Willaston Pre-school

Inspection of Willaston Pre-school St Johns Methodist Church Hall, Wybunbury Road, Willaston, NANTWICH, Cheshire CW5 7JF

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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

Leaders and staff create a calm and nurturing environment where children feel safe, secure and valued. Staff take time to greet children personally as they arrive and gather relevant information from parents to ensure that children's needs are understood and met from the outset. Children settle quickly and show they have positive relationships with staff. Children are supported to become independent and confident. For example, children confidently hang up their belongings on named pegs and excitedly join in play with their friends. Children have a strong sense of belonging at the nursery.

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The provision is good

Leaders implement a well-planned curriculum that builds on what children already know and can do. Staff gather accurate information about children's starting points before they join the nursery. They spend time observing children to carry out early assessments and identify appropriate next steps in learning. In addition, leaders and staff provide timely and targeted support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. They work effectively with external agencies to ensure children are fully included and make good progress from their individual starting points.

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need to do better?

n Staff support children to develop early mathematical skills across the nursery. They incorporate counting into daily routines and use number songs and rhymes. As a result, children begin to use mathematical language in their play, counting with increasing confidence and showing a developing awareness of shapes, size and position. n Staff promote healthy lifestyles effectively. Children benefit from daily access to outdoor play and regularly engage in physical activities such as dance and yoga, which support their physical development and overall well-being. They are provided with a range of healthy, nutritious meals and snacks, and fresh drinking water is always available. Children develop a secure understanding of the importance of regular exercise and healthy eating habits. n Parents speak highly of the nursery, praising the excellent communication and the home-from-home environment. They value how approachable and friendly

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need to do better?

leaders and staff are. They share children's development regularly using an online platform and at daily handover. This helps parents to feel involved and informed. n The committee plays an active and supportive role in the nursery. It works closely with the staff team and has clearly defined roles to support leaders. For example, committee members and leaders have an action plan to drive ongoing improvements in the playgroup to ensure that children have the best outcomes possible. Furthermore, staff receive regular supervision to monitor and reflect on

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need to do better?

18 September 2025 progress. Training opportunities are actively encouraged to help staff build on their skills to meet the needs of the children. n Overall, staff support children's communication and language development well. They consistently narrate children's play and introduce new vocabulary, such as 'float' during balloon games. Most children are confident communicators. However, while staff make efforts to learn some key words from children's home languages, they have not yet developed effective strategies to fully support children with English as an additional language in expressing their needs and developing their speech and language skills. n Children have free access to a learning environment that offers a variety of experiences. For example, staff link real-life events to children's learning, such as a recent visit from the local fire service. Children discuss things like the colour of smoke and why it is important to crawl close to the floor to breathe safely.

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need to do better?

However, some activities, such as large group sessions, are not always well matched to all children's development and understanding. At these times, some children lose interest and do not fully benefit from the learning. n Overall, staff promote positive behaviour and children generally behave well. For example, children show kindness, play well together and share resources. However, during transitions, such as preparing to go outdoors or mealtimes, some children display unwanted behaviours. At these times, staff do not always set clear expectations or explain how children's behaviour affects others.

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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 provide children with English as additional language with even more opportunities to be able to communicate their wants and needs to fully promote their emerging speech and language skills n strengthen the planning of group times to ensure individual learning needs are met and to support children to maintain higher levels of engagement n further develop behaviour management strategies to support children to understand the impact of any unwanted behaviour and how their behaviour may impact on others.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 305438 Local authority Cheshire East Inspection number 10399301 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 Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 24 Number of children on roll 26 Name of registered person Willaston Pre-School Committee

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reference number

Telephone number 01270 567431 Date of previous inspection 27 November 2019

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Information about this early years setting

Willaston Pre-school registered in 1985 and is situated in the Willaston area of Nantwich, Cheshire. The pre-school is managed by a voluntary committee. The pre- school employs nine members of childcare staff. Of these, six hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 and above. The manager holds early years professional status. The pre-school is open Monday to Friday from 7.30am until 5.30pm, during term-time only. The pre-school provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector talked to staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. 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 through verbal feedback. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery.

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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

18 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.

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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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