Blunsdon Pre-school LTD

Inspection of Blunsdon Pre-school LTD Blunsdon Village Hall, High Street, Blunsdon, Swindon, Wiltshire SN26 7AR

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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 Not applicable

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The provision is good

Children arrive with excitement ready for their day at pre-school. Staff make children feel welcome with their kind and nurturing manner. Children separate from parents with confidence, knowing familiar staff are close by for reassurance and comfort if needed. Children develop their independence. They hang up their belongings and eagerly choose activities to engage with. Children are safe and secure in the calming pre-school environment that staff create.

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The provision is good

The manager and her team construct and implement an inclusive and ambitious curriculum, which they tailor to the needs of the children. They use a focus book as a theme, which they thread throughout all activities. Staff teach children about healthy eating and develop children's small hand muscles for early writing when they make fruit skewers for snack. Staff talk to children about the different fruits, and children excitedly link the activity to their focus book. Children learn to use knives when they cut up fruit and push fruit onto skewers. They are excited to engage in new activities and are confident to have a go.

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The provision is good

Children are very respectful of their environment and display good behaviour. They enjoy exploring paint at the easel. When others attempt to join them, children remind each other that only one child can use the easel at a time. They respect each other and patiently wait for their turn. When staff announce it is tidy-up time, children work together eagerly to put away the toys and tidy their space.

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need to do better?

n The manager is always reflecting on practice to ensure children make good progress and have positive learning experiences at pre-school. There are regular meetings to give the staff team the opportunity to discuss the curriculum, safeguarding practices and review children's learning. Recently, the manager and her staff have worked together to develop a new curriculum. This focuses on children's needs and incorporates their interests. Staff say that this is working well and that children are more engaged and have positive attitudes to learning. n The support for all children is excellent. Staff use their knowledge of the children to create an inclusive and safe learning environment for them. They tailor their teaching to best meet the children's needs to help them engage with success. The manager quickly identifies if children need further support in their learning. She works closely with parents and makes timely referrals to ensure children and

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need to do better?

families can get the help they require. n Staff provide children with a variety of opportunities to develop their physical skills in the outdoor environment. In the garden, children walk across stepping stones, splash in puddles and kick balls to one another. Staff take children on walks around the village and visits to local parks, where they support children to

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need to do better?

22 May 2024 take safe risks on larger play equipment. Children learn to be safe outside the pre-school environment. n Staff are good role models for children. They speak to children respectfully, and they skilfully weave mathematical language into activities. For example, when staff and children make play dough, they use words such as 'one third' for measurements and encourage children to count the scoops. However, when activities come to an end, staff do not always use effective strategies to help younger children understand the routine expectations. At times, younger children become frustrated that it is time to finish play. Instead of helping them understand what is next and the different learning on offer, staff leave children to play repetitively. Staff do not always help children to access and experience new and different learning experiences. n The manager and her team have good relationships with parents. Staff provide

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need to do better?

parents with regular updates on their children's learning via an online app and give them time to talk when they drop off and collect their children. Parents describe their love for the 'magical' pre-school and speak of how their children have developed in confidence since attending. Parents say their children make good progress and love coming to pre-school.

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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 use effective strategies consistently to support younger children to understand when activities finish and help them to access new or different activities to give them a wide range of learning experiences.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2770644 Local authority Swindon Inspection number 10348989 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Sessional day care

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inspection

Total number of places 60 Number of children on roll 47 Name of registered person Blunsdon Pre-school Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 07547502204 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Blunsdon Pre-school is located in Swindon, Wiltshire and re-registered in January 2024. The pre-school operates Monday to Thursday, from 8.30am to 3pm, and on Friday from 8.30am to 1.30pm, term time only. There are eight members of staff, including the owner, who work with the children. Of these, one holds a level 5 early years qualification, four hold level 3 qualifications, one holds a level 2 qualification and two members of staff are unqualified. The pre-school receives early education funding for two-, three- and four-year-olds.

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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 provider. n We carried out this inspection as a result of a risk assessment, following information we received about the provider. n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n Children communicated with the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector spoke with the nominated individual and manager about the leadership and management of the setting. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of an activity with the manager. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of

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Inspection activities

their views. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.

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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

22 May 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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