In2play St Leonards Pre-School

Inspection of In2play St Leonards Pre- School 35 Sydney Close, St. Leonards-On-Sea TN38 9DD

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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 spend their days exploring, discovering, chatting and laughing. Under the skilful and supportive guidance of staff, they become highly motivated and independent learners. For example, children select books, build with construction resources and express themselves creatively. Staff very competently use their interactions to increase children's enjoyment and continually extend their learning. For example, children enthusiastically create and negotiate obstacle courses, spurred on by the support and praise they receive from staff.

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The provision is good

All children develop a strong sense of security in the care of trusted staff who know them well. They readily approach staff for attention, confident that their needs will be met. Children who struggle to settle receive the extra support, cuddles and reassurance they need and are soon playing happily. There is a strong and successful focus on promoting children's emotional well-being and social skills. This includes helping them to understand how to behave well and to interact positively with others. Children demonstrate their rapidly developing social skills as they include others in their games. For example, a large group of children excitedly join in a hilarious game when a friend shouts that there is a shark in the playground and urges them all to get into the 'boat'. Children squeal with delight as they run around, telling others to, 'Run for you life.' Children recall ideas and language they have previously gained from staff, for example, as they avoid the 'quicksand'.

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need to do better?

n Since opening, leaders and staff have very successfully created a nurturing environment where children flourish. Leaders have clear aims to offer high- quality care and education that are based on respecting each child as an individual. This ambition is understood and shared by all staff. Leaders recognise and fully appreciate the expertise and experience of individual staff and use their skills well. There are good arrangements to continually support staff, including regular supervision meetings and relevant training opportunities. n Leaders and staff offer a very broad and interesting range of experiences. Although staff successfully plan well-targeted, adult-led activities, much of their teaching takes place as children play, building on their interests. On occasion, activities are not adapted as precisely as possible to reflect the varied ages and abilities of all the children who choose to take part. At these times, children who

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need to do better?

find the activity too complex or too easy lose interest and go off to explore other resources. However, overall, staff make very good use of their precise knowledge of each child to support their learning well. This is particularly effective during the many one-to-one and small-group interactions that take place. n Staff make very good use of the space and resources that are available to promote all areas of learning. They recognise that some children prefer to learn

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need to do better?

4 June 2024 outdoors while others choose to spend much of their time in the group room. Staff ensure that there are exciting opportunities for children in all areas. Leaders provide new resources to reflect children's changing interests and to provide increasing challenge. For example, they have recently installed a very popular tyre swing. n There are good arrangements to promote children's language and communication. Staff engage children in lively conversations and make good use of stories and songs to introduce new vocabulary. The support for children's creativity, mathematics and understanding of the world is equally impressive. Children enjoy the freedom they have to explore paints and other art materials. Staff model different techniques that children later practise independently. Staff support children to count, consider shapes and learn to compare different sizes. Experiences such as woodwork, building fires, visiting the beach and gardening

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need to do better?

support children to learn about the natural world. Staff also plan activities to reflect children's different cultures and backgrounds. n The support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities is a strength within the pre-school. The special educational needs coordinator works alongside each child's key person to ensure that they receive the targeted support they need. This is done in collaboration with parents and relevant professionals. n Staff promote children's behaviour sensitively and consistently. They also help children to understand how make healthy choices and to develop good self-care skills. For example, children routinely wash their hands before eating. Staff make good use of the wonderfully sociable mealtimes to talk to children, reinforcing their understanding of healthy foods. n Partnership working with parents is good. Children benefit from seeing the friendly interactions between staff and their parents. This contributes to their

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need to do better?

sense of security. Staff take time each day to speak to parents as they drop off and collect their child. They also use an online system to provide regular updates on children's progress and future learning goals. Staff provide parents with individualised suggestions of activities that could be completed at home to provide continuity and to support children to achieve these goals.

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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 support staff to give more consideration to how to adapt spontaneous activities

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should:

4 June 2024 to engage all children who want to take part.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2752059 Local authority East Sussex Inspection number 10353078 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 28 Number of children on roll 28 Name of registered person In 2 Play CIC

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reference number

Telephone number 07967750837 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

In2play St Leonards Pre-School registered in 2023. It is one of several childcare provisions that are run locally by the same provider. The pre-school employs five members of childcare staff, who are supported by a senior leadership team. One member of staff holds a relevant qualification at level 6 and three are qualified at level 3. The pre-school operates Monday to Friday, during school term times. Sessions are from 8.30am to 3.30pm. 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 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 The inspector spoke with the provider and the manager about the organisation of the pre-school and the arrangements to promote children's learning. n The inspector observed the interactions of staff and children during a range of activities, indoors and outdoors, throughout the inspection. n The manager and the inspector completed a joint observation of an activity and discussed the impact that this had on children's learning. n The provider showed the inspector a range of relevant documentation. n The views of parents were gathered and taken account of.

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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

4 June 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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