Stanford In The Vale Pre-School

Inspection of Stanford In The Vale Pre-School Recreation Ground, Huntersfield, Stanford in the Vale, FARINGDON, Oxfordshire SN7 8LX

p.1

Overall effectiveness Outstanding

The quality of education Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Outstanding

p.1

The provision is outstanding

The manager and staff go above and beyond to promote children's learning and safety. They have an exceptional knowledge and understanding of children's individual needs from the start. This begins with a home visit as part of the settling-in process. This helps children quickly form exceptional bonds with staff, who they very confidently and happily approach.

p.2

The provision is outstanding

Staff provide sensitive guidance, when needed, to support children's understanding of the behaviour expectations. They act as excellent role models for the children, demonstrating, for instance, how they should speak and behave towards others. Children demonstrate an exceptional understanding of strategies to use that help them negotiate with each other. For example, even the newest children remind their friends about using the sand timers, to help share and take turns with toys.

p.2

The provision is outstanding

Children thrive at the pre-school. They make rapid progress in their learning and development. Staff have a thorough understanding of each child's learning needs, and they have high expectations for what children can achieve. They know what they are teaching and why. Children easily make choices from exciting and interesting activities that engage them in learning extremely well. For example, several children maintained and persevered with the challenge of removing dinosaur models from ice. They shared ideas together about how to do this and extended their physical skills, using tools such as hammers safely.

p.2

need to do better?

n The pre-school is managed extremely well by dedicated trustees and a highly effective manager. Staff receive exceptional support for their well-being and professional development, which is reflected in their high-quality practice. The manager provides staff with ongoing feedback and training to extend their skills and knowledge continually. n The manager and staff plan an ambitious and extremely well-thought-out curriculum, which takes account of what children need to learn in full. All areas of learning are promoted extremely well. In particular, children develop exceptional personal and social skills. They learn to work together, such as building a balancing beam as a group. They listen and follow instructions extremely well. n Staff understand what they teach exceptionally well. This includes providing high-quality interactions to extend children's language development and vocabulary, as well as reading books daily to all children. In addition, children

p.2

need to do better?

take home books and resources to help them continue their learning at home. n Parent partnerships are excellent and supportive. Parents' feedback is highly complimentary about the support they and their children receive. Staff work

p.2

need to do better?

27 February 2024 exceptionally well with parents to support children's needs at the pre-school and at home. For example, staff organised a scavenger hunt for the holidays. This encouraged parents to take their children out for physical activity and engage them in learning activities when not at pre-school. n Staff support children who need extra help extremely well. All staff follow the expected strategies, including getting down to the children's level to enable them to see staff's faces and movements clearly. In addition, staff use visual timetables and picture cards. These approaches help to promote children's communication and understanding very successfully. n The manager and staff are highly effective in seeking additional funding for children and families. They reflect on the use of extra funding extremely well to ensure it meets children's needs. For example, children benefit from yoga sessions to support their physical and mental well-being.

p.2

need to do better?

n Staff engage extremely successfully with other settings children attend and a wide range of professionals. They proactively make links with others to share information or to seek advice. The exceptionally strong partnerships with everyone involved in children's care and learning provide excellent continuity in meeting their needs. n Children are extremely confident in managing their personal needs. This includes organising their own snack. For example, children safely fetched a chair then chose a plate, cup and healthy snack to eat. Staff promote healthy lifestyles very effectively. For example, they provide plenty of access to the outdoors. They supplement children's lunches with additional healthy foods, such as salad items. Furthermore, they signpost parents to a wide range of information to help support children's good health. n Staff promote children's physical skills highly successfully. They encourage

p.3

need to do better?

children to stand at activities to help build their core muscles, such as when playing with dough. On the day of the inspection, children benefitted from a challenging obstacle course across different surfaces and levels. This supported children to gain physical strength, balance and coordination and learn to assess and take risks safely.

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

Setting details

Unique reference number EY419941 Local authority Oxfordshire Inspection number 10312189 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

p.4

inspection

Total number of places 30 Number of children on roll 30 Name of registered person Stanford In The Vale Pre-School

p.4

reference number

Telephone number 01367 718696 Date of previous inspection 23 April 2018

p.4

Information about this early years setting

Stanford In The Vale Pre-School first opened in 1970 and re-registered as a limited company in 2010. It is located in the village of Stanford in the Vale, near Faringdon, Oxfordshire. The pre-school is open Monday to Friday, from 9am to 3pm, term time only. It receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years. There are eight members of staff who work with the children, of whom seven hold early years qualifications from level 2 to level 3.

p.4

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 pre-school. n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together and discussed the pre-school's early years curriculum and what they want their children to learn. n Children spoke to the inspector about what they enjoy doing while at 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. n The inspector observed the interactions between the staff and children. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation of a language activity together. n Parents shared their views about the pre-school with the inspector. n Meetings and discussions were held with a member of the trustee board, the

p.5

Inspection activities

manager and staff at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the pre-school.

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

27 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