Cherry Tree Preschool Playgroup

Inspection of Cherry Tree Preschool Playgroup St Francis Church Hall, St Francis Road, Blackburn, Lancashire BB2 2TZ

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Overall effectiveness Inadequate

The quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement Personal development Inadequate Leadership and management Inadequate Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Good

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The provision is inadequate

The provider does not have sufficient oversight to ensure the safe and efficient running of the pre-school. Those who make up the registered person do not have sufficient knowledge and understanding of their roles and responsibilities. This has led to several breaches of requirements and poor provision, overall.

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The provision is inadequate

The provider has failed to ensure that staff access the required training to help them understand their responsibilities. Staff have not attended the relevant child protection training as required. Children, on some occasions, are exposed to unnecessary risks. Although staff complete risk assessments of the learning environments before the children are present, there is a failure to act swiftly to remove or minimise risks. For example, broken outdoor furniture is accessible to children. Also, staff do not recognise when children cut fruit pieces up into sizes and shapes that pose a risk of choking. This compromises children's safety while playing in the garden areas and during snack times.

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The provision is inadequate

However, dedicated staff provide a well-resourced learning environment. They form secure bonds with children and families. Children are confident to lead their own play and ask for support and help when needed. Staff support children to form good relationships. Children settle well, and they enjoy the time they spend with their friends at the pre-school. Staff are kind and friendly. They are good role models, promoting manners, establishing routines and behavioural expectations. Children behave well, listen to staff and respond. For example, when asked, children tidy away the toys and resources ready for circle time. The setting has a calm and welcoming atmosphere.

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need to do better?

n The provider has failed to ensure that they continue to meet the requirements of the Statutory framework for the early years foundation stage. They have failed to notify Ofsted of required information, such as changes to the committee members, operating times and contact information. Some committee members, that have been in place for several years, have not had checks completed to ensure their suitability, as is required. However, they do not spend any time in the pre-school when children are present. Therefore, the impact on children's safety is minimal. n Children's welfare and safety are sometimes compromised as staffing arrangements are not effective. Although the adult-to-child staffing ratio is usually met the provider has not considered all risks and effective staff deployment. There are occasions during the sessions that staff members are left alone with all the children, which does not allow staff to maximise learning

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need to do better?

opportunities. For example, staff are not able to support all children to become

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need to do better?

13 March 2025 involved in activities or interact with others when they are supervising all the children on their own. This means, at times, the needs of all children are not met. n The provider does not visit the pre-school to oversee staff practice and fails to check staff's continued suitability to work with children. In addition to this, committee members recruitment and the selection procedures for new staff are weak. There are no effective systems in place. The provider cannot be assured that staff members are and remain suitable. n The provider does not ensure staff have support, guidance and effective supervisions for developing practice and to support their well-being. Professional development opportunities to further staff's knowledge and ensure required training is undertaken are poor. Although staff hold regular discussions with each other, these are not guided by the provider. They do not focus on raising

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need to do better?

teaching to provide an ambitious curriculum. As a result, staff are unaware of what they could do to improve the quality of teaching and, therefore, it is not yet good. n Good hygiene routines are not consistently embedded. Staff do not encourage children to wash their hands after sneezing and/or coughing, playing outside or before eating. Staff do not encourage children to wipe their own nose or teach them the importance of this. This does not help children to learn to manage their own personal needs and self-care skills. n The curriculum for promoting children's independence is not consistently implemented. Staff assist children with tasks they are capable of learning to do on their own. This limits the opportunities for children to develop and practise their independence skills needed for the eventual move to school. n Staff promote physical development through providing different resources in the

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need to do better?

outdoor and indoor environments. Children play with dough, draw, colour and paint to develop their fine motor skills. They run, jump, swing and balance outside in the garden. Children's physical development is supported. n Staff support children's developing vocabulary. They sing songs and rhymes and plan circle time to share news from home. Children repeat words identified for`theme of the week', such as planet, earth and sphere. Children are becoming confident communicators. n Parent partnerships are respectful. Parents value the friendly staff. They feel well supported and are updated daily on activities. Parents speak positively about their children's time at the pre-school and express their children are happy and enjoy attending. n Staff support children to learn about similarities and differences. They provide opportunities to learn about different cultures and festivals. Children respect each other and learn that they are unique.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

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Safeguarding

There is not an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

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Due date

ensure Ofsted is notified of new committee members so that appropriate checks can be carried out 11/04/2025

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Due date

implement effective recruitment, selection and vetting checks (including on-going suitability) so that all those who are working with children or have access to children are suitable 11/04/2025

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Due date

identify and minimise risks in the learning environments and take swift action to remove these to keep children safe 11/04/2025

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Due date

ensure that staffing arrangements meet the needs of all children and ensure their safety 11/04/2025

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Due date

ensure that those designated to take lead responsibility for safeguarding children attend a child protection course 11/04/2025

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Due date

put in place effective supervision of staff that provides support, coaching and training, that promotes continuous improvement. 11/04/2025

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should:

n implement clear and precise hygiene practice to ensure that children's good health is consistently supported n provide children with enough opportunities to develop their independence skills so they are fully prepared for their next stage in learning.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY541080 Local authority Blackburn with Darwen Inspection number 10375797 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Sessional day care

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inspection

Total number of places 40 Number of children on roll 14 Name of registered person Cherry Tree Pre-School Playgroup

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reference number

Telephone number 07790869645 Date of previous inspection 2 May 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Cherry Tree Preschool Playgroup registered in 2016. It operates from St Francis Church Hall, Blackburn. The pre-school employs two members of childcare staff. Of these, one holds an appropriate early years qualification at level 3 and one holds an appropriate early years qualification at level 2. The pre-school opens Monday to Friday, term time only. Sessions are from 9am to 1pm on Mondays and Fridays and 9am to 3pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The pre-school provides funded early years education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The inspector spoke with the manager about the leadership and management of the setting. n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they want their children to learn. 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 inspector spoke to children and staff at appropriate times during the inspection. n The manager provided the inspector with key documentation on request. n The inspector carried out joint observations with the manager.

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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

13 March 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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