Earlybirds Pre-School

Inspection of Earlybirds Pre-School Newtown Soberton Infant School, Church Road, Newtown, Fareham PO17 6LJ

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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 Inadequate

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The provision is good

Children are happy and confident and spend their time busily engaged in meaningful play. Staff provide children with lots of praise, which helps them to take pride in their achievements. For example, children proudly show staff a 'bridge' they created from planks of wood. Staff take time to marvel at the structure, making children feel good about themselves.

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The provision is good

Children form firm friendships and enjoy the time they spend with their peers. For instance, young children work together to create a farm and gather food to feed their animals. Children show respect as they listen and test out each other's ideas. This helps children start to recognise the benefits of teamwork as they watch their farm grow quickly.

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The provision is good

Children learn about the wider world and their place within it. For example, during an activity about space and time, children learn that planet Earth moves around the sun, and this takes one year. Children act out the role of Earth and the sun. Those who are in the role of 'Earth' walk slowly around the 'sun' as staff sing the months of the year. Children learn that their age represents the number of times they have been around the sun. This helps children make deep connections with the world.

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The provision is good

Staff provide children with the support and resources they need as they learn to regulate their own behaviour. For example, staff create cosy spaces 'for one', recognising that some children require a quiet space away from the hustle and bustle to calm or rest. This helps children manage their emotions.

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need to do better?

n Leadership and management is effective. Leaders and staff share a clear vision of what they want children to learn during their time at the pre-school and why this is important. Leaders provide staff with good-quality support and development opportunities, using staff supervision and professional development opportunities well. Leaders and staff establish secure partnerships with parents and other professionals who are involved in children's learning and care. This includes making regular contact with other settings that children attend and creating a two-way flow of information. This provides children with a consistent approach to their learning. n Staff prioritise and promote children's developing communication and language skills well, understanding the benefit this has on all other aspects of children's learning. As a result, children become confident and enthusiastic communicators. Staff engage children in regular conversation and discussion. This helps younger

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need to do better?

children gain confidence as they practise stringing words together to form sentences. Staff provide cosy spaces with open-ended resources that encourage

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need to do better?

13 January 2025 children to chat together. Children thoroughly enjoy taking time out with a friend as they lay under a canopy, sharing their ideas and catching up on life outside of pre-school. n Children have regular opportunities to develop their understanding of new concepts such as mathematics. Staff provide engaging and interesting activities that promote children's next steps in learning. For instance, young children who are just starting to recognise number have great fun extending their skills in the garden. Children pull foam numbers out of water and show excitement when these stick to the wall. Staff cheer as children guess the number correctly. Staff use objects to help children connect number with value. This helps prepare children well for their future learning. n Children become confident movers. Staff provide a wide range of activities that promote children's physical development. For example, children develop their

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need to do better?

core strength, balance and coordination as they enthusiastically participate in yoga. They follow instructions, stretching and moving their bodies to create different poses. Children learn why exercise and rest are both important in keeping themselves healthy. Staff help children understand their bodies, as they encourage children to observe their heartbeat at rest and compare this with their heartbeat after exercise. Children learn that they can slow their heartbeat with their breathing. n Overall, staff support and promote children's growing independence well. Children learn to wash up their own plates, use cutlery and attend to their own personal care needs. However, not all activities encourage children to carry out tasks they can do for themselves. For example, during mealtimes, staff pour children's drinks, peel their fruit, serve their meals and open packets. This reduces the opportunities children have to practise their independence.

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need to do better?

n Children develop positive attitudes towards their learning. They are confident, curious and eager to learn. Staff capture and build on children's curiosity through their skilful interactions and well-planned activities. For example, staff present children with play dough mixture that is very runny and use this as an opportunity to teach children about cause and effect. Children consider possible solutions such as adding more flour to make the mixture more dough-like. Staff encourage children to test out their ideas and explore their findings.

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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:

13 January 2025 n strengthen the variety of opportunities children have to develop their growing independence, particularly during mealtimes.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY338530 Local authority Hampshire Inspection number 10369805 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 16 Number of children on roll 27 Name of registered person Earlybirds Pre - School (Newton) Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 01329 833 161 Date of previous inspection 23 September 2024

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Information about this early years setting

Earlybirds Pre-School registered in 1996 and is run from Newtown Soberton Infant School in Fareham, Hampshire. The pre-school is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 3pm, during school terms. It receives funding for early education for children aged two, three and four years. Six members of staff are employed to work with the children. Of these, four staff are qualified to level 3.

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Inspection activities

n The manager and the inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the provision and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector talked to the manager, nominated individual, staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The manager and the inspector completed a joint observation of an activity together and discussed the quality of teaching and learning afterwards. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The inspector talked to parents and gathered their feedback during the inspection 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

13 January 2025 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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