and uniqueness as central to everything they do. Children relish opportunities to access the outdoor space, where they engage in a variety of physical activities. They expertly ride bikes and show impressive balancing skills as they negotiate a complex obstacle course.

p.2

The provision is good

Children take part in a wide range of motivating activities that support their ongoing good progress. They eagerly take part in a group rhyme time activity where they copy the actions and sing along in time to the music. Staff encourage children's creativity and help them follow their own ideas. Children make colourful jewellery designs on card. They carefully cut out the shapes and proudly show off their creations to their friends.

p.2

The provision is good

Children manage their own feelings and behaviour well. They treat their friends with kindness and show a good regard to following the group rules. For example, when several children want to use a popular resource, they manage taking turns with a sand timer to avoid any disagreements.

p.2

The provision is good

Children develop positive attitudes to learning. They remain engaged at activities for long periods of time and show a keenness to learn new things. Staff promote children's critical thinking skills well. They use well-placed questions to deepen children's thinking, so when children come across a problem, they have a way of working out the answer for themselves.

p.2

need to do better?

n Staff use their accurate assessments of children's learning to set out a clear plan of what they want children to learn. They frequently check children's understanding and introduce new ideas when children show they are ready. Children make strong progress from their differing starting points, particularly children who speak English as an additional language and children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. All children quickly become confident in their own abilities and achieve well. n Staff support children's communication and language skills as a priority. They pronounce words clearly and introduce new vocabulary, with visual prompts where necessary, to help children make links in their learning. However, staff do not focus as precisely on promoting children's listening skills or providing opportunities for less confident children to communicate their ideas. n The manager is a capable, ambitious and reflective leader, who leads her staff

p.2

need to do better?

team well. She accurately identifies priorities for children's learning and ensures

p.2

need to do better?

24 January 2024 effective support for staff to support their personal effectiveness. Staff comment positively on workload and morale. They use ongoing training to good effect. For example, staff have started to use Makaton signing to support children's early communication. n The trustees have effective oversight. They ensure clear lines of accountability for any safeguarding matters, which supports a continued commitment to keeping children safe as a priority. Staff benefit from a range of professional development opportunities, including mentoring and opportunities to work towards recognised qualifications. They work closely with school leaders and teachers to further their knowledge of subject areas. For example, staff have introduced an early rhyme and reading programme which supports children's love of stories and song time. This very successfully supports a shared approach to promoting expectations in readiness for children's move to the next stage in

p.2

need to do better?

their education. n Staff effectively support children to make friends, keep safe and live healthy lives. They are on hand if a child needs a cuddle and to offer regular praise and encouragement to build children's belief in themselves. Children learn that their opinions matter as they are invited to vote between two colour choices as they make play dough. They learn about important festivals through their attendance at assemblies in the on-site school and when parents come to talk to them about family celebrations, such as Eid. However, there are less opportunities for children to access resources that are representative of their culture and heritage. n Staff place a strong focus on supporting children's emotional well-being. Children respond well to a predictable and well-thought-out daily routine. Staff provide consistent direction and sensitive role modelling, which helps children know what is expected of them throughout the day. Children develop high levels of

p.3

need to do better?

independence. They take responsibility for keeping the play areas tidy or sorting rubbish into recycling bins without staff prompting. n Staff have strong relationships with parents. Parents speak very positively about the good progress children have made, particularly in confidence and independence. They feel included in pre-school life and enjoy the ideas that staff give them to support children's learning at home. Parents relish opportunities to talk through children's weekly achievements as a family as they review photos together in an online app. Effective working partnerships with the on-site school are also established. Children enjoy weekly visits to the school library and join in with school events, where they see their older siblings.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

p.3

should:

n strengthen the curriculum for supporting children's acquisition of language, with a focus on supporting children's listening skills and building children's confidence to communicate n reflect the culture and diversity of the children attending the pre-school in the resources and activities provided to help children make connections between their own and others' heritage.

p.4

Setting details

Unique reference number 2646615 Local authority Hampshire Inspection number 10305534 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

p.5

inspection

Total number of places 32 Number of children on roll 17 Name of registered person St Anne's Child Care Group

p.5

reference number

Telephone number 01256464165 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

p.5

Information about this early years setting

St Anne's Pre School registered in August 2021. It is based on the site of St Anne's Catholic Primary School in Basingstoke, Hampshire. The pre-school is open from 8.45am to 3.15pm, term time only. It employs three members of staff, two of whom hold relevant early years qualifications at level 3. It provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

p.5

Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the pre-school 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 spoke with the nominated individual and trustees about the leadership and management of the pre-school. n The manager and the inspector discussed how the staff organise their early years provision, including the aims and rationale for the activities they provide and what they want the children to learn. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the pre-school. 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.

p.6

Inspection activities

n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation. The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n Children told the inspector about their friends and what they like to do when they are at pre-school.

p.6

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.

p.6

Inspection activities

24 January 2024 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.

p.6

Inspection activities

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspection activities

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk

p.7

Inspection activities

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Inspection activities

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.7