Alpha Pre School

Inspection of Alpha Pre School Freshbrook Community Centre, Worsley Road, Freshbrook, Swindon, Wiltshire SN5 8NU

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Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

The quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement Personal development Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Good

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The provision requires improvement

Children arrive happy. Staff welcome them and their parents and help children to hang up their coat and bag. They support children to find their photo and put it on the registration tree to show they are present. Staff know the children well and are caring. They build positive relationships with parents and, as a result, children settle straight away into their play.

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The provision requires improvement

Leaders do not ensure that the curriculum is ambitious enough to enable children to make prompt progress in all areas of learning. Staff provide opportunities for children to develop their imagination by pretending to be hairdressers and play with sand using tools to develop their hand-eye coordination. However, they do not consistently interact in children's play to help them develop skills, for instance to take turns and regulate their feelings. Younger children learn mathematical skills, such as those related to shapes. However, staff do not consistently build the older children's mathematical knowledge, such as around weight when children talk about ingredients for a recipe. Leaders do not ensure that staff receive the support they need to engage children in consistently good-quality learning experiences. Staff do not help children as well as they can to build on what they already know and can do and what they need to learn next. This means, at times, children's

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The provision requires improvement

behaviour deteriorates, and staff do not manage this well.

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need to do better?

n Leaders do not provide staff with the support they need to ensure children benefit from consistently positive learning experiences. Weaknesses in the design and delivery of the curriculum mean that children do not make the progress they are capable of in a timely manner. Although children enjoy some of the activities and resources offered, staff do not always engage them in purposeful play, and some wander or disrupt others. As a result, their behaviour declines. In addition, staff do not always notice children who need more support to communicate and interact with others to develop this aspect of their learning. n Staff engagement when children are playing varies. They do not always notice when some children find it difficult to regulate their feelings. For example, children are outdoors using brooms to sweep leaves and other children want a go. This leads to frustration and arguments until staff intervene. This is because

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need to do better?

children do not receive the support they need to manage such situations. n Children learn about being healthy. For example, staff support children to wash their hands before mealtimes. Children choose between milk or water and have fruit or vegetables for snack. Staff encourage and guide children to pour their own drink into a cup. However, some children leave the table before they have finished. Staff do not provide consistent communication to help children learn good table manners and remind children of the rules.

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need to do better?

12 December 2024 n Staff model language and introduce words such as 'spicy' when children are pretending to cook. They encourage back-and-forth conversations to develop children's language in play. However, staff do not do as much as they can to extend children's vocabulary and listening, for example through more regular use of books and stories. n Children listen and follow instructions. For instance, at tidy-up time, staff use a tambourine to gain the children's attention. The children stop and look at the staff member talking. Staff explain that it is tidy-up time and then lunch. This helps children to learn the routines and know what is happening next. n Leaders use additional funding to provide children with a special day with animals that come into the setting. This helps to broaden their experiences about the world around them. However, leaders do not think about what they want children to gain from the experiences based on their specific and individual

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need to do better?

learning needs. This does not consistently support the best outcomes for all groups of children. n Staff gain information from parents before children start. They use this information to get to know about children's interests. Staff talk to the parents at drop-off and pick-up times. They also use an online platform to inform parents about their child's day. Parents appreciate how staff support children's learning at home. For example, staff refer to outside agencies, such as speech and language services to help children develop their speech.

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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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Due date

plan and implement an ambitious curriculum that meets children's developmental needs and supports all children to make the best possible progress in their learning 17/02/2025

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Due date

ensure staff receive targeted support and guidance to improve the quality of their teaching to consistently engage children in meaningful play and learning. 17/02/2025

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should:

n ensure that experiences designed specifically for individual children focus more sharply on what they need to learn next so that they benefit from the learning opportunities n support children more consistently to understand boundaries and begin to regulate their behaviour n improve the use of stories and books throughout the setting to strengthen children's vocabulary and listening skills.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY408710 Local authority Swindon Inspection number 10364202 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 24 Number of children on roll 21 Name of registered person Alpha Pre School Freshbrook Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 07468436852 Date of previous inspection 30 January 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Alpha Pre School registered in 2010. It operates from a room in Freshbrook Community Centre in West Swindon. The pre-school is open from Monday to Friday, 9am to 3pm, term time only. There are three members of staff who work with the children. Of these, one holds a level 5 qualification and two hold relevant qualifications at level 3. The pre-school provides government funded places for children aged from two to four years.

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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 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 Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager. n The inspector spoke with the nominated individual about the leadership and management of the setting. 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

12 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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