Fulford Pre-School

Inspection of Fulford Pre-School Village Hall, Fulford Road, Fulford, STOKE-ON-TRENT ST11 9QT

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 Good

p.1

The provision is good

Staff are very nurturing and caring towards all children. They notice immediately when children become slightly unsettled. Staff provide them with lots of comfort and love. This helps to foster strong relationships between children and the staff who care for them. Children thoroughly enjoy themselves at the pre-school. Babies have lots of opportunities to develop the muscles and strength in their bodies, through the use of 'tummy time'. They also have lots of space to practise their physical development skills, such as rolling over, reaching out, pulling themselves up and crawling. Older children enjoy creative experiences, such as painting. They use a range of tools to make marks and some even practise attempting to write letters from their name.

p.2

The provision is good

Children are flourishing at the pre-school. The curriculum is inviting and rich. Children of all ages display very positive attitudes towards their learning. On the very rare occasion where children stop engaging, staff use what they know about the children, such as their interests, to help them re-engage swiftly. Older children enjoy dressing up. Staff provide tips to them about how they can assist with dressing. They praise the children for what they do well. Staff also help to support children to solve their conflicts. This helps children to learn right from wrong. Children behave well.

p.2

need to do better?

n The manager is reflective. She uses the views of others to help make continuous improvements to the overall quality of the pre-school. On the rare occasion where complaints are raised, leaders take action to respond to them appropriately, offering an outcome to parents. n Staff find out children's starting points from parents. They then continue to observe and assess the children's development over time. Staff use this information to identify gaps in children's learning and to develop targets. Where concerns are raised about a child's development, staff work well alongside parents and other professionals. This helps to ensure all children make good progress in their learning and they receive the timely support they require. n The curriculum is sequenced well to build on what children know and can do over time. There is a good mixture of adult-led and child-led activities on offer. Staff use what they know about the children to help plan an array of learning

p.2

need to do better?

experiences, which capture children's interest. However, at times staff do not ensure that all children have sufficient challenge as they access activities. Consequently, some children are able to achieve tasks with ease. n There is a very clear focus on supporting children's communication and language development. Staff surround the children with language as they play. They use lots of animation and expressions as they sing or read. This helps children to

p.2

need to do better?

17 June 2024 become fully immersed into the learning experience. Babies smile and laugh with staff while older children excitedly join in with actions and shout out key words from familiar rhymes and stories. n Babies are fed their bottles on demand and older children regularly help themselves to water. Children bring their own packed lunch into the pre-school and staff work with parents to support them to offer balanced meals for their children. Staff provide breakfast and snack for the children. However, leaders have made a recent change to the type of snacks offered to children and this is no longer balanced well enough. n Parents and grandparents explain that they can see the progress their child or grandchild has made in their development. Staff share and gather key information with parents about their children. Most parents speak highly about the type of feedback they receive from staff about their child's daily activities

p.2

need to do better?

and progress. Leaders are consistently reviewing this in order to help further improve the effectiveness of partnership working with parents. n Staff speak highly about the support they receive from leaders. They have meetings with leaders to talk about their practice or performance and how this could be improved. Leaders offer staff a range of training to help further improve their confidence and skills. n Staff are very positive role models to the children. They speak to the children with high levels of respect. Consequently, children are respectful towards one another. They eagerly offer to help their peers during activities. n Leaders have made a recent change to nappy change procedures and this is now implemented well in practice. Staff are very attuned to individual children's routines and care needs. They quickly recognise and respond to children when they require changing. n Staff complete detailed records of any accidents and inform parents. Leaders

p.3

need to do better?

have an ongoing risk assessment in place. They regularly make changes to ensure the pre-school remain safe, secure and suitable for children at all times.

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 take steps to ensure meals offered to the children, particularly at snack time, are balanced n support staff to ensure all children receive sufficient challenge as they play, in order to help develop children's thinking and knowledge further.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY361013 Local authority Staffordshire Inspection number 10352274 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

p.4

Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Sessional day care

p.4

inspection

Total number of places 45 Number of children on roll 35 Name of registered person Fulford Pre- School Committee

p.4

reference number

Telephone number 01782 393105 Date of previous inspection 30 January 2020

p.4

Information about this early years setting

Fulford Pre-School opened in 1983 and has been registered at its current premises since 2007. The pre-school employs ten members of childcare staff, nine of whom hold early years qualifications from level 3 to level 6. The pre-school opens all year round. Operating hours during term times are Monday to Friday from 7.30am until 4pm. Operating hours in the half terms or school holidays are 8am to 4pm Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday only. The pre-school is closed for one week at Christmas and for two weeks over the summer holidays. 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 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 viewed the pre-school and discussed how leaders ensure the safety and suitability of it. n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the pre-school and discussed the early years curriculum. n Children told the inspector about their friends and what they like to do when they are at pre-school. n The inspector spoke to staff, parents, grandparents and viewed feedback from them to take account of their views. 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 looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the

p.5

Inspection activities

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

17 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.

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