Meadow Farm Playbus Pre school

Inspection of Meadow Farm Playbus Pre school Straw Hat Car Park, Randle Meadow, Great Sutton, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire CH66 2SE

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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

Children are eager and motivated when they arrive at the playbus. They are greeted with smiles from staff as they are welcomed aboard. Children are very familiar with the unique layout of the playbus and know what is expected of them. For instance, they know to wait for a member of staff before climbing the stairs to the top deck playroom. Children have a good understanding of some of the different ways to keep themselves safe, such as holding the handrail when climbing the stairs. Staff help children understand the rules and boundaries on the playbus. They remind children about sharing, turn taking and being kind to their friends. Children are learning about what is expected of them and behave well.

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The provision is good

Overall, children access an effective curriculum. Staff adapt the curriculum well for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) to ensure they have the same opportunities as other children. Children are particularly confident in the outdoor area. They use balance bicycles with ease and progress to learning how to ride pedal bicycles with no stabilisers. Children show good physical strength as they use the climbing equipment independently. They make good progress in their development and are happy, confident children.

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need to do better?

n The provider plans a curriculum that is flexible and accessible to all children. She uses her knowledge of child development and information from children's assessments to identify what they need to learn next. However, it is not consistently implemented precisely enough. Staff do not always consider the curriculum intentions during their interactions with children and the activities they plan. This does not help children to build succinctly on their existing skills and knowledge. n The procedures in place for supporting children with SEND are well embedded. Staff are experienced and quickly recognise when children need additional support. They implement targeted interventions for children who have fallen behind in their learning. Leaders make timely referrals to outside agencies and provide support for children while they wait for their assessments. They use additional funding to help narrow the gaps in learning and prepare children for

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need to do better?

their eventual move to school. n Communication and language development are promoted well. Staff engage children in lovely conversations which develop their speaking skills. They introduce new words which children remember and then use in their play. Children who start with limited language skills and require speech and language therapy, make swift progress and no longer require specialist support. They become confident and articulate communicators. n Children have a lovely attitude to learning. They concentrate well at group times

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need to do better?

26 February 2025 and are keen to take part. Children listen carefully to staff instructions during games and practise skills, such as turn taking, matching and recalling. They demonstrate a great deal of patience and are developing good listening and attention skills in readiness for school. n Literacy development is implemented well. Children learn to recognise their own name at self-registration and take reading books home. Staff read to children throughout the session and ask questions to test out their understanding. Children have good recall and discuss how books link to their past experiences, such as trips to the zoo. They are developing some of the key skills they need in preparation for early reading. n Opportunities for children to practise being independent are embedded throughout the routine. Children learn to take off their own coats, wash their hands and wipe their own nose. Staff encourage children to complete small

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need to do better?

tasks, such as handing out snack to their friends. This boosts children self- esteem and helps them to be confident in doing things for themselves. n Partnerships with parents are effective. Staff collect information from parents when children first start to help them identify their next steps in learning. They keep parents updated about children's progress and how they can extend learning at home. Leaders refer parents to local services to access training relating to the needs of their children. This helps to provide continuity in children's care and learning. n The long-standing staff team work well together and feel happy and supported in their roles. They work together to support newly qualified staff members and share good practice. Staff access professional development opportunities, such as training, and receive some general feedback on their practice. However, these do not specifically target the gaps in their skills and knowledge. This means

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need to do better?

there are some weaknesses in the quality of education.

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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 support staff to implement the curriculum intentions more precisely to build on children's existing skills and knowledge n strengthen to procedures for coaching and mentoring to provide staff with more targeted professional development.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY478034 Local authority Cheshire West and Chester Inspection number 10375749 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 Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 16 Number of children on roll 23 Name of registered person Fisher, Jane Elizabeth

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reference number

Telephone number 07792633426 Date of previous inspection 1 May 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Meadow Farm Playbus Pre-school opened in 1975 and re-registered in 2014 under private ownership. It operates from the playbus on the Straw Hat car park in Great Sutton, Cheshire. The playbus employs four members of childcare staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and above. It operates between 8am and 3.30pm each weekday, during term time only. The playbus offers government funded places for childcare and receives specific funding for disadvantaged children.

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Inspection activities

n The provider 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 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 Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n The provider 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

26 February 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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