Beeches Pre-School

Inspection of Beeches Pre-School Edge Village Hall, Edge Green, Malpas, Cheshire SY14 8LG

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 Outstanding

p.1

The provision is good

Children settle with ease and develop close attachments with staff in this welcoming and cosy pre-school. Staff are nurturing and supportive and help children to feel safe and emotionally secure. Staff support children to build upon what they already know and can do and have high expectations for their progress. For example, children confidently recall aspects of previous learning, such as remembering how to use scissors correctly when cutting Spring papers for their collages. Staff give an abundance of praise when children persevere at challenges. Children beam with pride as they develop positive attitudes to learning.

p.2

The provision is good

Children relish their time outside and demonstrate good physical skills as they balance on logs and gather twigs for their mud kitchen. Children enjoy exploring the extensive outdoor area and laugh infectiously with their friends as they take turns on the spinning seats. Staff interactions with children are carefully considered. They give clear and consistent behavioural messages and model good manners and expected behaviours very well. They ask thought-provoking questions, extending the children's understanding and allowing sufficient time for children to respond. Children become deeply engrossed in their play and are thoughtful and caring towards their friends.

p.2

need to do better?

n Leaders are committed to forging strong bonds in the local community. The pre- school has been at the heart of the village for many years and parents speak fondly about the long-serving team. They comment on the progress their children make and the secure relationships formed with the staff. These bonds help to support children's emotional and physical well-being. n Partnership working is a strength due to the well-established links with local schools and various external professionals. This helps to ensure that all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, receive the relevant interventions to help them make good progress. Children benefit from good links with the local primary school and are well supported through teacher visits and discussions, for their move on to school. n Overall, children access a broad and balanced curriculum. Staff follow children's interests and provide plenty of opportunities for children to develop their small-

p.2

need to do better?

muscle skills in readiness for future writing. This helps to ensure that they embed skills across all areas of learning. n Training is not always precisely focused to sharpen the curriculum implementation. Some areas of the curriculum are less developed than others and leaders have not implemented consistent strategies to close any gaps. For example, further training in mathematics to support and extend children's learning in this area has not been cascaded to the team. This does not

p.2

need to do better?

14 March 2024 effectively promote good progress in this area. n Good hygiene and self-care practices are effective across the setting. Staff teach children to become increasingly independent in managing their personal needs. Children are supported to learn about healthy lifestyles and parents are offered information on topics such as oral health, to continue supporting these processes at home. Children are eager to tell visitors about their singing toothbrushes and comment that 'brushing their teeth makes them shiny and strong'. Children learn important messages about good health. n Staff place a strong emphasis on supporting children's communication and language skills. Staff read with enthusiasm and children delight in the interactive way that story times are delivered. Children demonstrate confidence to share what they remember while reading 'A Squash and a Squeeze' and staff support them to make links in their learning. Staff successfully build on children's recall

p.2

need to do better?

of existing knowledge to extend their vocabulary even further. n The pre-school has recently appointed a new manager. She is proactive and confident and has ambitious plans for further development. Self-evaluation is reflective and accurately identifies areas for improvement. In order to build on the current good practice, the manager will be undertaking further training to strengthen her leadership skills and embed existing knowledge. This ensures there is good oversight in place.

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 identify further training that has a specific focus on the areas of learning that need to be strengthened in order to sharpen the quality of education even further.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number 304973 Local authority Cheshire West and Chester Inspection number 10317101 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Sessional day care

p.4

inspection

Total number of places 36 Number of children on roll 23 Name of registered person Beeches Pre-School Committee

p.4

reference number

Telephone number 01948 820 775 Date of previous inspection 1 May 2018

p.4

Information about this early years setting

Beeches Pre-School registered in 1984. It is situated in Malpas, Cheshire. The pre- school employs four members of childcare staff. Of these, one holds qualified teacher status, one holds an appropriate early years qualification at level 4 and two at level 3. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday from 9am to 3pm. The pre- school provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

p.4

Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the pre-school 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 pre-school. n The inspector had a learning walk with the manager of all areas of the pre- school and discussed the early years curriculum and the expectations for children's learning. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact on children's learning. n The inspector spoke with parents, children and staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The manager and inspector discussed how the curriculum had been implemented and the impact that this had on children's learning. n The inspector looked at a sample of relevant records and documentation, including evidence of staff's suitability and training.

p.5

Inspection activities

n The inspector viewed the pre-school and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises.

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

14 March 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