Southwater Village Hall Pre-School

Inspection of Southwater Village Hall Pre-School Church Lane, Southwater, West Sussex RH13 9BT

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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 are enthusiastic as they arrive at this well-organised pre-school. They demonstrate their excitement and are keen to find out what staff have planned for them. Parents provide a swift handover which enables staff to adapt their care for each child. For example, staff plan children's day more effectively when they have received information about if a child has slept well or eaten breakfast. This approach helps support continuity of care between home and the preschool.

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The provision is good

Staff provide a large range of well-planned activities in both the outdoor and indoor environment. Children are curious and motivated to learn through activities that interest them, such as counting the seeds they have taken out of a pumpkin. Staff use children's engagement to introduce new vocabulary and basic mathematics. Children develop well across all areas of the curriculum.

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The provision is good

Staff have high expectations for children's behaviour. They model respect and kindness to children which positively impacts children's treatment of others. Staff provide children with clear boundaries and routines. They use visual cues to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) to understand what is happening next which effectively supports their wellbeing. Staff are skilled at identifying and supporting children who need additional help. As a result, all children make sound progress from their starting points.

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need to do better?

n A key strength of the pre-school is the overall positive attitude and very high focus given to supporting children with SEND. Staff who work with children with SEND are highly passionate about their role. They ensure that children who need extra help are making progress in the preschool. Staff receive training on how to plan for and support children who need a more targeted approach. Additional funding is used accordingly to support individual needs of children. n Overall staff are skilled at using questioning techniques to gather children's views and thoughts. However, there are some inconsistencies in the quality of teaching. There are some staff who are less skilled than others and do not provide children with the same learning experiences as more experienced staff. Despite this, generally, staff inspire children to remain motivated and effectively extend children's play interests. For example, children pretend that they are

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need to do better?

'going on a bear hunt'. Staff quickly respond by providing books and other resources so children can draw a 'scary bear'. Children later demonstrate their understanding of the story as they use actions and words they have remembered in their own self-directed play. n The newly appointed pre-school managers have a strong vision for delivering high-quality care and education for families and children. They regularly reflect

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need to do better?

15 October 2024 on ways to improve and have developed a programme on how they will action this. The manager liaises with staff from the local authority and has forged links with other professionals. This helps to keep the pre-school up to date with changes and local protocols. Staff comment that managers create a 'wonderful' working environment and that they feel valued and listened to. Parents feedback that the pre-school is well-managed and that their children are prepared for the next stage in their learning, such as moving onto school. n The pre-school's keyperson system is firmly embedded. This helps children to settle quickly and feel safe and secure. Children approach adults for reassurance or a cuddle when needed. Staff are tactile and loving which helps support children's emotional health. Generally, staff use children's existing knowledge and characters to effectively plan for what they need to learn next. However, on

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need to do better?

occasions, there are times when some staff fail to notice quieter or less confident children. Consequently, some children do not receive the same level of interactions from staff which does not fully support children's confidence and communication skills. n Children have a firm understanding of healthy lifestyles. Staff discuss the benefits of healthy eating as children independently prepare their own nutritious snacks. Children benefit from running around outside in the fresh air. They negotiate and climb obstacles and ride on tricycles and scooters. Children explore the natural environment as they dig in the soil. Staff explain how to care for living creatures as children carefully find a place to rehome a snail. They tell the inspector 'I don't want to squash him. I have to be gentle.'

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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 improve staff support and supervision to enable staff to deliver a more consistent high-quality level of teaching n support staff to ensure that those quieter children are more consistently able to join in and benefit from the learning opportunities.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 113706 Local authority West Sussex Inspection number 10367125 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

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

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inspection

Total number of places 42 Number of children on roll 56

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Name of registered person

Southwater Village Hall Pre-School Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 01403 733954 Date of previous inspection 14 February 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Southwater Village Hall Pre-School registered in 1992. It operates at the Southwater Village Hall in Southwater, near Horsham, West Sussex. The pre-school opens each weekday during school term times, from 9.00 am to 4.00 pm on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, and from 9.00 am to 12.00 pm on Wednesday and Friday. The pre-school employs 12 staff, seven of whom hold relevant early years qualifications. The pre-school provides government funded early education places for children aged from two to four years.

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Inspection activities

n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector spoke with staff and interacted with children. n Parents and grandparents shared their views about the pre-school with the inspector. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager. n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. 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.

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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

15 October 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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