Darley Dale Pre-school and Nursery

Inspection of Darley Dale Pre-school and Nursery Darley Dale Primary School, 8 Greenaway Lane, Hackney, Matlock DE4 2QB

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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

Staff carefully plan how new children are introduced to the pre-school. They gradually increase the time that children spend apart from their parents, so that children understand that their parents will return for them. Children settle into pre- school well and become increasingly confident. Staff are very alert to the different needs of individual children and make sure that they understand how to communicate with children so that they are fully included in pre-school life. Staff provide all children with the support they need to become independent and competent learners in readiness for their eventual move to school. Children learn the daily routine of the pre-school. For example, they understand that after they have had a snack it is time to go outdoors to play. They all make attempts to get their outdoor clothes on with different, but appropriate, levels of support from staff.

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The provision is good

Staff have created a welcoming play and learning environment in which children experience a broad range of adult-led activities, in addition to choosing where they want to play. Wherever children are playing, staff are on hand to talk to them, make suggestions to extend their learning, or simply to join in with their games. For example, when children make a 'meal' using soil, pebbles and sticks and offer it to a staff member to taste, the staff member asks about the ingredients and introduces words such as 'sweet', 'sour' and 'crunchy' to the children.

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need to do better?

n Staff understand how young children learn and develop. During children's time at the pre-school, staff want them to become confident to make their needs known and to ask for help, dress and undress themselves for outdoor play and be able to concentrate and follow instructions. Staff have designed an indoor curriculum to support them to deliver these aims for children. Staff break down learning into bite-sized tasks for children to achieve and build on. For example, when getting ready for outdoor play, some children competently put on their shoes. Other children are given clear instructions to learn how to get their toes into their shoes, ready to get their whole foot in at a later stage. However, once they are outside, the curriculum is not strong enough to provide children with the learning they need, so anything that children do learn is incidental. n When children first start attending pre-school, staff take time to find out about

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need to do better?

them from their parents and from their own observations. Staff's priority is to develop children's social, communication and language skills and improve their physical skills and strength. Staff use any extra funding that they receive to support the children. For example, they purchase equipment to help to develop children's concentration levels when this is a specific need. They also plan how funds will be spent over the time that children are with them. For example, they employ sports coaches to help children to develop stamina, strength and

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need to do better?

17 September 2024 balance. n Children learn about behaviour expectations, sharing and taking turns through watching how staff treat them and the other adults. Staff calmly remind children about the indoor rule of walking, and explain that children can have a turn on a balance bicycle when the sand timer is empty at the top. During conversations, staff help children to understand how other people might feel, or skilfully weave in a conversation about emotions while reading a story to children. n Staff talk to children about what they want to play with and respond to their ideas and requests. Children become deeply engaged with their play because they are interested in it. For example, when children build models out of interlocking bricks, staff kindly save them for when the children next attend and then provide the bricks for the children to continue with their creativity. During adult-led activities, staff sometimes limit children's opportunities to make

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need to do better?

choices. For example, they may limit the colours that children can use when they are drawing or painting. n Staff review the pre-school provision and take time to develop what they offer to children. They have created quiet, enclosed spaces in response to some children's needs. Here, children can rest, recharge or take some time away from the daily bustle of the pre-school if it becomes too much for them. n Parents speak highly of the pre-school and the sensitive way that children are helped to settle. They also praise the staff for the support they give to children, and credit the pre-school with children's progress in their communication and language development. Staff speak to parents on a daily basis. Parents have access to apps that staff complete with information about their child's progress and what they are currently working on at pre-school.

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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 develop the curriculum for the outdoors so that it is as strong as the curriculum for indoors n increase the opportunities that children have to make choices when taking part in adult-led creative activities.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2750009 Local authority Derbyshire Inspection number 10365793 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 40 Number of children on roll 34 Name of registered person Darley Dale Preschool And Nursery CIO

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reference number

Telephone number 07895721804 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Darley Dale Pre-school and Nursery re-registered in new premises on a school site in 2023. It is located in Matlock, Derbyshire. The pre-school opens from 8am to 4pm, Monday to Friday, during term time only. The pre-school employs eight members of staff, six of whom have an appropriate childcare qualification at level 3 or above. The pre-school provides childcare and education places for children in receipt of government funding.

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Inspection activities

n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n Children spoke with the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n Staff spoke to the inspector about how they support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. 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 carried out a joint observation of a group activity with the manager. n Parents and grandparents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n The manager showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate the suitability of staff.

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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

17 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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