Kintbury Pre-School

Inspection of Kintbury Pre-School Preston Hall, Gainsborough Avenue, Kintbury, Berkshire RG17 9XN

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Overall effectiveness Inadequate

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

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The provision is inadequate

Since the last inspection, the committee and staff have experienced some changes in the leadership team. Some actions raised at the last inspection have been met. For example, staff now have all received safeguarding training and take part in supervision meetings. However, not all actions have been met, with specific regard to improving the quality of teaching. Children are still not receiving a curriculum that is planned and sequenced coherently to help them build on what they already know and can do.

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The provision is inadequate

Children's behaviour is not managed well. Staff do not do enough to make sure children are not intimidated by the actions of others or to stop children from hurting each other, as some hit out and grab at their peers faces and hair. In addition, children's well-being is compromised as the staff do not ensure that they adequately supervise children when eating.

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The provision is inadequate

Nevertheless, staff provide children with daily opportunities to play outside. Children of all ages have opportunities to be active. For instance, children have fun as they participate in parachute games, run after balls and use bikes. Staff engage with the children throughout their self-chosen activities, and they read stories and sing songs. However, the quality of this interaction is variable and not consistent by all staff to a good level.

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need to do better?

n Staff do not implement a curriculum that is designed to challenge children and meet their individual needs. This means that children are not well prepared for their next stage in learning. Despite this, some children do enjoy some activities that occupy them and provide interest. For example, all children explore sensory materials such as water and sand with their hands, which helps to strengthen their hand-muscle skills. However, staff's interactions with children are not always age-appropriate or purposeful to build on their learning. For example, during circle time, children as young as two are asked to find their names in written format, despite not being confident in communicating. n Children have named key workers in place. However, the key workers do not ensure that they are meeting the needs of their key children as well as they could. In addition, this results in children's behaviour not being well managed

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need to do better?

and, consequently, some children are too often hurt or hit by their peers. At times, some staff do not correct unwanted behaviour effectively so that children learn right from wrong. This does not help children to feel safe and secure. However, some children do receive praise and encouragement from the staff. n Children enjoy the snacks provided by the staff. Children sit at the tables to eat their snacks and lunch. However, there are ineffective procedures in place to

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need to do better?

2 April 2025 ensure children's health and safety is safeguarded. For example, children are left unsupervised when eating and staff do not act quickly when children run away from the tables with their mouths full of food. This puts children's safety and well-being at risk. n Parents, overall, comment positively about the staff and the care they show to their children. Most remark that their children appear happy and settled. Parents receive regular information about their children's day. This is in the form of electronic and verbal communication. Staff are also starting to build relationships with other professionals involved with children, to support continuity of care. n New leaders, although only very recently employed, have a clear vision of how they intend to improve the quality of the pre-school. They have plans in place to support staff, improve the quality of teaching and address areas for improvement. However, as the recent changes in leadership are so new, the

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need to do better?

weaknesses identified have not been addressed, resulting in some breaches in requirements. Furthermore, the management team do not have a named deputy manager to take charge in the manager's absence, as required.

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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

plan and deliver educational programmes that support all children to make good progress across the areas of learning, including sequenced learning opportunities that take account of children's interests and build on what they already know and can do 09/06/2025

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Due date

strengthen the arrangements for the key-person approach to ensure staff working with the children give them the support they need 06/05/2025

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Due date

ensure staff manage children's behaviour appropriately to help them learn the affect of their actions on others 06/05/2025

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Due date

2 April 2025 ensure staff are deployed effectively to supervise children adequately, especially when eating, to minimise the risk of choking 06/05/2025

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Due date

take action to ensure that the named deputy is in place and has the necessary skills and knowledge to deputise and take charge in the manager's absence. 06/05/2025

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY349727 Local authority West Berkshire Inspection number 10377365 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 26 Number of children on roll 14 Name of registered person Kintbury Pre-School Playgroup Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 07765 040269 Date of previous inspection 20 November 2024

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Information about this early years setting

Kintbury Pre-School registered in 2007. It is open on Monday to Friday from 9am to 3pm, during term time only. The pre-school employs three members of staff, one of whom holds a recognised early years qualification at level 7. It provides funded educational places for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The inspector spoke with the manager and a committee member about the leadership and management of the setting. n The manager explained the nursery curriculum during a learning walk with the inspector. n Children spoke to the inspector about the activities they took part in. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector. n The manager showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate the suitability of staff.

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Inspection activities

2 April 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

2 April 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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