Knebworth Pre-School Group

Inspection of Knebworth Pre-School Group Trinity Church, Park Lane, Knebworth, Hertfordshire SG3 6PD

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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 arrive at the pre-school with a smile and separate from their parents with ease. The effective settling-in processes support children to quickly build a sense of belonging. This is especially evident with the many children who are new to the pre-school this term. Children display strong bonds with staff, and new children quickly build attachments with their designated key person. Staff plan a curriculum that closely follows children's own choices and learning needs. The young children who are currently attending have lots of time to explore and be creative. For example, they enjoy making collages from different materials. Staff allow children to use their own ideas, with no set intent for their creative work. This enables children to learn how to use their imaginations.

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The provision is good

Children enjoy coming together as a group. They engage in group discussions, showing their developing understanding of the world as they discuss seasonal changes and weather patterns. Children behave well. Staff help them to gain the skills they require to work well with others, and this supports their future learning. Children learn to follow instructions through activities and music and movement sessions. Staff sensitively build on the instructions they give to children. For example, they start off with simple instructions and move on to more complex ones when they know children are capable of succeeding.

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need to do better?

n Staff take time to get to know children and their families when they first join the pre-school. The gather valuable information that helps them to understand and plan for children's individual care and learning needs. Ongoing information- sharing with parents enables staff to keep their knowledge of children's interests current. As a result, children are supported to make consistently good progress. n All staff support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities effectively. They liaise closely with outside agencies, parents and other early years settings that children attend. This enables all those involved with children to implement helpful and consistent strategies that support children to learn. Staff successfully use picture cards to help children know what is expected of them. This includes helping them to understand the routine. n Parents' comments about the pre-school and staff are very positive. They state

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need to do better?

that their children are making good progress and are keen to attend. Parents comment on how stable the staff team is and how this results in children feeling safe and secure. n Children are busy and keen to explore the engaging environment. For example, they have opportunities to build, dress up and look at books. Staff deploy themselves well so that they can build on the learning that they see taking place. However, at times, staff interrupt children's engagement and enjoyment of

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need to do better?

16 October 2024 learning to move them on to the next activity. For example, children thoroughly enjoy being out in the garden but the time they have outside is very short. This results in children, at times, being upset as they are not ready to come back inside. n Staff help children to understand the needs of others and how they can help those who are less fortunate than themselves. For example, they take part in Christmas shoe box appeals. Staff help children to understand the whole process. They visit shops to buy resources for the boxes, pack them and watch videos that show where their boxes will go. Children show empathy and compassion for those who will be receiving their gifts. n Staff successfully promote children's safety in the pre-school. They review risk assessments, basing their assessments on the children who are attending. They supervise children closely, especially when they move around the building, such

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need to do better?

as from their rooms to the church hall. Extra precautions are currently in place to meet the needs of the young children who are currently attending. n The provider has robust recruitment procedures in place to help ensure that staff are suitable to work with children. Staff report that they are supported well by the provider and their well-being is good. There are secure systems in place to support staff's practice and to help them develop further, such as through supervision meetings and training.

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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 review the daily routine to help children remain engaged in their chosen learning and activity.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 146762 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 10355353 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 30 Number of children on roll 31 Name of registered person Knebworth Pre-School Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 01438 234804 Date of previous inspection 27 November 2018

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Information about this early years setting

Knebworth Pre-School Group registered in 1995 and is located in Knebworth, Hertfordshire. It employs seven members of childcare staff. Five staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above, including the manager who holds early years professional status. The pre-school opens from 8.30am until 3pm, Monday to Friday, during term time. The pre-school receives funding for the provision of early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector had a tour of the premises with the manager and they discussed how the curriculum is organised. n The inspector observed teaching and learning, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this was having on children's development. n A joint observation was completed and evaluated with the manager. n The inspector held a meeting with the provider. She looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of the staff working in the pre- school and committee members. n The inspector spoke with staff, parents and children at appropriate times and took account of their views.

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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

16 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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