The Park Pre-School

Inspection of The Park Pre-School Community Centre, Mill Street, Kirkham, PRESTON PR4 2AN

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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

Staff support children to settle quickly and to understand the high expectations of them at the friendly pre-school. Children quickly form strong bonds with the small staff team, showing that they feel secure at pre-school. They enjoy playing and learning with their friends as they choose from the good range of activities on offer. Staff plan activities with children's next steps and interests in mind. They promote positive attitudes as they help children to learn about routines and independence. Children enjoy singing and stories with staff and join in with familiar words and actions. Staff promote discussions and expand children's vocabulary through daily activities. Children are chatty and confident. They make good progress in their learning.

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The provision is good

Staff help children to learn about their community and people who help us. For instance, children enjoy visits from police officers and from a local farmer, who brings his tractor for them to see. They learn about topical events, such as Remembrance Day, in an age-appropriate way and visit a cenotaph to see the poppy wreaths. Staff take children to a supermarket to buy ingredients for pumpkin soup, which they help to make and eat for their snack. This helps children to make links in their learning and to begin to understand the wider world.

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need to do better?

n Staff work well together and have a clear understanding of the knowledge and skills they want children to learn. Interactions with children are supportive and promote their learning well. Staff understand how to build on what children know and can do and gradually prepare them for their eventual move on to school. n Training enhances staff's teaching skills and their ability to support children and families. Training is targeted to meet children's needs. The views of staff and parents are considered and reflected on when planning for the provision. This helps to ensure that children get the most benefit from their time at pre-school. n Staff consistently reinforce expectations and model respect and good manners. Children respond by quickly following instructions and behaving very well. They line up to wash their hands before lunch without prompting, for instance. Consequently, the environment at pre-school is calm and conducive to

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need to do better?

supporting children's learning. n Children learn to become independent. Staff support them to manage their own self-care needs and to make their own choices about their day. Staff encourage children to have a go at tasks before asking for help. Children learn important life skills. n Children enjoy stories and listen intently as staff read to them. Staff ask questions to check children's understanding and sensitively draw quieter children

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need to do better?

5 November 2024 into discussions. Children joyfully join in with their favourite songs, paying close attention as staff whisper parts of the song. Staff promote children's communication and language skills well. n Children's physical skills are well promoted. Staff support children to balance carefully on low planks as they practise their coordination, for instance. Staff plan daily activities such as shaping dough to promote hand strength and movement in preparation for early writing. Children play outdoors each day and use local parks to get plenty of fresh air. Their overall well-being is well supported. n Staff have clear procedures to monitor and assess children's progress. They identify any gaps in children's learning effectively and help them to catch up, where possible. They understand when it is helpful to access additional support from outside agencies. Staff work well with other professionals to support

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need to do better?

vulnerable children. All children are supported to make good progress from their own starting points. n Staff keep parents informed of what children do during their day and about their progress. However, staff do not always gather enough information from parents to help them find out about children's prior experiences and backgrounds. Methods of communication are not always fully effective for all families. This hinders the consistency of care and learning between home and pre-school on occasion.

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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 strengthen arrangements for gathering information from parents at the outset and consider how communication with parents can be managed most effectively for all families on an ongoing basis.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY372877 Local authority Lancashire Inspection number 10359903 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 30 Number of children on roll 11 Name of registered person Dugdale, Karen Dorothy

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reference number

Telephone number 07516483260 Date of previous inspection 5 December 2018

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Information about this early years setting

The Park Pre-School registered in 2008 and is located in Kirkham. The pre-school employs three members of childcare staff. Of these, two hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and one at level 6. The pre-school opens from Monday to Thursday during term time. Sessions are from 8am until 12 midday on Mondays and Thursdays and from 8am until 3pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The pre-school offers government funded places and receives specific funding for disadvantaged children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises along with the aims and rationale for the early years curriculum. n Staff and children spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n Parents spoke to the inspector and shared their views. n The inspector observed the interactions between staff and children and carried out joint observations with leaders. n The manager provided the inspector with a sample of key documentation on request.

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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

5 November 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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