Whittington Pre School

Inspection of Whittington Pre School Activate, Church Lane, Whittington, Worcester WR5 2RQ

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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 Good

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The provision is good

Children form strong and beneficial relationships with their key person and the whole staff team. New children are provided with lots of sensitive, patient and thoughtful reassurance. They are given support to help them settle, join in with activities and start to independently explore. Staff are friendly and kind. They take the time to get to know children and obtain lots of information from parents when children first start. They attentively support children's care needs, ensuring that children are happy and their well-being remains high.

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The provision is good

Children benefit from the well-thought-out and customised curriculum that staff form based on the children's ages and individual stage of development. One of the setting's key curriculum goals is to inspire awe and wonder for nature in the children. Older children learn to respect living things as they search for and identify insects during their forest school session. They learn to plant and grow items, and excitedly find 'treasure', such as potatoes, as they dig in the soil. Children are inspired and challenged effectively through the wealth of physical opportunities. They develop their coordination by climbing and balancing on equipment, and practise their throwing and catching skills while playing with balls and bean bags. Children also beneficially broaden their skills during sessions with outside professionals, such as for sports and music. Staff then enhance their own planned activities with the skills that were introduced in these sessions, to extend children's

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need to do better?

n Children's communication and language skills progress well. Staff ask children questions to encourage their thinking and conversational skills, and give them time to respond. Staff provide clear instructions and help children to understand the routines of the day. Staff working with the younger children skilfully get children's attention and reinforce their messages with photos, signs and symbols. This helps children's understanding, reduces any frustration and builds their confidence very effectively. n Staff encourage children's perseverance. Older children pour their own drinks. They work hard to get their boots and listen to the staff's well-placed tips as they manage to put them on, ready to go to their forest school session. Younger children learn to wash their hands and tidy up the resources. Children are proud of their achievements and develop their independence and sense of responsibility well.

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need to do better?

n Young children learn to follow the boundaries in place for their own and others' safety. Staff help them to manage their behaviour, emotions and frustrations, and appreciate the needs of others. However, at times, staff working with the older age group do not provide clear explanations and are not always successful

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need to do better?

13 September 2024 in their approach. Children's understanding and skills in this area do not develop as much as they could. n The managers and staff show dedication to the children in their care. They support children with a complex range of needs, and thoughtfully support all the families who use their provision. They share lots of information with parents and promote a beneficial community atmosphere through their charity and seasonal events. They also offer useful stay-and-play sessions to help parents and children settle in and get to know the pre-school and staff. n All children are sensitively and successfully supported to achieve their potential. Staff genuinely care about every child. They give high priority to working with other professionals to get children with special educational needs and/or disabilities the support they need. Staff promptly identify any gaps in children's learning. They implement interventions, liaising closely with parents to enable all

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need to do better?

children to make good progress. n Children enjoy the creative opportunities that are available to them. Younger children usefully explore life experiences as they play imaginatively with baby dolls. Children construct intricate structures. They make marks with paint and pens, experimenting with the effects they can create. Staff give children time to investigate and test out their ideas as they play. However, during some adult-led group activities, staff do not always give children enough time to process, practise and engage with new experiences and skills. n Staff morale is high. Managers listen to staff and adapt their support. For example, they tailor training to staff's preferred ways of working and provide more in-person training, rather than online. The team meets regularly to discuss and evaluate practice. They have recently enhanced the arrangements for children's mealtimes to provide greater communication and social opportunities.

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need to do better?

Managers have also correctly outlined the need for further behaviour management training to help extend the consistency in the support that children receive.

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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 help staff to consistently support older children to recognise and understand their emotions, and manage their behaviour n support staff to give children enough time to process, practise and engage with new experiences and skills during group activities.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY538325 Local authority Worcestershire Inspection number 10364340 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 47 Number of children on roll 56 Name of registered person Julie Morgan and Beverly Bradley Partnership

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reference number

Telephone number 0797 584 9166 Date of previous inspection 11 April 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Whittington Pre School opened in 1992 and re-registered in 2016 at the current premises. It is located in Whittington, Worcester. It operates from 9am to 3pm, Monday to Friday, during school term times only. There are 17 members of staff, of whom 13 hold appropriate early years qualifications ranging from level 1 to level 6. The pre-school provides funded places for children aged two and three years.

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Inspection activities

n The managers, staff who lead the curriculum and the inspector completed a learning walk together and discussed their aims and rationale for their early years curriculum. n The managers and the inspector evaluated the effectiveness of an activity together. n The inspector observed the children and staff, and spoke with them at appropriate times during the inspection. n The inspector discussed the leadership and management of the pre-school with the managers. n Parents shared their views of the pre-school with the inspector. n Relevant documentation was reviewed by the inspector, including staff suitability checks and paediatric first-aid qualifications. n The managers discussed their safety and child protection procedures, and safeguarding discussions were undertaken with members of the staff team.

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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

13 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.

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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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