Wheelock Pre-School

Inspection of Wheelock Pre-School Hancock Hall, Wheelock Methodist Church, Crewe Road, Wheelock, SANDBACH, Cheshire CW11 3RT

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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

All children, particularly children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), progress well at this pre-school. Staff provide an inclusive environment that nurtures children's interests. As a result, children eagerly enter the pre-school with big smiles and are ready to play. Staff form strong bonds with children through their positive interactions with them. Children show they feel safe. Staff prioritise supporting children's personal, social and emotional development. For example, staff work closely with parents to ensure children feel secure in the pre- school. In addition, on the rare occasion when children are feeling sad, they offer cuddles for reassurance. This supports children's emotional well-being.

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The provision is good

Staff set high expectations for children. They role model good manners and gently talk to children about the rules of the pre-school. Children are beginning to understand how to keep themselves safe. For example, staff support children to manage their own safety. They guide children on how to hold scissors carefully and remind them to walk indoors so they do not hurt themselves. Children's behaviour is exemplary. They are kind and respectful towards others and their environment.

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The provision is good

Staff support children's communication and language development well. They engage children in back-and-forth conversations and use age-appropriate questions to extend children's thinking. These quality interactions help children to understand how to structure a conversation. In addition, as children explore different materials, staff use descriptive vocabulary such as 'squish', 'spiral' and 'soft'. This helps to widen children's vocabulary. Children make good progress in their early language development.

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need to do better?

n Staff understand what they intend for children to learn. They are clear on their own key children's next steps in learning and build on these during play. However, when children are not in their key group, staff are less sure about their specific next steps in learning. This limits the staff's ability to address these next steps within general play and learning. n Staff feel well supported in their roles. Procedures are in place for staff supervision, and staff have attended mandatory training. However, the professional development of staff does not always focus sharply enough on supporting them to attend relevant training to enhance their skills even further. Consequently, there are some inconsistencies in how staff support children's learning across the pre-school. n Staff prioritise teaching children about healthy lifestyles in their curriculum. Snack times are used as social times to develop children's understanding of

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need to do better?

healthy eating. For example, staff talk to children about which foods are good

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need to do better?

5 December 2024 for their bones. Children recognise which foods and drinks are good or bad for their bodies. They understand what contributes to their own good health. n Children with SEND are supported well. Staff work with parents and external professionals to meet children's needs, and they implement tailored strategies to support children's next steps in learning. Furthermore, additional funding is used well to benefit the individual child. As a result, gaps in learning close quickly and children make good progress. n Support for children's physical development is a strength of this pre-school. Children are developing good physical skills. For example, they practise balancing along the stepping stones. They show controlled hand-eye coordination as they pour water into their cup. Children demonstrate good coordination skills and core strength. n Staff work harmoniously with parents. Parents are happy with the quality of care

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need to do better?

provided. They receive regular updates on their child's development. Staff offer advice to parents on topics such as healthy eating and supporting children's communication and language. These strong partnerships and shared ideas help to maintain continuity in children's learning. n The curriculum for mathematics provides children with ample opportunities to develop their number, counting and problem-solving skills. For example, children practise counting how many children are at the table. Staff further support children to understand the properties of shapes and together they count how many lines a triangle has. Children show a very good understanding of numbers and are developing an understanding of early mathematical concepts well. n Staff are positive role models to children. They offer an abundance of praise to children throughout the day. Staff engage in positive interactions with children to model and explain how to achieve new goals. Children develop good resilience

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need to do better?

skills, self-confidence and demonstrate a 'can-do' attitude towards their learning.

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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 support staff to identify next steps in learning for all children and incorporate these into learning experiences to help to build consistently on children's existing skills n focus staff's professional development more sharply on enhancing their skills to support all children's learning in play.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 305427 Local authority Cheshire East Inspection number 10367340 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 20 Number of children on roll 26 Name of registered person Wheelock Pre-School Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 01270 753 763 Date of previous inspection 5 February 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Wheelock Pre-School registered in 1987 and is managed by a not-for-profit incorporated voluntary association. The pre-school employs five members of childcare staff. Of these, four hold an appropriate early years qualification at level 3 and one holds a qualification at level 2. The pre-school opens from Monday to Friday, during school term time. Sessions are from 9am until 3.30pm. The pre- school provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want the children to learn. n Staff spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector spoke with the nominated individual about the leadership and management of the setting. 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 Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the pre-school.

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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 December 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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