ABC Preschool and Extra

Inspection of ABC Preschool and Extra Swalecliffe Community Primary School, Bridgefield Road, Swalecliffe, Whitstable, Kent CT5 2PH

p.1

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

p.1

The provision is good

Children of all ages are happy, confident and settled during their time in the friendly and welcoming setting. Staff have a good understanding of how to implement their chosen curriculum and ensure it is engaging and motivates all children. Staff build on children's interests effectively, and children are excited to learn. Babies learn about the different marks they can make. For example, they use trains and animals in foam to explore patterns. Older children learn how to develop their hand-eye coordination. For instance, they are keen to use tongs to 'rescue' trapped 'insects' from the 'web'. Staff teach children facts about the insects they have rescued, which the children are proud to show their friends.

p.2

The provision is good

Staff teach children good mathematical skills. Babies are confident to count as they play, and older children learn more complicated concepts, such as estimation. Staff are positive role models. All children are polite and behave well. Staff teach children about the expectations of their behaviour and children are kind and respectful as a result. Staff provide all children with good opportunities to develop their physical abilities. This is demonstrated when younger children learn new skills such as kicking a ball, and older children build their own obstacles, such as using planks and tyres, and navigate them safely.

p.2

need to do better?

n Management and staff use additional funding to support the individual needs of children effectively. They purchase a wide range of resources to support children's communication development. n All staff, including management, establish positive relationships with all children and know them well. This includes fully understanding what makes them unique. This helps staff plan activities and experiences that they know will maintain children's interest. Children have a high level of curiosity and explore and investigate with confidence as they play. n Staff support all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, to make good progress. All children have a positive attitude towards their learning. Staff support all children's individual needs well. This includes supporting children to access a calm space if they feel overwhelmed. n Staff support all children to develop good and confident communication skills.

p.2

need to do better?

Staff give children time to think and then answer good questions that they are asked. Children are confident to make up and share their own ideas, such as during role play. All children, including babies, respond and use signing as they play. Staff interact with children well and interactions are good. n All staff build and maintain positive partnerships with parents and keep them well informed of and involved in their children's achievements and next steps in learning. Staff help provide children with a good consistent link between home

p.2

need to do better?

15 September 2025 and the setting. For example, staff visit children at home when they start to get to know them well. Staff share helpful tips with parents, such as healthy lunch box ideas. Parents speak highly of the staff and comment that they are wonderful and nurturing and support all children to flourish. n Overall, staff support children to develop some good understanding of healthy lifestyles. For example, children learn about the importance of oral health and brushing their teeth. However, at times, staff do not fully support children to fully understand the importance of following good health and hygiene practices, such as thorough handwashing routines. Therefore, staff do not consistently strengthen children's already good physical well-being even further. n The setting is diverse and inclusive. For example, children learn about some well-known festivals, such as Chinese New Year. However, staff do not

p.2

need to do better?

consistently provide children with more extensive opportunities to learn about other peoples' similarities and differences from around the wider world, including other languages and countries' traditions. n Management closely monitors the quality of care and teaching that all staff provide children. As a team, they evaluate together daily and consider what is working well and what they will enhance further. n All staff, including management, attend a vast range of training beneficial to their practice. For example, staff have recently learned about the different ways to support children to manage their feelings and emotions in safe and appropriate ways. As a result, staff are skilful in helping children to know what is expected of their behaviour, such as how to express with words if they feel frustrated rather than act it.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

p.3

should:

n develop children's understanding of the importance of following thorough health and hygiene routines n extend children's knowledge and understanding of other people's similarities and differences outside of their own communities and experiences, including other languages and cultures.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY396741 Local authority Kent Inspection number 10407650 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

p.4

Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

p.4

inspection

Total number of places 51 Number of children on roll 75 Name of registered person Michelle Bush & Rachel Shulver Partnership

p.4

reference number

Telephone number 07990894442 Date of previous inspection 15 January 2020

p.4

Information about this early years setting

ABC Preschool and Extra registered in 2009 and is located in Whitstable, Kent. The setting is open Monday to Friday, from 7.30am until 6pm, term time only. The setting offers holiday club spaces for seven weeks of the holidays, Monday to Thursday, from 8am to 5pm. The setting receives funding to provide free early education for children aged one, two, three and four years. The setting employs 20 members of staff, 14 of whom hold relevant early years qualification at level 3 and above. This includes one member of staff who has a relevant early years qualification at level 4, one at level 5 and one at level 6.

p.4

Inspection activities

n The inspector carried out a learning walk with management. The inspector assessed the impact of the quality of staff's interactions and the learning opportunities they provide children. n The inspector viewed the indoor and outdoor learning environments. n Management shared written documentation for the inspector to review. This included safeguarding and child protection policies and procedures. n The inspector spoke to management, children and staff at convenient times and reviewed parents' written feedback and considered their views. n The inspector and management carried out a joint observation on an activity, focusing on the quality of interactions and teaching.

p.5

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.

p.5

Inspection activities

15 September 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.

p.5

Inspection activities

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.6

Inspection activities

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk

p.6

Inspection activities

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.6

Inspection activities

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.6