Woodlands Under 5's Pre-School

Inspection of Woodlands Under 5's Pre-School Vinters Park Community Centre, Aldon Close, Maidstone, Kent ME14 5QF

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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 Outstanding

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The provision is good

Children clearly enjoy their time at this welcoming nursery. Staff greet children with warmth and care, helping them to detach from their parents. Children form strong bonds with familiar staff. Staff find out key details about children before they attend. They work closely with parents to help provide children with the comfort and consistency they need to feel secure.

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The provision is good

The carefully considered curriculum enables children to make good progress in their learning and development. Staff provide a wide range of experiences that appeal to all ages and stages of development. They confidently describe children's interests and use these to engage them in meaningful play and experiences. Staff encourage children to keep trying during activities. The environment is calm and purposeful, and children show high levels of engagement.

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The provision is good

The curriculum has a strong focus on children's personal, social and emotional development. Children are encouraged to share details of their diverse backgrounds with friends. For example, they can show photographs of their pets, family, and links to other countries. Children compare the similarities and differences of their culture and find out what makes them special and unique.

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need to do better?

n Children benefit from the wide range of learning opportunities available to them. The areas of learning are supported, both indoors and outdoors, and staff thoughtfully provide interesting experiences for all. For example, the water exploration area contains a wide range of resources so that children can investigate ice and water. Children use resources with open-ended opportunities, such as shells and metal rings. This gives children the skills needed to fully extend their imagination and creativity. n Staff introduce some simple mathematics into the daily routine. For example, they count to three as they remove the seeds in a bell pepper. However, staff are not all confident in incorporating number and mathematical concepts into children's play. This does not fully support children to extend their mathematical knowledge and to build on what they know and can do. n Staff have completed training courses and research to help them improve the

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need to do better?

curriculum aims, particularly in communication and language. For example, staff use strategies to show children a visual representation of things and simple sign language, to effectively communicate. This helps children who speak English as an additional language and those who need more support with their verbal communication skills, to effectively communicate their wants and needs. On some occasions, however, staff do not fully implement support plans for those children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) during key

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need to do better?

20 January 2025 routines of the day, such as in their independent play. Therefore, at times, children do not benefit from the consistent approach needed to fully support their progress. n Staff support children to develop their understanding of healthy lifestyles. For example, children have plenty of opportunities to engage in physical play and enjoy a healthy snack while at nursery. Children independently chop and taste real food in the home corner. Staff encourage children to wash their hands regularly and explain the importance of doing so. This helps children to develop good personal hygiene and self-care skills. n Staff plan trips and outings to broaden children's experiences. This helps children to develop an awareness of the world within their local area. For example, children visit the local nature reserve. They enjoy outings to the local park and use larger equipment to extend their physical skills. Additionally, staff

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need to do better?

organise an annual trip for parents to attend with their children. This helps to build a strong nursery community. n Partnerships with parents are positive. Parents express that they feel staff keep them informed about their children's daily routines. They receive regular updates on their children's learning and development and how they can support this further at home. This helps to provide a consistent approach to children's learning and development.

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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 staff's understanding of how to implement support plans for children with SEND fully consistently during daily routines n support staff to introduce more mathematical concepts into everyday play, to extend children's developing mathematical knowledge.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 127783 Local authority Kent Inspection number 10372527 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 32 Number of children on roll 32 Name of registered person Woodlands Under Fives Playgroup Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 01622 671131 Date of previous inspection 24 April 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Woodlands under 5's Pre-School operates in Vinters Park Community Centre in Maidstone, Kent. It registered in 1982. The nursery is open Monday to Thursday from 9.00am to 2.30pm. It is in receipt of funding for nursery education sessions for children aged two, three and four years. The nursery employs eight staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications.

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Inspection activities

n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n Children told the inspector about their friends and what they like to do when they are at the nursery. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector carried out a joint observation of a group activity with the manager. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. 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

20 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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