Theydon Bois Preschool Group

Inspection of Theydon Bois Preschool Group Scout Headquarters, Loughton Lane, THEYDON BOIS, Essex CM16 7JY

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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 Good

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The provision is outstanding

Children thrive and flourish in this excellent pre-school. They are very happy and their confidence soars. Staff are extremely sensitive to children's emotional needs and this helps children to settle quickly. Staff provide children with individual nurturing care and support for their needs. Children's behaviour is excellent. Staff set gentle but firm boundaries for children's behaviour. This is reassuring for children and they quickly learn about the staff's expectations of them.

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The provision is outstanding

All children, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, make exceptionally good progress in their learning. They progress rapidly from their starting points. Staff are swift to identify any gaps in children's learning and provide one-to-one support when children need additional help. Parents say they are highly delighted with the progress their children make, particularly with their speech and language and confidence.

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The provision is outstanding

Staff ensure that learning is fun for the children. They are led by children's choices and change activities according to children's interests and preferences. Children are extremely curious and love to explore their environment. They flock to activities when staff prepare science experiments for them to observe. For example, they watch in awe as they see a model of a volcano begin to emit steam. Staff cleverly extend children's learning by asking them questions about where they might have seen steam before. This encourages children's thinking skills and recall.

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need to do better?

n Staff know that children learn best when their well-being is cared for. They teach children to recognise their feelings. They help them to relax with breathing exercises to keep themselves calm. Staff understand that children focus on activities that they find attractive and interesting. Children learn about mathematics when staff number parking spaces for their cars. They learn about volume and capacity when staff ask them how many cups of water it will take to fill a trough in the car wash they have constructed. n Children revel in their activities. They make pretend ice-cream cones with coloured dough. Staff question them about the flavours and colours they are using. Children's knowledge of colours is impressive, for example they know what 'cyan' is. Children are very inquisitive. They want to know and learn about the objects around them. Staff offer a 'curiosity box' with an item inside, such as

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need to do better?

a starfish, to enhance children's learning. Children enjoy discussing what they saw at the seaside and they fling their arms wide to describe the size of a stingray. n Children are remarkable talkers and they have the confidence to speak to visitors. Staff offer children lots of activities that encourage them to think and

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need to do better?

8 July 2024 solve problems. For example, children eagerly explore ice blocks that staff have prepared containing small toys. They talk about how they could make the ice melt and extract the toys. Children discuss together how they could do this, showing superb skills of sharing and cooperation. They ask staff for tools, such as hammers and chisels. Children concentrate hard on their task until they have freed all the toys and cheer each other as they succeed. n Children develop their independence from a young age. They learn to sit still at snack time and lunchtime and peel their own fruit. Children pour their own drinks and wash their hands before eating. They know how to dispose of their peelings and keep everything tidy. Staff teach children how to tidy away the resources at the end of each session. Children are eager to engage and interact energetically with staff when they read them a story. Staff read with an

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need to do better?

enthusiasm that brings the story to life for the children. n Children thoroughly enjoy spending time outdoors. They plant vegetables and herbs and search for bugs in the bug hotel they built themselves. Staff take children to a local allotment where they learn more about planting and see chickens and wild deer. Staff take children on outings where they learn about their local environment and the diversity of people and places. Children are exceedingly physically active. They run around in the nearby fields and enjoy sports days. Staff set up obstacle courses for them to manoeuvre their scooters around toy traffic cones. n Staff set up innovative outdoor activities to help children to learn more about the world. Children pretend they are in a pirate ship looking at a map of the world and deciding where they will sail. They learn about shapes as they use their fingers and hands to make marks in a tray of salt. Children are imaginative and

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need to do better?

draw the shape of the ship's sail in the salt. Staff ensure that children sit still and listen to the safety warnings they give so that children learn how to manage risks safely. n Parents say that the pre-school is the best place for their children. They praise the staff for their dedication and say they are inspiring. Parents comment that they really like reading about the progress their children make in their communication books. They say that their children thoroughly enjoy sharing the home learning packs with their families. n Staff work extremely effectively and happily as a team. They observe each other's practice and make suggestions for improvements. Leaders and staff evaluate everything they do and meet to discuss ways to continually improve the environment for children. All staff undertake regular training and share any useful ideas with their colleagues. Leaders carry out staff supervision sessions

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need to do better?

regularly and monitor staff practice constantly.

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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 404638 Local authority Essex Inspection number 10351880 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 26 Number of children on roll 54

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Name of registered person

Theydon Bois Playgroup Association Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 07443 642959 Date of previous inspection 30 October 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Theydon Bois Preschool Group registered in 1999 and is situated in Theydon Bois, Essex. There are 11 members of childcare staff. Of these, five hold qualifications at level 3, two hold qualifications at level 2, one holds a qualification at level 6 and one holds qualified teacher status. The pre-school opens on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 9am until 3pm and on Tuesday from 9am until midday. 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 viewed the areas of the premises available for children, including the outdoor area. n The provider discussed the early years curriculum with the inspector on a learning walk. n The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of an activity with the provider. n The inspector spoke to staff and children. n The inspector held a meeting with the provider to discuss the leadership and management of the pre-school. n The inspector took account of the views of parents by speaking with some of them during the inspection and reading written testimonials.

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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

8 July 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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