Meanwood Valley Preschool

Inspection of Meanwood Valley Preschool Meanwood Community Centre, Stainbeck Avenue, Leeds LS7 2QU

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

The quality of education Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not applicable

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The provision is outstanding

Children are highly independent in this inspiring pre-school. They are welcomed each day by the friendly and caring staff into an environment that ignites their excitement. Children are offered activities that promote excellent imagination skills. For example, children pretend to be different characters during puppet shows. They use animated voices and become fully engrossed in their roles. Children have exceptional opportunities to learn about diversity and different cultural traditions. For example, children take part in celebrations for Kurdish New Year and Chinese New Year. They learn about different countries. For instance, children create masks of animals from Africa, and learn how to use different combs on African American dolls hair. They role play with dolls and learn how some Africans carry their babies on their backs using cloths.

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The provision is outstanding

Children have excellent opportunities to develop their mathematical knowledge. For example, while playing with dough in the 'finger gym', children talk about size and length. They discuss the shapes of fruits as they draw them in a fruit basket, recalling the story of 'Handa's Surprise'. Staff make children's learning extremely enjoyable. For instance, they learn about safety as they excitedly play on the rope swing in the outdoor play area. Children patiently wait for their turn. Staff have high expectations of children's behaviour and are superb role models. Children are confident communicators. For example, children boldly show visitors around the pre-school. A culture of respect is fostered through the way staff and children speak to one another.

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need to do better?

n Staff's knowledge of each child is exceptional. Home visits before children start, help staff to know the families very well. Staff use the information from children's starting points in development and their observations to plan a highly sequenced curriculum. Staff meet daily to discuss children and the plans for the day. They provide opportunities which meet children's individual needs and help them to make accelerated progress. n Staff place a strong emphasis on developing children's communication and language. They model key vocabulary to a high standard, so that children talk confidently about their activities. For example, children explain how they are clearing an area in the garden to plant more fruits and vegetables. They explain that they have already grown strawberries and lemon balm. n Parents are extremely happy with their child's experiences and the close bonds which they have with their key persons. They comment that staff are amazing

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need to do better?

and very caring. Parents receive an array of information, both written and verbally. This helps to ensure they are consistently kept up to date with plans for their children's learning and relevant information.

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need to do better?

30 April 2024 n Children learn about healthy lifestyles and develop their physical skills in a vast variety of ways. For example, they have nutritious snacks and superb opportunities to develop their physical skills. Children learn to take appropriate risks in their play. For instance, negotiating space in the garden and climbing on apparatus. Children dig for animals in the sand and run and catch bubbles. n Staff provide children with numerous opportunities to develop their independence. For example, peeling their own fruit for snack and tidying up. Children start school with an abundance of knowledge and skills and a love of learning. n The dedicated and hardworking leaders are extremely effective at reflecting on their practice. They ensure that staff are supported to the best of their ability. Management support staff to undertake training opportunities which enhance their knowledge and skills. They discuss ideas together and cascade information

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need to do better?

in regular meetings to continuously improve. For example, staff have attended forest school training and another member of staffs' ambition is to develop her skills in sign language. n Management explain how passionate they are in ensuring staff and children's well-being is excellently supported. Staff feel that they are highly valued and confident to share ideas. They comment that they love working in the pre- school. n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are quickly identified. They are individually supported by highly skilled and experienced staff. Staff work excellently with other professionals and very closely with parents to put specific plans into place. This helps to ensure that there are no gaps in children's learning due to the support they receive. Those children in receipt of funding benefit from tailored high-quality care.

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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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Setting details

Unique reference number 2657948 Local authority Leeds Inspection number 10333005 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 Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 20 Number of children on roll 34 Name of registered person Fox Social Enterprise CIC

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reference number

Telephone number 01132 782396 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Meanwood Valley Pre-school registered in 2021 and is situated in Meanwood, Leeds. The pre-school employs seven members of childcare staff. Of these, five hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above, including one with level 6. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday term time only. Sessions are from 9am until 3pm. The pre-school provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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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 staff and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the pre- school. n The inspector viewed all areas of the premises used by the children. She observed the quality of education during activities and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector spoke with staff and children during the inspection. She completed a joint observation with one of the pre-school managers. n The inspector checked evidence of suitability and qualifications of staff working with children. She discussed the pre-school's methods used for self-evaluation and the impact this has on the pre-school. n Several parents spoke to the inspector during the inspection and shared their views.

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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

30 April 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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