Pre-school told to improve by watchdog

A PRESCHOOL has been criticised for failing to meet legal requirements.

Christ the King Preschool, on Firs Grove, in Macclesfield, was found to ‘require improvement’ by Ofsted.

In its most recent inspection the school fell from its previous rating of ‘good’ which is received in 2014.

Among the main criticisms of the school, was the level of training and qualifications of its staff.

Inspector Karen Laycock found that management staff were not of the right standard required by law.

The report said: “The provider does not ensure that the manager of the pre-school holds the appropriate qualifications to meet the legal requirements of the early years foundation stage.”

Ms Laycok wrote that in order for the preschool to receive a higher mark in its next inspection it must ‘ensure the manager of the pre-school holds a full and relevant level three qualification’.

The inspector also pointed out that Christ the King was found to be lacking in two other areas.

According to the report dated March 22, 2018, Ms Laycock also said there were issues surrounding the children’s progress and how staff were facilitating with their learning.

As well as observing the daily teaching, during the inspection Ms Laycock spoke to pupils, staff and parents about the school. She also looked at children’s record.

She wrote in the report the school is not yet good because: “Systems for analysing the progress made by different groups of children are not fully developed.

“Occasionally, staff do not give children enough time to explore and investigate resources independently during adult-led activities.”

Despite the criticism the report also noted areas where the school was doing well.

The Ofsted inspector praised the staff at Christ the King for their dedication and vigilance in caring for the children.

Ms Laycock wrote: “The dedicated team of staff work hard to provide high-quality learning opportunities for children. The quality of teaching is consistently good.

“Effective communication and cooperative working with other professionals ensure that staff support children and their families well.”

The Express contacted Christ the King Preschool but has not received a response regarding the inspection.