West Thorpe Pre School Playgroup

Inspection of West Thorpe Pre School Playgroup West Thorpe Methodist Church, West Thorpe, Dringhouses, York, North Yorkshire YO24 2PN

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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 warmly welcomed by staff and immediately engage in learning in this pre-school. They are supported to reflect on their emotions and briefed on what is happening throughout the day. This helps children to feel safe and secure, and confident to talk about their emotions. They ask each other and staff how they are feeling and make links to different emotions, such as happy and excited. Parents comment on how the pre-school is supporting their children's personal development, including their confidence and social skills. They note how their children practise breathing exercises that they have been taught by staff to help regulate their emotions.

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The provision is good

Staff encourage children's independence throughout the day. Children are encouraged to actively participate in their pre-school, completing surveys to choose what is for snack. They are keen to help with daily tasks, such as pouring drinks and getting ready to go outside. Outdoors, children have lots of opportunities for physical development. They move equipment to make an obstacle course and play on scooters. Staff deliver engaging activities, such as making magic wands and providing lots of opportunities for reading. Children engage with books independently throughout the areas of provision. Staff enhance this by reading with children enthusiastically and taking time to explore language and the themes of the story. Children show what they know by completing sentences in familiar stories and discussing ideas about the characters. Throughout the pre-school, children show high levels of well-being, focus and attention. They are happy, confident and

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need to do better?

n Staff build strong and secure relationships with children and their families. There is an effective key-person system that ensures all children are supported effectively in their development. Children are organised into groups, which are overseen by multiple staff members. This helps staff to reflect on their observation and assessment of children's development. They work together to gain a shared understanding of the children. Staff then work collaboratively to provide a flexible curriculum that supports children's development. Staff modify the layout of the room to engage children in writing, and they provide meaningful role-play experiences based on their knowledge of the children. Children make good progress and show very positive attitudes and behaviours towards learning, staff and each other. n Parents value the regular communication they receive from the pre-school both in person and electronically. They feel they can actively participate in their

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need to do better?

children's learning by providing information that they know staff will use to support their children. Parents comment on the nurturing environment provided

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need to do better?

27 February 2025 by the caring and attentive staff. They know they can raise concerns and ask for specific help to support their children's development. Parents talk about the progress their children have made in the pre-school and know what staff's priorities are for their children. n Overall, there is clarity to the approach used to develop speech and language in the pre-school. Leaders and managers have used specialist training that informs the specific strategies implemented to develop children's communication skills. These include introducing new vocabulary, leaving time for children to process instructions and modelling the correct pronunciation of sounds. However, these strategies are not fully embedded across the whole staff team. There are weaknesses in some staff's teaching interactions with children that have an impact on the overall progress children make over time. n Staff are supported through ongoing supervision and regular feedback. They are

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need to do better?

set specific targets to work on to improve their teaching skills. Managers use peer observations to identify opportunities to build on staff's unique strengths and talents. Newer staff remark how managers have supported them through their formal training. They benefit from being mentored by more experienced staff to apply what they have learned to their practice. However, there are some inconsistencies in staff's knowledge of how children learn and how the curriculum fits together that have an impact on the progress children make. n Leaders and managers identify effective support for disadvantaged children. They engage well with the local authority and other outside agencies to inform practice and ensure the safety and participation of vulnerable children. Staff use speech and language screening tools well to identify children who need additional support. This means early intervention is implemented quickly where

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need to do better?

needed. Detailed plans are in place for children with identified speech and language needs to ensure all staff know the strategies required to support these children. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are making good progress and fully participate in the curriculum.

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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 embed a clear approach to teaching to ensure all interactions with children support them to make progress in their learning n strengthen staff's knowledge and understanding of how children learn and develop to support their development further.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 321625 Local authority York Inspection number 10368142 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

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

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inspection

Total number of places 32 Number of children on roll 31 Name of registered person West Thorpe Playgroup Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 07934421390 Date of previous inspection 11 March 2019

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Information about this early years setting

West Thorpe Pre School Playgroup registered in 1992. The pre-school employs nine members of childcare staff. Of these, eight hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above. The pre-school opens during term time only. Sessions are Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 9am to 3pm and Wednesday from 9am to midday. The pre-school is closed on Friday. The pre-school offers the government funded places for childcare.

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Inspection activities

n The manager and deputy manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want the children to learn. n Staff spoke to the inspector about how they support the children. n The inspector, the manager and the deputy manager carried out joint observations of a group activity. n The inspector observed the interactions between staff and the children. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector.

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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

27 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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