Billericay Methodist Pre-school

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this early years setting?

The provision is good

The experienced manager and her enthusiastic team create a warm and welcoming environment where children demonstrate that they feel happy, safe and secure.

There is a sense of community at this setting. Staff, parents and children work together in a harmonious way. Children settle very well.

They develop close bonds with the staff and their friends, and this contributes positively to children's well-being. Staff support children's physical and emotional needs effectively. They know children well and plan activities according to their interests.

Staff provide plenty of encouragement to build children's confiden...ce and support them effectively. Staff have high expectations for all children, which helps to ensure that they make good progress from their starting points. The curriculum is implemented well through good-quality teaching.

Children enjoy the outdoors and benefit from fresh air and exercise. Children are well behaved, kind and considerate. They take turns with others during play and are well mannered.

Staff are positive role models for children. They set good examples and provide clear explanations to support children's understanding of positive behaviour. At times, however, staff do not organise activities as well as they could, and they miss some opportunities to extend older children's learning.

What does the early years setting do well and what does it need to do better?

Staff have a good understanding of how children learn and develop. They complete regular observations and assessments, looking at where the children are in their learning and development and what needs to be done next. The manager closely monitors assessment and its use to ensure that all children make good progress.

The setting has a robust key-person system. Parents know who their child's key person is and their role in supporting their child. Children's well-being flourishes with the strong emotional attachment to staff.

Staff encourage children to understand who they are and what makes them unique. This gives the children a sense of self and promotes their self-esteem. Staff can talk with confidence about the children and their development.

Staff provide teaching that builds on what children already know and can do. They provide activities that follow children's individual interests and next steps in learning. Staff engage and motivate children to learn.

The manager and staff, supported by their local authority adviser, have recently adapted the environment to include a cosy corner and enclosed spaces, to further support the needs of the increasing number of two-year-old children on roll.Partnership with parents is a key strength. Staff foster strong relationships with parents, who praise the pre-school highly.

The staff team regularly exchange information with parents about their children's care and early learning. For example, parents are invited to regular meetings to share their children's development and support them in extending children's learning at home.The committee and management team work well with the staff to evaluate the effectiveness of the pre-school.

Its members have regular meetings and, together, they reflect on practice and identify areas for further improvement. They are committed to continuously raising standards and delivering a high-quality provision for children and their families. The manager undertakes regular supervision meetings with staff.

However, the manager recognises that she does not make the best possible use of the existing staff supervision system to identify areas where the quality of teaching can be further improved.The manager implements policies and procedures effectively, including for complaints, whistle-blowing and behaviour management. Staff complete regular risk assessments to ensure the premises are safe and secure.

Staff support children's developing language skills well. They introduce words, ask questions, use repetition and act as good role models for communication. For example, they enthusiastically talk to children about the marks they are making with paint.

At times, however, some staff miss opportunities to challenge and extend older children's learning and thinking skills further.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.The manager and staff have completed safeguarding training and have a good understanding of how to keep children safe.

They have a good knowledge of the signs and symptoms of abuse and a broad understanding of wider safeguarding issues. Staff know the procedures to follow if they have a concern about a child in their care as well as the whistle-blowing procedure. Documentation supports this, with robust policies and procedures in place.

The manager and governance ensure the safety of children who attend the setting. Checks are undertaken to ensure the children are safe at this setting.

What does the setting need to do to improve?

To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: provide more opportunities for older children to extend their thinking and learning skills make the best possible use of the staff supervision system to identify where the quality of teaching can be further improved.