Cheeky Chimps

Inspection of Cheeky Chimps C/o Ashcott Primary School, Ridgeway, Ashcott, Bridgwater, Somerset TA7 9PP

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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 Requires improvement

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The provision is good

Children arrive happily and settle quickly at this very welcoming and friendly pre- school. Staff are extremely warm and engaging with the children and get to know them well. Children are confident and independent, showing high levels of self- esteem.

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The provision is good

There is a challenging and ambitious curriculum that successfully excites children and supports them to make the best possible progress in their learning and development. Staff focus particularly well on children's communication and language. This prepares them well for their future learning, including moving on to school. For example, children use different utensils to mix and pour flour. Staff encourage the children to use descriptive words to describe what they feel when they run the flour through their fingers. They introduce new words, such as 'sprinkle', demonstrating what this word means. This increases children's knowledge and understanding.

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The provision is good

Staff have high expectations for all children. Children understand the rules and behave well. They play well with one another, take turns and share. Staff are excellent role models, and children follow their lead, showing respect and kindness towards adults and children alike.

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The provision is good

Staff work well with parents to ensure that children's individual needs are understood and met. Parents report positively on the good communication from staff and compliment the staff on how well they are supported and involved in their children's learning.

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need to do better?

n Children are very engaged and interested in the learning experiences on offer. They use a ladder outside to climb on different items, developing their gross motor skills. They use different tools as they pretend to fix the ladder and staff introduce words, such as 'wider' as they learn how to use the tools, such as the wrench and adjustable spanner. This helps to build on children's vocabulary and extends their understanding. n Children develop a love of books and stories. They share books in groups and with their friends. Staff use prompts and props to encourage the children to think about how they or the characters in the story are feeling. This helps children to express their emotions and consider what each emotion means for them. However, during some group story times there are many distractions, such as staff setting up for lunch or children using the bathroom. This means that children do not benefit fully from all learning opportunities.

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need to do better?

n Younger children listen to staff read the book 'We're Going on a Bear Hunt'. They

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need to do better?

20 February 2024 enjoy exploring outside and collect 'wavy grass, oozy mud' and sticks to represent 'the big dark forest' in the story. This ignites children's curiosity and imagination and supports their communication and language. As a result, children competently use language to express themselves and retell the story in their own words. n Outside, children practise their balancing as they walk along planks of wood and demonstrate good hand-eye coordination as they throw and catch balls of different sizes. They use their imagination well as they climb on the caterpillar climbing frame and tell the inspector that they are going on a journey where they will see lots of animals. n Children thoroughly enjoy small-world play. They work well together to build a train track and act out their play ideas, using different voices for the different characters. They remain focused and engaged for long periods. n Children follow thorough hygiene routines and have a good understanding about

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need to do better?

the importance of handwashing and eating a healthy and balanced diet. They wait patiently as they line up to wash their hands and help to prepare the snack. This builds on their independence skills and supports them to live a healthy lifestyle. n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities make good progress from their starting points. The pre-school's special educational needs coordinator works closely with children's key person and other professionals to ensure that any gaps in children's learning are closed quickly. n The manager and her staff continually reflect on their practice and seek to develop and extend the provision that they provide for the children. They have recently developed their story time to include telling stories in different ways and using story maps. They have completed the garden room, 'The Ball Room', which will provide additional space and extend children's learning opportunities

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need to do better?

particularly around understanding the world.

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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 make better use of group times, to help all children to focus consistently and fully benefit from the learning opportunities.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY272462 Local authority Somerset Inspection number 10292983 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 25 Number of children on roll 38 Name of registered person Cheeky Chimps at Ashcott Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 01458 210000 Date of previous inspection 17 April 2023

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Information about this early years setting

Cheeky Chimps registered in 2003. It is committee run and operates from purpose- built premises on the grounds of Ashcott Primary School, in the village of Ashcott, Somerset. The pre-school is open Monday to Friday, from 8.45am to 2.45pm, during term time only. They operate a breakfast and after-school club from 7.45am to 8.40am and from 3.10pm to 5.30pm. The pre-school is in receipt of funding to provide early education for children aged two, three and four years. There are eight members of staff working with the children. Of these, two hold qualified teacher status. One member of staff holds an appropriate early years qualification at level 6 and one at level 5. Two staff hold qualifications at level 3 and one member of staff is an apprentice working towards a level 3 qualification.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector discussed any continued impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in the evaluation of the provider. n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about her curriculum and what she wants children to learn. n Children spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector talk to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n Parents shared their views with the inspector about the pre-school. n The inspector and manager carried out a joint observation of an activity. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the pre-school.

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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

20 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.

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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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