St John's Pre-School

Inspection of St John's Pre-School St John's Church Hall, Birdsfoot Lane, LUTON LU3 2DN

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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 create a fun, safe and nurturing environment for children. Staff understand the importance of ensuring children's personal, social and emotional needs are met, and they prioritise this. Children demonstrate clear bonds with the staff, seeking staff out to play with and be close too. Staff talk to children about their emotional well-being and look at picture cards with children who speak English as an additional language. This enables staff to provide the right support for children throughout their day at the setting. Staff create bespoke settling-in timetables for all children. As a result, children settle quickly into the setting.

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The provision is good

Staff use topics as well as children's interests to create a fun learning environment for all. Staff use familiar books to create activities to extend learning. Children become immersed in activities, spending long periods concentrating on them. For example, at the creative table, children glue and stick story sequence cards to the story of the week. Staff encourage children to identify the numbers on sheets as they add in the story pictures. Children proudly show off their completed activities to staff. This builds on their confidence and self-esteem. Staff have high expectations for children's behaviour and regularly remind them that 'sharing is caring'. As a result, children's behaviour is good. The setting has a clear routine, which is visually available to children, and this helps to create a calm environment.

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need to do better?

n The provider has a good vision of what she wants the children to learn and places an emphasis on communication and language. The provider uses her knowledge of her cohort of children to create a curriculum based on children's interests as well as exposing them to opportunities that may not of otherwise had. However, staff do not always demonstrate their knowledge of the setting's vision, and this is not addressed by the provider. n Children's physical development is well supported within the setting. When the weather outside is wet and they are unable to access the outside space, children have access to music and movement sessions. They enjoy moving their bodies in different ways, which supports their muscle development. In the main room, children access play dough. They are encouraged to squeeze and use their fingers to manipulate the play dough. This develops the muscles needed for early writing.

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need to do better?

n Children learn about the people and the world around them through practical experiences. Staff create activities that support children to understand their own heritage and that of others. Children celebrate festivals, such as the festival of light, and build on the knowledge they already have. n Staff regularly join children at activities and often wait to be invited into play. This encourages children to develop their play and social skills. Staff talk to

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need to do better?

21 January 2025 children about their play, enhancing this and providing new ideas for children to think about. For example, staff play in the home corner and encourage them to pretend to make meals they may have at home. At other activities, staff engage in some conversations with children. However, this is not consistent. For those children with English as an additional language, or who choose not to speak, staff do not expose them to a language-rich environment. As a result, children do not always make the progress they should in their communication and language development. n Parents speak positively about the setting and talk of the approachable staff team. Parents say they feel well supported by the staff and talk about how much their children love attending the setting. Parents receive regular updates about their children's progress and how they can support their learning and development at home.

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need to do better?

n Staff speak highly of the support they receive from the provider. Staff have regular meetings with the provider. However, these do not always focus on staff development. Staff do not receive regular, focused training opportunities, which has an impact on their professional 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 develop the use of staff training and supervision to increase staff's knowledge of the setting's vision and develop the quality of interactions with children n help staff to develop consistency in the quality of their teaching and interactions to build on children's communication and language development.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 105213 Local authority Luton Inspection number 10367972 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Sessional day care

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inspection

Total number of places 36 Number of children on roll 30 Name of registered person Dyer, Julie Margaret

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reference number

Telephone number 07939 010 808 Date of previous inspection 5 March 2019

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Information about this early years setting

St John's Pre-School opened in 1974. The setting employs seven members of childcare staff, six of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The setting opens from Monday to Friday, during term time only. Sessions are from 9am until midday on Monday and Thursday and from 9am to 3.15pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. The nursery offers government funded places for eligible children.

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Inspection activities

n The provider and the inspector completed a learning walk together and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector observed the interactions between staff and the children. n The inspector and the manager carried out a joint observation. 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 setting.

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Inspection activities

21 January 2025 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

21 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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