Coxheath Preschool

Inspection of Coxheath Preschool Stockett Lane, Coxheath, Maidstone, Kent ME17 4PT

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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 Requires improvement

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The provision is good

Staff provide children with an ambitious curriculum. Children are keen to have a go during all activities. For example, they excitedly spray water bottles to put out pretend fires in the garden. They keep trying until they master the action, showing a positive attitude to learning. Staff plan effectively for children to experience a range of learning opportunities. For instance, they plan a life cycle week. Children incubate eggs and watch them hatch. They look after the chicks until it is time for them to return to the farm. These opportunities help children to develop an understanding of the natural world.

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The provision is good

Staff create an effective key-person system. They are kind and caring, and children's well-being appears to be high. Staff are positive role models when they speak to each other and children with respect. Children happily play together and share and take turns, for example when they role-play hospitals. Children take turns to lay on the bed and be a patient or a doctor. They discuss what is wrong and what the doctor needs to do to make them better. Children work together to extend their play and share ideas.

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need to do better?

n Staff find out what children know and can do when they start. They use the information to plan next steps in children's learning. Staff meet weekly to discuss the curriculum and what children need to learn next. They assess their learning regularly. All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, are making good progress in their learning. n Staff support children to develop their language skills. They introduce new words and what they mean, such as 'skeleton' and 'x-ray'. Children use these words when playing alone, for instance, 'I'm going to x-ray your arm.' Staff actively take part in children's play. They interact warmly and use praise effectively. However, staff do not always extend conversations effectively when children share their views. Staff sometimes move the conversation on and do not always expand on what children have said, such as when children comment they do not

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need to do better?

like 'chickpeas' and they like 'pink' and 'purple'. n Children behave well. For example, they know they must stop and listen when they hear staff ring a bell or blow a whistle. Staff remind children of the rules when they forget, such as 'walking feet indoors'. This helps children know what is expected of them. n Children learn about the local community. They visit the church to learn about Easter and the library to choose books. Staff support children to learn about different cultures. They offer resources such as books and dressing up to represent different backgrounds. Staff learn simple words from children's home language to support their communication. Staff help children learn about

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need to do better?

10 June 2025 festivals such as Diwali, where they make lanterns and paint hands. This helps them to respect their similarities and differences. n Children benefit from a familiar daily routine. For example, children know where to put their coats and where resources are kept. They enjoy lots of time playing with their friends and use the snack bar when they are hungry. However, some routines, such as when staff call children to a group time, disrupt their play and learning. n Partnerships with parents are good. Staff work closely with parents to ensure the individual needs of children are met. They share regular information about children's learning through a range of ways, such as face-to-face discussions and electronic communication. Parents discuss how they value the support they receive to continue children's learning at home. Parents feel well informed. n Staff evaluate the learning environment daily. They check what works and what

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need to do better?

could be changed in the future to better support learning. The management team hold regular meetings with staff. They ensure staff have a manageable workload and training opportunities. Staff report they feel valued and have high well-being.

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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's understanding of how to listen to children's views to extend conversations and improve children's communication and language skills n strengthen the daily routine so children's play and learning are not disrupted.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 127128 Local authority Kent Inspection number 10377684 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 30 Number of children on roll 53 Name of registered person Coxheath Pre-School Group Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 01622 745662 or 07934 103132 Date of previous inspection 28 November 2024

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Information about this early years setting

Coxheath Preschool registered in 1991 and is in Coxheath, near Maidstone. It operates in conjunction with the Coxheath Rising Fives Preschool. It is open term time only, Monday to Friday, from 9am until midday. The pre-school provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. There are eight staff, of whom six hold appropriate early years qualifications from level 2 to level 5.

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Inspection activities

n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk and discussed the early years curriculum. n The manager and inspector completed a joint observation and evaluated the teaching and learning that took place. n The inspector spoke to staff and children during the inspection. n The inspector observed the interactions between staff and children, indoors and outdoors. n The inspector spoke to parents and took account of written reports to gain their views.

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Inspection activities

10 June 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

10 June 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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