Cold Norton Pre-school

Inspection of Cold Norton Pre-school Village Hall, Cherry Blossom Lane, Cold Norton, Chelmsford CM3 6JQ

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Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Requires improvement Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not applicable

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The provision requires improvement

There is a breach of requirements that means the leadership and management of the provision requires improvement. However, the impact of this weakness on children is minimal. Children are very warmly welcomed into the setting by caring and thoughtful staff. There is a secure key-person system in place and staff get to know children and their families very well. This helps staff to settle children quickly into the setting. Children are confident to communicate with staff freely and staff sensitively reassure and comfort children. Staff set up the hall each morning to engage and stimulate children's learning. Children eagerly participate in both group and individual activities. Staff help them to share and take turns and children remind each other of the rules of the setting. All children make good progress with their learning.

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The provision requires improvement

Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are fully included in the setting and staff undertake extra training to care for their needs. Staff carry out personal care hygienically and responsively. They support children to develop their independence skills, so that they can wash their own hands and dress themselves. All children get involved in tidying up and enjoy receiving special stickers. Staff organise snack time, so that children can independently choose from a range of healthy food and drinks. The setting has developed robust procedures to keep children safe in the hall and when using the park outside.

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need to do better?

n Staff keep children safe and secure in the setting. They work with other hall users to ensure that doors are locked. They take action to ensure that information about children is kept confidential. However, trustees do not meet their regulatory obligation to share information with Ofsted in a timely manner. This delays the checks that Ofsted carries out to ensure trustees are suitable for their role. This has minimal impact on children's safety as leaders have appropriate procedures in place to safeguard children. n Children enjoy participating in a range of activities that help them develop their physical skills. Outside in the park, they run and climb on large equipment to develop their large motor skills. Children use tools while playing with dough and enjoy manipulating smaller construction pieces to develop fine motor skills. n Staff support the development of children's communication and language

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need to do better?

effectively, Staff speak clearly and develop children's vocabulary. Staff sing songs and read books with children. They support children to listen at circle time and lunchtime is used as a social time for children to talk with each other. Staff help children to recognise their names and provide a variety of mark-making resources to support early literacy. n There is a strong focus on supporting children's understanding of the world

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need to do better?

18 January 2024 around them. Staff thoughtfully plan interesting experiments that children enthusiastically engage with. Children learn how germs spread illness and how soap is used to kill germs. n Staff carry out assessments of children's learning and development and develop focused next steps for individual children. Staff use opportunities to enhance children's learning. They talk about road safety in the construction area and support children to compare and measure tall towers. However, children do not always have access to appropriate resources or opportunities to develop their mathematical understanding. n Parents speak very highly of this setting. They are happy with staff's warmth and care towards their children. They appreciate the range of activities that their children participate in. Staff effectively communicate with parents. Parents comment on the advice that staff have given them and how this has supported

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need to do better?

their children's health and development. n Staff have developed positive working relationships with the school to support children with their transition. Before children start school, staff provide tailored provision, so that they are ready for the next part of their education. Staff have also developed strong links in the community. Children enjoy participating in activities with different community groups. n Staff are well supported by leaders in the setting and feel that they are valued members of the team. Leaders support staff through regular meetings. However, targets for staff development are not always personalised or precise enough for staff to identify the knowledge and skills they need to develop their practice further.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

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

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Due date

provide Ofsted with the necessary information, so that suitability checks can be carried out on the trustees of the setting. 30/04/2024

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should:

18 January 2024 n improve the provision for mathematics across the setting n develop the use of supervisions, so that staff receive specific support to further develop their practice.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2647175 Local authority Essex Inspection number 10308653 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 55 Number of children on roll 41 Name of registered person Cold Norton Pre-School CIO

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reference number

Telephone number 01621828845 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Cold Norton Pre-school registered in 2021 as a charitable incorporated organisation. The pre-school is based in Cold Norton and is open term time only, Monday to Friday between 8am and 4pm. The pre-school employs 10 members of staff, of whom seven hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and above.

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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 inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The deputy manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the setting and discussed the early years curriculum. n Children spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector spoke with the nominated individual/registered individual about the leadership and management of the setting. n The special educational needs coordinator spoke to the inspector about how they support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and

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Inspection activities

outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The inspector carried out joint observations of group activities with the manager. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n The manager showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate the suitability of staff.

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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

18 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.

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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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