Early years · Early years inspection (EIF)
Northern Pre-School
Summary
What we read, and from where
Click a reading to see it highlighted in the report.
- Group verified
Northern Pre School Committee
- Group reference verified
RP519740
- Inspection date verified
22 Jan 2025
- Inspectors verified
Natalie Moir
- Behaviour and attitudes verified
Good
- Leadership and management verified
Good
- Overall effectiveness verified
Good
- Personal development verified
Good
- Previous overall verified
Requires improvement
- Quality of education verified
Good
- Postcode verified
PO16 8DG
- Name on report verified
Northern Pre-School
- URN verified
507933
Deep dive
What this report says
In plain English
Join free to get a short, plain-English summary of any report.
Grade profile
Hollow rings show the previous inspection, 2024.
- OverallGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Quality of educationGood
79% of comparable inspections in the last three years were graded Good (17,905 inspections).
Tone of the report
How positive or critical the inspectors' language is, from the words they chose. No AI involved.
In line with other reports of this type graded Good.
Markers show where typical reports of each grade sit.
How the report reads, start to finish
Every paragraph in order, sized by length. Tap one to see it on the page.
Strengths
Quoted from the report. Tap to see it on the page.
Concerns
Quoted from the report. Tap to see it on the page.
Next steps
Quoted from the report. Tap to see it on the page.
What the report dwells on
Topics by how often they come up, coloured by how they are described. Open one for an example.
Staff development2
“Effective supervision sessions for staff are in place.” p.2
Anatomy of the report
How the report is built, against others of the same type and grade.
- Pages
- 6
- Words of findings
- 789
- about usual (typical 803)
- Reading level
- Hard
- Flesch 46, typical 54
- Average sentence
- 14 words
- Next steps
- 2
- typical 2
- Hedged sentences
- 0%
- “some”, “not always”, “most”…
Where the words go
Full report text
Inspection of Northern Pre-School Richmond Rise, Fareham, Hampshire PO16 8DG
p.1
Overall effectiveness Good
The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Requires improvement
p.1
The provision is good
Children arrive excited to begin their day at this pre-school. They are warmly welcomed by attentive and nurturing staff who know children's unique personalities extremely well. Children quickly scan the room and self-select from a variety of activities and play experiences that staff thoughtfully plan. Children benefit from the ambitious and bespoke curriculum that leaders and staff provide. They carefully plan stimulating activities to build on what children already know and can do, as well as skilfully entwining children's immediate curiosities. This means children sustain interest in their explorations and build resilience even when things challenge them.
p.2
The provision is good
Staff proactively address any areas of children's learning that requires additional focus to support their ongoing development swiftly, such as developing their small- muscle skills. They provide an abundance of activities for children to practise small hand movements and increase their dexterities and coordination. For example, children delight as they squish and squash play dough. Staff continually consider how they can enhance learning. They add garlic presses and hand-operated pasta makers for children to use. In turn, children show high levels of concentration as they carefully rotate the pasta maker handle and pass their play dough through it. Children are motivated and curious in their own learning. This sets children up for future success.
p.2
need to do better?
n Leaders and the registered person have taken action to address weaknesses identified at their last inspection. They have robust procedures in place to ensure all committee members are known to Ofsted and have the required suitability checks. The committee members are a great support to the pre-school and play an active role as they have clear oversight to support leaders. n Leaders and staff are passionate and dedicated to their roles. They work collaboratively and understand the importance of good communication and reflective practice. Effective supervision sessions for staff are in place. They have access to regular targeted training opportunities. This captures their individual passions as staff continually evolve their practice and the pre-school environment. Therefore, outcomes for children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), continue to improve. n All staff plan and deliver a thoughtfully designed curriculum that promotes
p.2
need to do better?
learning across all areas of the early year's foundation stage. Staff have high, but appropriate, expectations of what they want children to learn next. Together, they work to plan and sequence learning for each child that supports them to make their own individual progress. n Staff support children to begin to understand how to keep themselves healthy
p.2
need to do better?
22 January 2025 and safe. For instance, staff promote healthy eating and teach children about oral health. They provide consistent boundaries and explain why these are in place. However, leaders do not plan opportunities to help children learn about online safety when accessing devices at home. This does not support children's understanding of how to keep themselves safe when accessing the internet. n Staff develop positive bonds with children that foster secure attachments and build their self-confidence. Staff are respectful and positive role models. They support children to learn about their emotions and recognise their own and others feelings. In addition, they ensure any minor conflicts between children are resolved with support and guidance. This contributes to children's good behaviour as they learn consistent behavioural expectations. n Children's communication and language are a foundation to children's success at
p.2
need to do better?
this pre-school. Staff skilfully adapt their communication methods dependent on children's personalities, ages and development stages. Children have opportunities to hear clearly spoken, repetitive language. They develop conversational skills as they share their own thoughts and ideas. Staff introduce new words in context, such as 'squish', 'squash' and 'delicious'. Children who are being supported to develop their language skills are a high priority. Targeted support is in place to aid these children to make their own progress. These opportunities support all children to become confident communicators and broaden their growing vocabulary. n Overall, partnerships with parents are effective. The staff team keep parents updated about their child's day and what they have been doing each week. Parents report that they appreciate the quality of care and learning their children receive. They particularly value the dedicated staff team and how happy their
p.3
need to do better?
children are to attend. However, leaders have not fully considered how to consistently keep parents well informed about children's specific next steps in learning and how this can be further supported at home.
p.3
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
p.3
Safeguarding
There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.
p.3
should:
n enhance the curriculum to teach children about online safety and how to keep themselves safe when accessing the internet n strengthen even further the information shared with parents, in particular children's precise next steps in learning and how these can be supported further at home.
p.3
Setting details
Unique reference number 507933 Local authority Hampshire Inspection number 10340951 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises
p.4
Registers
Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Full day care
p.4
inspection
Total number of places 52 Number of children on roll 52 Name of registered person Northern Pre School Committee
p.4
reference number
Telephone number 023 92326245 Date of previous inspection 11 March 2024
p.4
Information about this early years setting
Northern Pre-School registered in 1994. It is located in Portchester, Hampshire. The pre-school is open from 8am to 3.30pm, Monday to Friday, during school term times only. The pre-school provides funded early education for children aged two, three and four years. The pre-school employs seven members of staff, of whom six hold relevant early years qualifications.
p.4
Inspection activities
n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the pre-school and discussed the early years curriculum. n Children spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The manager carried out a joint observation of a planned group activity with the inspector. 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 The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The special educational needs coordinator spoke to the inspector about how they support children with SEND. n Parents shared their views of the pre-school with the inspector. n The inspector spoke with the nominated individual and the manager about the leadership and management of the setting.
p.5
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.
p.5
Inspection activities
22 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.
p.5
Inspection activities
If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .
p.6
Inspection activities
You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk
p.6
Inspection activities
Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .
p.6
Inspection activities
T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted
p.6
Discuss this inspection
Members compare notes on inspectors and inspections here. Join free to read and post.
Join the discussion