Ofsted has found a pre-school “requires improvement” after noticing “staff sometimes speak over the children”.

The Courtyard Pre-School was inspected on June 25, before a report was published yesterday (August 1) which saw it drop down a grade from the ‘good’ rating it achieved in 2018.

Following the visit, the inspector tasked the Watford pre-school with improving the implementation of its curriculum, its procedures to manage children’s feelings and behaviours, and staff development in order to meet the requirements of the early years foundation stage.

Despite this, the report did highlight how kids “demonstrate that they enjoy their time at the pre-school” and appeared impressed by staff’s understanding of those in their care.

It also praised the relationships formed between parents and the Leavesden Road provider, with information about progress being shared well, as well as the confidence learners build to approach adults to ask for anything they need.

“These interactions help children to form attachments and support their wellbeing,” the inspector added.

However, it was found that Courtyard Pre-School requires improvement in all four areas inspected: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management — as well as overall.

It was noted that staff do not always build on what kids know and can do. When they do ask questions, it added, “they sometimes speak over the children and do not always give them time to think and respond to the questions asked”.

The manager and staff are also “occasionally” preoccupied with cleaning an tidying away the resources, diverting their attention away from the two- to four-year-olds.

One point in the report said: “Steps to reinforce and implement rules and boundaries to support children to manage their feelings are not always effective.

“Staff sometimes become flustered and are not always confident when deciding what to do next.

The Courtyard Pre-School, Leavesden Road.The Courtyard Pre-School, Leavesden Road. (Image: Google Street View)

“This results in children occasionally not listening to the staff.”

The inspector also noticed that kids were “sometimes wandering around with little purpose in their play” because opportunities to stimulate their curiosity had been overlooked.

Safeguarding arrangements were found to be effective, with Courtyard Pre-School having an “open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children’s interests first".

At the time of the inspection it had 17 of 30 total places filled. It operates 9am to 3pm, Monday to Friday, during term time only.