Three Bears Pre-School

Inspection of Three Bears Pre-School St George's Church Hall, Jumpers Road, Christchurch, Dorset BH23 2JR

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 Good

p.1

The provision is good

Children are welcomed warmly by staff on arrival and settle in happily. Staff have high expectations of children's behaviour and help them to develop positive attitudes and social skills. Children listen well, share, and older children kindly support younger children when they need help. Staff celebrate children's achievements to encourage their confidence and self-esteem. For example, children proudly ring a bell and tell the group what they have achieved. Staff provide a structured routine to help children understand the changing activities throughout the day.

p.2

The provision is good

Children benefit from a well-balanced curriculum designed to help to them make good progress according to their individual needs. This includes focused adult-led activities as well as time for children to choose and lead their own play, such as creating models and exploring sensory resources. Staff provide new experiences to enrich children's learning, such as exploring Chinese New Year to learn about different cultures and beliefs. Children enjoy lots of outdoor play and active games to help support their physical development.

p.2

need to do better?

n Staff know the children well and are clear what they intend them to learn next. They provide exciting activities and use good teaching skills to help children learn more. For example, they help children to learn how to use scissors and tools effectively to develop their small-muscle coordination. However, staff offer less opportunities to help children to learn more about mathematics, such as when they find shape challenges easy. n Children join in the activities with interest and engage well. They share lots of laughter together while playing. However, when staff take younger children away from their play for nappy changes in groups, some are kept waiting for periods with nothing to do. This disrupts their play and exploration. n Staff respect children's interests and ideas, which they use to create spontaneous learning opportunities. For example, they organise races to build on children's enjoyment of running games in the garden. Children join in

p.2

need to do better?

enthusiastically, making more suggestions and choosing partners to compete with. This helps children to develop good physical and social skills. n Staff place a strong emphasis on supporting children to be independent from a young age. For example, children learn to put on their coats, pour their drinks and wash their hands. This helps to build their confidence in readiness for school. n Staff help children to develop healthy lifestyles. Children practise good personal hygiene routines and learn to rest and have a drink after being active. Staff sit and eat with children to encourage healthy eating and enjoyable mealtimes.

p.2

need to do better?

19 February 2024 Children learn how to keep themselves safe, such as when using craft tools and playing on the physical apparatus outside. n Staff support children's communication and language development well. They ask questions to encourage children to think and talk. Children learn new words regularly to help build their vocabulary. For example, children learn the pronunciation and meaning of a zodiac, pagoda and chopsticks through exploring Chinese New Year. n Partnerships with parents are strong. Staff keep parents informed well of their children's daily activities, well-being and development. Parents share positive views of the provision. Staff work effectively with parents and external professionals to meet the additional needs of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. n The management team follows secure recruitment procedures and an induction process to help ensure staff working with children are suitable. They provide

p.2

need to do better?

coaching and training to ensure staff meet children's needs effectively. The management team use any additional funding for children in order to have the most impact on their learning. n Staff have a good understanding of their safeguarding roles and responsibilities and the risks to children. They know the correct procedures to follow in the event of any concerns about a child or adult.

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 develop more opportunities to enhance for children's mathematical development even further n develop the organisation of nappy-changing procedures to ensure children are not kept waiting unnecessarily and their play disrupted.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY312682 Local authority Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole Inspection number 10332735 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

p.4

Registers

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

p.4

inspection

Total number of places 40 Number of children on roll 89 Name of registered person Carter, Nicola

p.4

reference number

Telephone number 07917 820040 or 01202 496163 Date of previous inspection 15 October 2019

p.4

Information about this early years setting

Three Bears Pre-School registered in 2005. The group operates from Christchurch, Dorset. It operates from 8am to 3pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and from 8am to 4pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays, during term time only. The group receives funding to provide free early years education for children aged two, three and four years. The group employs six staff to work with children, five of whom hold appropriate qualifications at level 3.

p.4

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 their evaluation of the setting. n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about the curriculum and what they intend children to learn. n The inspector observed activities and the quality of staff's interactions with the children. n The inspector sampled the documentation and discussed the manager's knowledge of the requirements of the early years foundation stage. n The inspector took account of parents' views.

p.5

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.5

Inspection activities

19 February 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.5

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.6

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.6

Inspection activities

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

p.6

Inspection activities

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

p.6