Vicarage Farm Pre-School

Inspection of Vicarage Farm Pre- School Vicarage Farm Community Centre, 36 Grafton Close, WELLINGBOROUGH, Northamptonshire NN8 5WA

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

Children's safety is promoted well. For example, when they play outdoors in hot and sunny weather, staff remind them to wear hats. Staff reinforce phrases, such as 'no hat, no out', helping particularly younger children to understand what is expected of them. Children help staff to carry out safety checks in the garden. They identify and minimise risks, such as removing litter. This helps children to learn how to provide a safe space for them to play.

p.2

The provision is good

Children have opportunities to learn about feelings and emotions. Staff look at books with children that show different facial expressions. Younger children begin to name how the images of monsters are feeling in the book. Older children are supported to talk about what makes them feel a certain way and who to go to for comfort. Older children tell staff that monsters make them sad and they will go to their mummy. Children learn the concept of floating and sinking when they play in water. For instance, staff show them that if they drop a stone into water, it will sink, and if they add pom-poms to the water, they float. Staff take children to shops, such as to buy milk for their peers at snack time. Children learn about people who help them and are keen to tell visitors, on their return, that they asked the shop assistant for a receipt.

p.2

need to do better?

n Staff promote positive behaviour. For example, when children begin to run indoors, staff remind them to use their walking feet. When children begin to walk, they receive praise from staff for using their listening ears and walking. This helps children to understand staff's expectations for their behaviour. n Parents and carers say that they appreciate the information staff share with them to support their children's safety at home, such as when they play in water. n Staff use their observations and assessments of children's learning to help identify their abilities. If gaps appear in their development, staff make referrals to other professionals to help children progress. Staff identify ways to support children's learning. For example, they show children simple images of what happens at snack time to support their understanding and to encourage them to join in. n Additional funding is used effectively to meet the individual needs of the

p.2

need to do better?

children. This includes purchasing books that shows words in a different language. This helps to support children who speak English as an additional language to have a sense of belonging. n Staff have completed training courses to build on their knowledge of how to support children's communication and language skills. Overall, they do this well. However, sometimes, staff do not implement the teaching strategies they have gathered from training courses to further promote children's speaking skills. For

p.2

need to do better?

6 September 2024 example, sometimes staff do not encourage children to respond to the questions they ask them. Furthermore, some of the questions they ask do not encourage children to answer with more than a 'yes' or 'no' reply. n Since the COVID-19 pandemic, staff made changes to the way parents arrive with their children. This includes using a different entrance and children leaving parents to go to staff at the garden gate. This change helps children to settle quicker, promoting their emotional well-being. n Staff offer children a range of nutritious snacks that contributes to a healthy diet. Children learn where food comes from. For example, staff help them to understand that ice cream is made in a factory from milk. When children say that milk comes from a supermarket, staff explain that it comes from a cow first. n Staff promote children's oral health. Children have their own toothbrushes and are supported by staff to clean their teeth after lunch. Staff give children

p.2

need to do better?

identical toothbrushes to encourage them to clean their teeth at home. n Staff support children's independence well. For example, they give children gentle reminders to get tissues and wipe their noses themselves. Children select their own cup and bowl at snack time and pour their own drinks.

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 support all staff to implement teaching strategies gathered from attending training courses to build on children's speaking skills.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY287638 Local authority North Northamptonshire Inspection number 10343004 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

p.4

inspection

Total number of places 26 Number of children on roll 14 Name of registered person Vicarage Farm Preschool Partnership

p.4

reference number

Telephone number 07830195318 Date of previous inspection 17 September 2018

p.4

Information about this early years setting

Vicarage Farm Pre-School registered in 2004 and is situated in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire. The pre-school employs three members of childcare staff. Of these, two hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and the manager with early years professional status. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday, during term time. Sessions are from 8.30am until 2.30pm. The pre-school provides funded early education for children age nine months upwards.

p.4

Inspection activities

n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the pre-school and discussed how the manager and staff implement the curriculum. n The inspector observed the quality of education during activities, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning. n Children spoke to the inspector throughout the inspection. n The inspector spoke with staff at appropriate times throughout the inspection. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager. n The inspector held a meeting with the manager. She reviewed relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the pre-school. n Parents and carers shared their views on the pre-school with the inspector.

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

6 September 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