Cygnets Preschool

Inspection of Cygnets Preschool St Joseph's Church and Parish Hall, Mount Street, Winshall, Burton Upon Trent, Staffordshire DE15 0JA

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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 beam with excitement to see staff from the pre-school greet them at the door. Staff welcome them in using the children's home language. This gives children, who may speak English as an additional language, a sense of belonging. Children can make independent choices about their learning and play. Activities provided ignite their interest and curiosity for learning. Children learn early mathematical concepts as they investigate different shapes and colours. Staff skilfully play alongside the children and become a part of their imaginative role play. They support children and enhance their experiences. For example, children show an interest in the small-world post office. Staff enhance this by making small paper letters for children to post through the letterbox. Consequently, children are highly engaged and spend sustained periods of time at their chosen activity.

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The provision is good

Children are highly motivated and keen learners. They enjoy singing songs and listening to stories. Staff read stories which children love and know very well. Staff leave gaps for children to say the word which comes next. Children feel safe and secure. Staff are kind and caring. They offer reassurance and cuddles when children clamber onto their knees. The pre-school has access to a fully secure garden space, where children can continue to practise and develop their physical skills. Activities such as 'funky fingers' help to support the development of small muscle skills, which children need for eventual pen control and writing.

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need to do better?

n The provider, who is also the manager, and her staff team work tirelessly to provide children with the best start to their learning. The curriculum centres around the individual needs of the children. It builds on what children already know and can do and provides experiences across all areas of learning. n There is a strong focus on communication and language. Children hear a rich vocabulary of words as staff constantly talk to them. Staff hold conversations with children and are genuinely interested to hear what children have to say. This makes children feel valued. However, at times, staff do not always question children in a way which allows them to think and respond using the sentence structures they are learning. n Partnerships with parents are good. Parents say all the staff are friendly and caring. They say the setting feels like a family and they appreciate and value everything the staff do. Parents receive termly reports about their child's

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need to do better?

progress and daily feedback on collection. The provider recognises that they can expand further on the partnership with parents. More regular information about children's next steps for learning is to be shared, along with support for parents at home to develop good reading skills with their children. n Support for children who may have special educational needs and/or disabilities

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need to do better?

23 January 2024 is good. Staff have high expectations for all children. They share information with other professionals, including other settings which children may attend. This ensures children make the best possible progress. n Children gain the confidence to try new things. Staff praise children for their achievements and this helps to build their self-esteem. For example, children who have not previously put their hands in paint, as they do not enjoy sensory play, do so because of the patience of staff and prior opportunities to watch others. Children enthusiastically explore the paint and make handprints with great gusto and excitement. They beam with a sense of pride because they achieve this, and staff celebrate their success. n Children's independence is promoted. At snack time, children choose and pour their own drinks. They get to practise spreading their own butter onto their crackers. Children follow routines and know that they must wash their hands

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need to do better?

before eating. They say it is to wash the germs off, so they do not go into their tummies. n Staff support children to understand the principles of sharing and being kind to friends. Children sit together in a circle and sing a song about sharing, as they pass Lola the soft toy to one of their friends. On the whole, children behave well. Staff promote children's social and emotional resilience. They encourage children to use their words when they are not happy and to explain how they are feeling so they can be helped. n The staff team works well together. There is mutual respect and a high level of morale. Staff reflect together about their practice and how well children engage with the activities provided. This evaluative approach, and access to professional development opportunities, ensures the quality of teaching is consistently good, and at times excellent.

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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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should:

n support staff to consider different ways of questioning children which allow them time to think and respond using the sentence structures they are learning n continue to build on the already good partnerships with parents by sharing more information about children's next steps and support for their learning at home, so children can make even better progress.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY498418 Local authority Staffordshire Inspection number 10312197 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Sessional day care

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inspection

Total number of places 36 Number of children on roll 18 Name of registered person Cygnets Pre-School - Birth to Five Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 07519558825 Date of previous inspection 23 April 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Cygnets Preschool registered in 2016, and is located in Winshall, Burton Upon Trent. The pre-school employs four members of childcare staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at levels 2, 3 and 5. The pre-school opens from 8.30am to 3pm, term time only. It provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-olds.

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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 provider joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want their children to learn. n Staff spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of a group activity with the provider. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection, and read written feedback, and took account of all their views. n The provider 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

23 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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